Family Shield has put together some fun family games that can be played at home. They will help you share your faith with your children and grandchildren. If you haven't been doing them, you may want to try playing them once each week and build up to every night after dinner or supper.
BIBLE TICK-TACK TOE
If you know how to play regular tick-tack-toe, you will enjoy this adapted version. Use it to review Bible stories, Bible characters, books of the Bible, or places in Scripture.
- Draw a large tick-tack-toe grid on a piece of paper.
- Write the name of a Bible character, a story, or a question about God’s Word inside each square of the grid
- Split the family into two teams. The first team chooses a character from the grid and shares something about that person. If the team chooses a square with Moses, they might say, “Moses led God’s people through the desert.”
- If the team makes a correct statement, they may place their mark (an X or O) over Moses on the grid. If the other team challenges their statement, and correct it, they may put their mark on the grid.
- Play until somebody gets 3-in-a-row.
Variation for younger kids: You can adapt this game for younger children by placing pictures in the grid instead of words. Cut these from the Sunday school leaflets your children bring home. For example, use a cross, a Bible, a picture of Jesus, or a dove.
VERBAL BIBLE CHARADES
In this oral version of an old favorite, take some time for everyone to come up with Bible characters, stories, places, or an idea from God's word. Keep them in a box or plastic tub so they can be used over and over again.
- Someone chooses a piece of paper (if something is difficult to read, a player on the other team can help them or one person can choose not to guess for that one).
- The player tries to describe what's on the paper without using any words on the paper. If someone guesses correctly, they win a point.
Variation: If you have a larger or extended family gathering, you might even divide into teams and award points for correct answers.
BIBLE VERSE FUN
God has promised many blessings to those who treasure His Word in their hearts. Yet, many people don't take the time to put God's Word in their hearts and minds. This is a fun way to do that as a family.
- Choose a verse, write it on a large piece of paper or print it in a large font. Be intentional about the verses you choose so that they are verses that you want your kids to carry with them in their hearts and minds.
- Cut it apart word-by-word or phrase-by-phrase and put them in a bowl. (Word-by-word will be a challenge for younger kids.)
- Have everyone choose from the bowl.
- Put all the words or phrases on the table and have the family put the verse together correctly.
- If necessary, check the verse in the Bible.
- Talk about what the verse means and how it helps us in our faith and life with God.
Variation: Let the youngest family member take away one of the word or phrase cards and read the verse again remembering to add the missing words. Continue every night, taking away the cards and saying the verse until everyone knows the verse by heart.
Save your word cards for review next time you play Bible Memory Fun.