(This is the fifth meeting in our Jr. High Youth Ministry’s semester study of the Bible. See the Curriculum page for more information.)
This meeting is fun enough that I call it a social and we get tons of great pictures, but our teens still spend some time flipping through the Bible, so it’s kind of like having your cake and eating it too. I also recommend you invite parents to help lead the small groups (see “Finding Volunteers”).
Pick a few locations on your church’s campus and try to find related Bible verses. Here are some examples:
- Exodus 2:6 – The Cry Room (Clues on back wall)
- “On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying! She was moved with pity for him and said, ‘It is one of the Hebrews’ children.’ ”
- Genesis 25:29 – The Kitchen (Clues above stove)
- Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.
- John 4:35 – The field behind our church (Clues on pole)
- Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.
- Ezra 3:12a – The old church (Clues on back wall where crucifix used to hang)
- But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations,
- Note: Some bibles translate “house” as “temple”
- Mark 1:4 – The Baptismal Font
- John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- Jeremiah 52:21 – The pillars in front of the school. (Cards taped to pillars)
- As for the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits; it was hollow and its thickness was four fingers.
- Ephesians 4:9 – The Elevator (Cards taped above buttons)
- When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
- Revelation 12:1 – The statue of Mary that is outside in front of the church. (Cards taped at base of statue)
- A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Tape a clue card at each location. Each clue card will have two piece of information
- A Bible verse which is the clue to the next location.
- Instructions for a photo, such as
- “Never do THIS while driving a car.”
- “Remember to do THIS before you go to school.”
- “It’s not too late to buy Doug THIS for Christmas.”
- “Never take THIS on an airplane.”
- “If you meet the president of the U.S. you should do THIS.”
- There must be at least two people from each small group in the picture.
- There are no wrong ways to interpret the instructions for the picture, just be creative.
Tips:
- If you have more than one small group, make sure you start them all off on different clues, and print each group’s clues on different colors.
- When explaining the rules, have the students follow along by actually completing the instructions on their first clue. So when you explain they are supposed to take a picture, have them look on their first clue card and take that picture. When explaining the Bible verse will lead them to their next clue, have them look up the Bible verse, and send them on their way.
- Use digital cameras instead of disposable ones – the pictures will turn out better and if the students get done early enough you can quickly make a slide show of their pictures. When asking parents to lead the small groups you can also ask to borrow digital cameras.
