Activities Based on a Bible Lesson

• Try starting with a theme or Bible lesson. For instance, if you want to talk about Acts, spend time preparing a lesson on Acts 1. Then, figure out what you want to emphasize from that lesson.
  
  If doing a lesson on Acts 1, a possible point to emphasize could be the community finding a replacement for Judas by casting lots. Perhaps you want to discuss the ways people try to find direction from God. As an activity to illustrate this theme, have students talk about different ways people might try to find out what God wants. You could have some of them act out different ways people do this. Then, spend time bringing the lesson around to what God really wants us to do to discover His purposes.
  
  If teaching a lesson on Scripture memorization, try starting off the time by reading parts of several well-known phrases and having the students finish them. For instance, to practice this, say "Nike: Just . . . ," and have the students add "do it." Try other slogans, favorite phrases and well-known songs that you think your youth group might know to help them get the idea. Then, start giving your youth group parts of Bible verses to finish. Start easy, with something like John 3:16 or Matthew 7:1, and then move to more difficult verses. Chances are that after a few verses, no student will be able to finish the verse. This can be a powerful Bible lesson on the value and ease of memorization, and it can really help your students grasp the importance of the lesson.
  
  

Activities Based on a Specific Topic

• If you would like to work through a topic, choose something like "Spiritual Disciplines." Every week, focus on a different discipline, be it Scripture memorization, meditation, prayer, fasting, etc. Then, come up with an activity based on that theme. Remember, it is better to involve your students than inform them; however, make sure you are letting them discover real life lessons and not just giving them fun things to do (see References).
  
  

Activities Just for Fun

• Sometimes, youth group Bible study time can be a perfect opportunity to just relax and have fun, and the group can bond with each other through games and group activities.
  
  One good youth group activity, Wink, requires all youth group members to sit a circle in a dim room, preferably lit by candles only. Each member is given a playing card, but only one is given an ace. That player is "it." Everyone has to look around the circle, and the person who is "it" winks at someone they make eye contact with. When they do, that person must fake an elaborate death. When someone thinks they know who is "it," they can make a guess. If they are wrong, they are out. Play continues until everyone is out or everyone is eliminated.
  
  Sometimes, well-known games can be fun when played in large groups. Try playing hide-and-seek at the church or outside; play a game of Capture the Flag.