slide 1: Bible Lessons For Youth - Sports Equipment Sports equipment is used as an illustration of using the wrong equipment to play the game of life which God has ordained for each of us. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com slide 2: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Materials A variety of sports equipment. Possibilities include: a baseball mitt baseball bat and baseball cap soccerball soccer shoe shin guard golf club golf ball putter golf tee table tennis table ping-pong ball racket net basketball basketball net chessboard chess pieces Chinese chess pieces and board tennis ball tennis racket slide 3: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com croquet set swimming fins goggles swimsuit skull cap bowling ball shoes and glove and various balls and equipments from other sports. While using actual equipment will make the lesson more exciting if you can’t obtain the different sports equipment you can write the names of the items on note cards. slide 4: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Activity Have children or youth group the items together. As a children’s sermon make believe you are playing the different sports but use the wrong equipment. For a fun youth lesson actually play a sport with the wrong equipment. slide 5: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Debrief While we may be able to play with the wrong equipment we are NOT going to break any records. If I hit a basketball with a golf club it will take me forever to reach the hole and when I reach the hole the ball won’t fit While some small items like a baseball cap may not make a difference other equipment may be impossible to use for the wrong game. Imagine running a race in flippers. If you want to be successful and victorious you need to use the right equipment. slide 6: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Application Solomon tried a lot of things in life. While some of them worked for a while his relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually. slide 7: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Alternate Application Applied to Spiritual gifts God gives us each gifts with a purpose. Like a piece of sports equipment We each have our own role to play in this game called life. We are not all called to play the same game or even to use the same gifts and skills. If we try to serve God in ways for which we were not created or for which he did not intend for us to serve we may be able to function but we will be far from our potential in Christ slide 8: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Alternate Application While some of the wrong equipment may work for a while you won’t realize your true potential until you use the right equipment for the right task and are pursuing the right goal. For Paul Phil 3:12 – 16 there was only one goal that mattered. His relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually. We have to make sure that in life we are playing the right game and pursuing the right goals. slide 9: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme What is salvation all about What does it mean to be saved This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin black circle forgiveness red circle purity white background spiritual growth green circle heaven Yellow Circle and Baptism blue circle. Creative Youth Ideas Go for the Gold - Tell me about “Go for the Gold” www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html slide 10: www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on ”Running the Christian Race” The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games. Creative Youth Ideas Destined to Win -Tell me about “Destined to Win” www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html