Games on the Fly for Student Pastors

A few weeks ago I went to speak at a local school's Christian club. When I got there the leader told me they wanted me to do a game for 15 minutes and then speak for 20 minutes. I had prepared to speak but hadn't prepared for the game. So I had 5 minutes to come up with a game for 35 Middle Schoolers in a classroom setting. And it needed to be cool or else they wouldn't listen to my 20 minute message. O the Pressure!! It worked out but I wanted to give Youth Pastors 3 great game ideas in case this happens to you.

1. Hand to Foot.
This requires a decent amount of space but can be played with 12 to 500 people. Have them grab a partner and form 2 circles. One circle inside the other and have partners separate into the different circles. Have one circle rotate clockwise and the other counter clockwise. Then call out 2 body parts for example hand to foot, head to head, finger to eye, ect. The partners have to find each other as fast as possible and place those 2 body parts together on each other. Begin eliminating the last ones to make it until you narrow it down to 1 pair. Great game.

2. I Never.
This can be played anywhere, requires chairs, and is best played with 6 to 30 people.
Create a circle of chairs leaving one less chair than there are players. The person without the chair stands in the middle and states something they have never done before ex. I have never been to California. Then everyone who has been to California or has done whatever was stated gets up and changes chairs, person in middle also needs to fight for a chair. Then the person left without a chair will be the next player to have to state what they have never done before. The goal is to find a chair as quickly as possible. Don't let players change chairs directly beside them. Have them get up and move at least one chair over. Great get to know you game. It can go on forever so play for 15 minutes then call it quits.

3. Make a Song
Can be played anywhere and is best played with 8 - 50 people.
Have everyone form groups of 2-10 depending on size of overall group. You give them a word such as love, girl, time, etc. Then they have 2 minutes to come up with a song that has that word in it. Once time is up have each group sing their song to the rest of the groups. If they can't come up with a song in the time given or if they use a song that was used in a previous round they lose. Lots of fun to see what songs they pull from.

There you go. 3 games for you to use when you're put on the spot or if you need one for next Wednesday night. Have fun.