I love trying to decipher a good mystery. Maybe I should have been a detective. Trying to guess what a clue is pointing to can be a lot of fun. Here’s a fun Bible school activity that I think your kids will like that has a feel reminiscent of the old Password TV game where clues are given to reveal the hidden word. Play this along with helping your kids memorize Psalm 119: 11 and you have a winning combination.
This is what you do:
At the end of this article, I have provided you with ten sets of clues that point to different prominent biblical characters. You will write each clue on an index card and then put each set of cards in an envelope that designates the person in the Bible the clues are for. Make sure your children can’t see the person’s name. You will also want some way to display each set of cards. I always use pocket charts to show my cards. You can find one at your local teacher supply store. You will also need a translation of Psalm 119: 11, which says, “I have hidden your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.”
This is how it plays:
Divide your class into 2 teams. Pick someone to be the scorer. Then say the following:
Psalm 119: 11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart so as not to sin against you.” Do you like to hide things? You know, like in a special place where no one can find your special treasure? God’s Word, the Bible, is the most special treasure you can have and the best place to hide it is your heart. In other words, you need to memorize it and get to know it really well so that it can change your life from the inside out.
Some of you know some verses of the Bible and some of the great stories and characters of the Bible. Today, we are going to play a game called “Biblical Character Password” to see how much of God’s Word you really have hidden in your heart.
I have a series of clues that I am going to give that describe an important person in the Bible. I’ll give each team one clue at a time. The team you give the clue to will have 10 seconds to try to guess who the clue refers to. If your team is successful, you will earn 100 points. If your team is unsuccessful, the other team will receive an additional clue and then have 10 seconds to guess the person from the Bible. Whoever guesses first will get the points. After each successful guess, I will choose someone from the team who guessed correctly to recite Psalm 119: 11. If that person says the verse correctly, then their team will earn another 100 points. By the way, if no one guesses the character in the Bible from the clues given, neither team scores points for that set of clues. OK! Let’s play!
Suggestions for success:
1. You may want to recite Psalm 119: 11 several times as a group to help them memorize it.
2. This game can end up going slow or fast depending on your children’s knowledge. Either way, it’s a fun way to get them to memorize Psalm 119: 11.
3. You can give the tracks in any order you want. Some tracks are easy and some are difficult.
Track sets
Abraham: Great faith, stars, promise, Sarah, Isaac, Ishmael, Lot, son sacrifice.
Jacob: Deceiver, 12 sons, wrestled with God, Esau, Isaac, 2 wives.
Joseph: slave, dreamer, 12 brothers, coat, Egypt, imprisoned, Potipher, Jacob.
Moses: Special Staff, Wilderness Wanderer, Prince, Burning Bush, Red Sea, Commandments.
Samuel: Godly mother, dedicated at birth, heard God speak, Judge of Israel, wicked children, anointed Saul as king.
Saul: First king of Israel, anointed king by Samuel, Jonathan, tried to kill David, asks a witch for wisdom, David sang to him
David: King, Goliath, Psalms, Jonathan, Bathsheba, Solomon, slingshot, shepherd
Solomon: Builder of temples, David, wisdom, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Queen of Sheba.
Elijah: Miracles, fed by ravens, chariot of fire, endless flour and oil, child risen from the dead, Mount Carmel, prayed for rain, Mount of Transfiguration
Paul: Pharisee, shipwrecked, temporarily blind, on the road to Damascus, missionary, wrote letters.