What are some things you’d like to add to your life? How about kindness or integrity? Or maybe patience and peace? I think all four of these are worthy characteristics to add to our growing character. II Peter 1:5-7 says this: “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, (brotherly kindness); and to (brotherly kindness), love.” Now that’s a list every Christian should aspire to add to their life, even children. Here’s a fun Bible verse game to help your kids learn this super verse. It’s called “God’s Add Ons”.
Here’s what you do:
For this activity, you will need to prepare 2 sets of 8 circles in 2 different colors. One set will go to each of 2 teams. On each set of the circles, write the following phrases of the verse:
1. Make every effort
2. to add to your faith, goodness
3. and to goodness, knowledge
4. and to knowledge, self-control
5. and to self-control, perseverance
6. and to perseverance, godliness
7. and to godliness, (brotherly kindness)
8. and to (brotherly kindness), love.
Laminate the circles for long-term use. Hide all the circles around the classroom. They should be well hidden. You will also need a timer with a second hand on it. You are now ready to play this activity.
Before playing, say the following to your class:
Raise your hand if you’d like to add anger or rudeness to your life? (Wait for response.) Or how about fear and meanness? (Wait for response.) Of course not! None of us want those things in our life. We should only want to add good things into our life. Who would like to read 2 Peter 1:5-7? (Have a child read this verse.) This verse gives a wonderful list of characteristics that every Christian should desire to add to their lives. Let’s play a fun game to help us learn a little more about each of these characteristics. It’s called “God’s Add Ons”.
Explain the following rules to your class:
We will divide our class into 2 teams. Throughout the classroom, I have hidden 16 circles. Eight circles are “yellow” (or whatever color you chose) and eight circles are “blue”. Each of the circles has a portion of 2 Peter 1:5-7 on them. The first team to gather all 8 of their circles fist is the winner. Before someone is given a chance to look for a circle, you will need to answer a true or false question about one of the characteristics found in our verse. If you answer the question correctly, you will have 10 seconds to search for a circle that is in the color of your team. If you are successful, you will give me the circle and I will display it. If you do not find a circle, the play just goes to the next team. You are allowed to help your team members find a circle only by giving verbal directions. Only the finder can actually look for the circle. Here we go!
24 True or False Questions:
I have provided you with 24 True or False questions you can ask your students based on each of the main words in 2 Peter 5:7. I gave you more than 16, because it might take them a few times to actually find a circle. You can ask these in any order you like.
1. Matthew 9:2 says this:
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
This verse tells of some friends who carried their sick friend to Jesus to be healed. True or false? Jesus said that this man’s friends did not have any faith. (False)
2. Matthew 9:21-23 says this:
…If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
This verse tells of a woman who had been sick for a very long time, but when she just touched the hem of Jesus’ robe, she was healed. True or false? Jesus said that it was her faith that made her whole and healed. (True)
3. Ephesians 2:8-9 says this:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
True or false? This verse says that we are saved by doing lots of good works. (False)
4. Romans 15:14 says this:
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Paul wrote this to his friends in Rome to encourage them. True or False? Paul said that his friends were full of beans. (False)
5. Ephesians 5:8-10 says this:
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
True or False? This verse says that the fruit of the Spirit is found in all goodness. (True)
6. Exodus 33:19 says this:
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
This verse was spoken by God to Moses. True or false? God said He would make all of His goodness pass before Moses. (True)
7. Luke 1:76-77 says this:
And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins…
This verse speaks about John the Baptist and the special job he had to do. True or False? John the Baptist was to give knowledge of how to get to Disneyland. (False)
8. Romans 11:33 says this:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
True or false? God’s knowledge and wisdom are incredibly deep. (True)
9. 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 says this:
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge…
True or false? Paul was thankful to God for blessing his friends with grace and knowledge, which is given by Jesus Christ. (True)
10. 1 Corinthians 12:8 says this:
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit…
True or false? This verse says that we gain a word of knowledge through the Tooth Fairy. (False)
11. Galatians 5:22-23 says this:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
True or false? Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit.
(True)
12. Proverbs 25:28 says this:
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
True or false? This verse shows that not having self-control is a bad thing. (True)
Before sharing the next 3 questions, give a simple definition of perseverance such as standing strong even when circumstances get difficult.
13. Romans 5:3 says this:
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance…
True or false? Suffering will bring us lollipops and sugar cookies. (False)
14. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 says this:
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
True or false? This verse shows that some people were persecuted or made fun of because of their faith in God. (True)
15. Hebrews 12:1 says this:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
True or false? We should run the race of life with lots of perseverance. (True)
16. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says this:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
True or false? This verse says that we should pray for all of the animals in the world so that we can live peaceful and godly lives. (False)
17. 1 Timothy 6:6 says this:
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
True or false? This verse says that godliness with french fries is great gain. (False)
18. 1 Timothy 6:11 says this:
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
True or false? This verse encourages Christians to follow after good things such as godliness and patience. (True)
19. Colossians 3:12 says this:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, … kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering…
True of false? According to this verse, Christians should put on meanness and rudeness. (False)
20. Acts 14:17 says this:
… He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
True or false? According to this verse, God has shown his kindness to us in many different ways. (True)
21. 2 Samuel 22:51 says this:
“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
True or false? This verse shows that God’s kindness will never fail. (True)
22. Matthew 5:43-44 says this:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
True or false? This verse shows us that we are allowed to hate our enemies. (False)
23. Matthew 22:37 says this:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
True or false? This verse says that we should love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. (True)
24. Matthew 22:39 says this:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
True or false? This verse says that we should love our neighbors like we do our pets. (False)
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Psalm 139:14 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that full well!” How amazing it is to know that God carefully made each one of us. We are incredibly unique at the very core of our beings. This is a truth that our little ones need to embrace as soon as possible, before the world leaves its critical and judgmental imprint on their hearts and minds. Here are two Scripture activities to help get your preschoolers to see that God made each one of them very special.
I don’t know about you, but I love music! I love singing and I love hearing the playing of instruments. They usually go hand in hand. I believe God loves music too. There are tons of Bible verses that display this truth. Take, for example, Psalm 100:2, which says: “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs.” I think this is a Bible verse game your preschoolers can have lots of fun with. Here’s an activity I call, “Pick a Piano.”