For us sports minded youth workers, it’s about this time of the year, after the NCAA football championship, the Super Bowl, and the beginning of March Madness, that some students remind us that not everybody is into sports. Other activities such as music, band, theatre, brain clubs, etc., do exist and are just as valid. These reminders might come after one too many trips to the sports well for an analogy, a theme, or a theme-based event. So, at the risk of showing that I’ve not learned my lesson, I present to you the InWord Bible Brackets Challenge. Actually the word “challenge” might be a bit of an overreach. It’s more of an icebreaker. This is simply a light-hearted, quick challenge (less than five minutes) to give you a tie-in between a youth ministry activity and March Madness. This little icebreaker might even serve as brain candy to spur on personal exploration of the verses and scenes referred to in the quiz. In fact, that’s sort of the goal.
At that point (“brain candy”), let me share a word about why a Bible ministry would take the time to develop a seemingly inane (especially to the non-sport enthusiast) exercise when there is much Scripture and deeper Bible issues to be explored. This might also give good rationale for why you might take precious youth ministry minutes to do a seemingly inane icebreaker (although that is the nature of an icebreaker).
One word: access.
In the course of this four-question exercise participants are exposed to 16 Bible scenes and passages—pericopes, if you will—that they haven’t thought about in a while, if ever. And we never know when a brief reference could launch a life journey. In the multiple responses offered to these questions, both correct and incorrect, students will hear references to stories that will help with issues they might be facing: persevering through suffering, answering God’s call, gaining self-confidence as a teen, trusting God’s promises, and much more.
In today’s media-frenzied culture, we can use as many access points as possible into God’s Word. In fact, when you finish the exercise, ask your group “Of all the Bible things mentioned in this icebreaker, which would you like to explore further?” And there’s your next discipleship series.
You have options for your format: a PDF download you can read, a video you can play, or a PowerPoint you can view/download. Enjoy the icebreaker. And the basketball.
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Download PDF here. |
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Play/view video on Youtube here. |
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View/download PowerPoint here. |