Activities
More Activity Suggestions
Option 1: Paul Ball
soccer-sized rubber ball
Gather supplies.
Have children stand in a circle, foot to foot with legs spread shoulder-width apart. Explain that the goal is to hit the ball between other players’ legs while blocking the ball from going through their own legs. They must use an open palm rather than grabbing or throwing the ball. If the ball does go through a child’s legs, that child gets the first letter of the word Paul. The next time the ball goes through the same child’s legs, he or she gets the next letter of the word Paul. When you have all four letters, you are out. The last two players remaining win the game.
Option 2: Broken Hearts
cardstock, scissors
Gather supplies. Cut out heart shapes from cardstock, and cut each heart in half using a different zigzag pattern (one half per child).
Hide the broken heart halves around the room. On “Go” have children hunt for a heart half. When a child finds one, she must then find the person who has the piece that completes her heart. The first pair to find their match wins (but allow time for all children to find their match). Remind children that, like Onesimus, we sometimes hurt others, but we need to be quick to make it right.
Option 1: Forgiveness Dodgeball
dodgeballs
Gather supplies.
Divide children into two teams. Explain that they will be playing a game of dodgeball, but that they cannot catch or block the balls. If a child gets hit, he or she must go to a predetermined “jail” area. At any time the leader can yell out “Forgiveness!” Those who are in jail must individually ask the leader, “Can I be forgiven?” The leader grants forgiveness to each one, which allows the children to reenter the game. Remind children that we can’t dodge the sins we’ve done. We need to be quick to ask Jesus for forgiveness.
Option 2: Free the Prisoners
plastic toy hoops, cones, balls
Gather supplies. Set six hoops around the perimeter of the room. Use four cones to mark a center area for throwers, and place four balls inside this marked area.
Divide children into two teams. Identify one team as prisoners, and have them stand in the hoop “prisons.” Choose two children from this team to be throwers. They must stand and stay in the marked area. The prisoners can be freed from prison if they catch a ball from a thrower (prisoners may run from hoop to hoop but must be inside a hoop when they catch a ball to be freed). The children on the other team are defenders. They are trying to prevent prisoners from catching balls. When a prisoner catches a ball, he is free and becomes a thrower. Throwers continue to throw balls to prisoners until all have been freed. Have teams switch roles. Remind children that Paul and Onesimus met while in prison and became friends and brothers in Christ.