Asleep in the Garden (GAME)

Time

10-15 minutes
Description

This game is high energy with a spiritual teaching point about doing the things God wants us to do.  You can use it when teaching about Jesus as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

Scriptures

• Mark 14:32-42

 

Materials

• None

 

Preparation

• Select a space to play the game.
• Practice the script.

 

Procedure

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

• “We’re going to play a game called, ‘Asleep in the Garden.’”
• “It’s about the night that Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified.”  (Ask volunteer to read Mark 14:32-42.)
• “Jesus had asked Peter, James and John to stay awake and pray, but they kept falling asleep.”
• “This was a pretty important time for them to join Jesus in prayer, but they were very tired.”
• “Even though they wanted to stay awake, they couldn’t seem to do it.”
• “So, here’s how the game is played.”
• “I’ll play Jesus for the first round, and I’ll stand over here and turn my back toward you so that I can’t see you.”  (Pick a spot at the front of the room.)
• “Everyone should lay down on the floor like you are asleep.”
• “Everyone can stand up one time before I turn around, but you can only stay standing for three seconds – ‘one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.’  Then you have to lay down again and ‘go to sleep’ until after I’ve turned around.”
• “If I turn around while you are standing, you win and get to be ‘Jesus’ for the next round.”
• “But if no one is standing when I turn around, I’ll say, ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,’ and we’ll start over.”
• “Also, if more than one person is standing when I turn around, keep counting, ‘one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.’  Then lay down.  The last person standing wins.”
• “Does anyone have any questions?”  (Answer any questions.)
• “Okay, let’s play!” (Play several rounds, allowing different people to come up and be ‘Jesus.’  Then ask the Debrief Questions below.)

 

Debrief Questions

1. “What did you think of the game?”
2. “Why do you think it was so important to Jesus that Peter, James and John pray with Him?”
3. “Why do you think it was so difficult for them?”
4. “Have you ever found it difficult to do something God wanted you to do?  What was it and why?”
5. “How can we do a better job at doing the things God wants us to do?”