Get Up! Get Down! (GAME)

Time

10-15 minutes
Description

Peter was given miraculous powers by the Holy Spirit after Jesus went to heaven.  When Ananias and Sapphira lied about how much money they were giving to the other believers, Peter announced that they would die, and they died immediately!  When Peter met Aeneas, a paralyzed man, he told him to get up, and Aeneas was healed!  And when the believers were sad because their friend Dorcas (Tabitha) had died, Peter told her to get up, too, and she was raised from the dead!

 

This game is a little like “Simon Says.”  The facilitator will call out one of the four names, and the children have to jump up in the air if it’s either “Aeneas” or “Dorcas” but they have to get down on the ground if it’s either “Ananias” or “Sapphira.”  If they move the wrong way, they are out!

 

Scriptures

• Acts 5:1-11
• Acts 9:32-43

 

Materials

• Bible

 

Preparation

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

 

Procedure

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

• “We are going to play a game called, ‘Get Up! Get Down!’”
• “It’s about Peter, who was so anointed by the Holy Spirit that he could raise the dead to life, heal the lame and even announce God’s judgment on believers before it happened.”  (Have a volunteer read Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 9:32-43.)
• “Peter was so powerful!”
• “When Ananias and Sapphira lied about how much money they were giving to the other believers, Peter announced that they would die, and they died immediately!”
• “When he met Aeneas, a paralyzed man, he told him to get up, and Aeneas was healed!”
• “And when the believers were sad because their friend Dorcas (Tabitha) had died, Peter told her to get up, too, and she was raised from the dead!”
• “This game is played a little like ‘Simon Says.’”
• “I will call out one of the four names from these stories, and you have to jump up in the air if it’s either ‘Aeneas’ or ‘Dorcas,’ but you have to get down on the ground if it’s either ‘Ananias’ or ‘Sapphira.’”
• “If you move the wrong way, you are out!”
• “The last person standing wins and gets to be the name caller.”
• “Sometimes I might try to trick you by using Dorcas’ other name, ‘Tabitha, so be careful!”
• “Does anyone have any questions?”  (Answer any questions.)
• “Okay, let’s play!” (Have children all start standing, and begin by calling out one of the four names. Allow a few seconds each time for children to respond, but if they move the wrong way, have them step to the side while the others continue playing. If they are doing really well, try surprising them by calling out “Tabitha!” Play several rounds, allowing different people to come up and be the name caller.  Then ask the Debrief Questions below.)

 

Debrief Questions

1. Why do you think God gave Peter so much power?
2. Do you think people still have that kind of power today?  Why or why not?
3. If you had that kind of power, how would you use it?