Time
10-15 minutes
Description
God often changed someone’s name in Scripture to identify his or her potential, and other people in authority renamed characters for various reasons. This matching game challenges children to select both the old and new names of the Biblical characters and throw a beanbag on each one to earn points.
Scriptures
- John 1:40-42
Materials
- Masking tape (1 roll)
- Permanent marker (1 – darker color)
- Name cards (A PowerPoint file with these names is available on the Lesson and Material Downloads page at www.teachingthem.comin the file called, “Name Change Toss – Name Cards.”):
- Abram (Exalted Father); Abraham (Father of Many)
- Sarai (Argumentative); Sarah (Princess)
- Jacob (Deceiver); Israel (He Struggles With God)
- Ben-Oni (Son of My Trouble); Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand)
- Lo-Ruhamah (Not Loved); Ruhamah (Loved)
- Lo-Ammi (Not My People); Ammi (My People)
- Simon (Listens and Obeys); Peter (the Rock)
- Saul (Prayed For); Paul (Humble)
- Beanbags (2) or something similar that children can toss onto the grid
- Bible
Preparation
- Select a space to play the game.
- Create your 4×4 grid with masking tape (each square should be about 8”x8”).
- Create or print your name cards.
- Lay the name cards down (one per square in the grid) in random order (face-up). Separate the old and new names from each other.
- Lay down a strip of masking tape about six feet away from the grid, and label it, “Tossing Line” with a permanent marker.
- Have your beanbags ready
- Practice the script.
Procedure
Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):
- “In Bible times, your name was very important. It told what people could expect from you.”
- “When God changed your name, it was because He knew your potential and wanted to share His plan for your future.”
- “Can anyone think of someone from the Bible who had their name changed?” (Acknowledge responses, and share the meanings of any of the following names that are mentioned.
- Abram (Exalted Father); Abraham (Father of Many)
- Sarai (Argumentative); Sarah (Princess)
- Jacob (Deceiver); Israel (He Struggles With God)
- Ben-Oni (Son of My Trouble); Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand)
- Lo-Ruhamah (Not Loved); Ruhamah (Loved)
- Lo-Ammi (Not My People); Ammi (My People)
- Simon (Listens and Obeys); Peter (the Rock)
- Saul (Prayed For); Paul (Humble))
- “Let’s play a game to try to match the old and new names of some of these biblical characters.”
- “Follow me over to this grid that I’ve made on the floor.” (Lead children to the grid.)
- “You will take turns throwing the beanbags and trying to hit both the old and new names.”
- “You have to make your toss from this line.” (Point out the Tossing Line.)
- “If you get both the old and new names for any person, you can remove both cards, get two points and try again.”
- “If your beanbags land on names that aren’t a match or off the grid, the next person in line gets to try.”
- “The person with the most points when all the cards have been collected wins.”
- “Does anyone have any questions?” (Answer questions, and then line up the children behind the Tossing Line. Let them take turns tossing two beanbags each. If they get a match, they can collect the cards and try again. If they don’t, the next person in line gets a turn, and the person who missed rotates to the back of the line. Play several rounds if you have time, and then ask the Debrief Questions below.)
Debrief Questions
- How important do you think your name is in today’s times?
- Why do you think Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter?
- How do you think it made Peter feel?
- Do you think Peter ever became a “rock” for God? Why or why not?
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