Leader Guide

Relay Game

  • Game Sign
  • At least twenty dominos or one per child, plus extras
  • Two jumbo craft sticks
  • Optional: double the dominos; see optional ideas for playing
  • Optional: Two standard craft sticks
  • Painters tape or masking tape
  • Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with a second hand, or timer app
  • Whiteboard and marker to record time

Make one copy of the Game Sign.
Tape the Game Sign near the bottom of a wall. 
Tape or mark a starting line about 15-20 feet from the sign.
About 3 feet and parallel to the sign, make a horizontal row of the dominos on the floor––like a wall or border. 

Let’s try to say today’s SuperTruth together with our eyes closed: “Nothing can separate me from God.”

 

Optional: choose three volunteers to read Romans 8:35, 38, 39.  

To help us understand this game, let’s have 3 volunteers each read one verse. One of these verses should sound familiar.
35Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute [extreme poverty, lacking basic necessities], or in danger, or threatened with death?  
38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


In this Bible passage, the Apostle Paul listed more than 15 things that might cause us to wonder if God loves us.

Point to the sign and the domino wall. The sign represents God and the love of Christ. The dominos represent the things that may seem to separate us from God and His love—like a fence or wall! Now, in this game, we must remove these things to restore the truth about God’s love!  

We are going to work as one team in a relay game to remove the dominos in the fastest time. Now, this class looks like you are up for an even bigger challenge. Hold up a jumbo craft stick.
You will all work together for the fastest time. Are you ready to play?

Have the children line up behind the line or mark. Start the clock.

The first player walks quickly to the dominos, places one on the stick and walks carefully back to the line. If a domino falls to the floor, the player must return it to the stick and continue from that point. While walking, a player can only use one hand and must have the other hand behind his/her back. Continue until all the dominos are removed. Stop the clock and record the time.

Replace the dominos and play another round to try for a faster time.  

 

Optional: Play another round and use the standard size (smaller) craft sticks, or use additional dominos and have children balance two at a time on the jumbo craft sticks.

Conclusion: As believers, we will face many troubles that can trick us into believing we are separated from God. But the truth is that in Christ, we are forever connected to God’s unconditional love. Let’s learn more about this in today’s Teaching.