In this guessing game children are provided clues to guess story-related items hidden from view. This can help create interest in what the Bible story is about before the lesson even begins.
The Bible Stories used in the video examples are:
- The Parable of the Great Pearl
- The Burial and Resurrection of Jesus, and
- The Parable of a Sower and Seeds
Supplies:
- Any item that relates to the Bible story you are teaching. For example:
- Pearl for Parables of Treasure and a Pearl
- Weed for Parable of a Sower and Seeds
- Stone for Burial and Resurrection of Jesus
- Plastic Frog for Let My People Go!
- Hay for The Birth of Jesus
- Chain for A Jailer Becomes a Christian
- Something to conceal the item. Suggestions include:
- Sock
- Pillowcase
- Box or Basket
- Empty Ice-cream container
- Paper or cloth bag
- Shoebox
- Blanket
- Towel
Instructions:
- As you read the Scripture and prepare your lesson choose an item that is either mentioned in the Bible or that clearly relates to the story.
- Before class place the item inside whatever you have chosen to conceal it with.
- Guide the children in taking turns feeling what is inside. They shouldn’t call out the answer but wait until everyone has had a turn.
- Reveal the item and let the children guess how it might relate to a Bible story.
Ways to Relate “Keep Them Guessing” to a Bible Story
Once the children have had a moment to examine the item you can then relate the item to the Bible lesson in a number of different ways. Here, below, are some examples using a stone as the item and relating it to the story The Burial and Resurrection of Jesus.
- Use the item as in introduction to your story.
Tell them that the stone reminds you of a Bible story and how. “This stone reminds me of a big stone that was used in the burial of Jesus. Let’s read the story to learn about it…” OR - Ask the students to figure out how the item relates.
Tell them to listen to the story so they will discover how the item relates. “This stone reminds me of a stone that is in our Bible story today. I am going to set this stone on the middle of the table. I would like you to listen very carefully as I tell the Bible Story. When someone hears me tell about a stone then pick up the stone and show all of us.” OR - Find the item in the Bible by listening to your read.
“As we read the Bible together let’s see if we can find a stone mentioned. Knock on the table every time you hear the word stone.” (Matthew 27:57-66, NIV, is printed below) - Find the item in the Bible- reading review.
Print the verses from the Bible and provide a copy for each child to circle words. For example: from the story, provide the printed verses below and tell the children, “Read the verses and circle the word ‘stone’ if it is in the story.” (Matthew 27:57-66, NIV, is printed below)
Helpful Hint: If you have a computer and printer then a simple way to print verses from the Bible for classroom reading is to look up the verses at http://www.biblegateway.com and then copy and paste the verses into a document. This is a very useful tool and I would suggest that you take the time to learn to use the simple tools on Bible Gateway to choose a version, decide if you want to include features such as verse numbers and simplify the printing by clicking on the “print version” button.
Click here to see how I used it for the verses below.
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 27:57-66, NIV