GAME: MOVING FORWARD WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS BACKWARDS

Here’s a free youth ministry game to setup a lesson on how to move forward in life, even when everything seems backwards.

Suggested Bible verse to use: 1 Peter 2:21

We include 2 versions of this game. One is for those groups meeting in person, and the other is for those still meeting online.

– Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth

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GAME: NOW I KNOW MY ZYX’S (IN-PERSON VERSION)

SUPPLIES:

• sheets of paper with all 26 letters of the alphabet – one per sheet (one set per player, 4 sets total)

• can of alphabet soup (optional prize)

GAME PREP

Spread out around the floor all 26 sheets of paper, mixing them up a bit.

Do the same thing with each of the other three sets of alphabet papers.

Pick four students who will participate in this game.

Divide the rest of your group into four teams, each cheering on their player.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: The game is simple but not easy.

When I say, “Go” you are going to find and stand on the paper with the letter “Z”.

Then, you will pick up that paper and go find and stand on the paper with the letter “Y”.

Then, you’ll pick up that paper and go find and stand on the paper with the letter “X”.

You’ll repeat this process until you have a stack of all 26 letters in reverse order. 

Here’s a few things to keep in mind.

If you go out of order – stepping on or picking up the wrong letter, you have to start over.

You have to keep all the papers in your hand in reverse order, with “Z” at the top and eventually “A” at the bottom.

If these are in the wrong order, you start over or are disqualified if the others are done.

This is a race. So whoever gets through all 26 letters in reverse order first will be our winner.

(Bonus: If you have a student who can sing the “ABC’s” song backwards – and there is usually at least one who can – have them do that in place of a national anthem before the game starts.)

Ready? Set? Go!

(Have at least one Leader with each player making sure they go in the correct backwards order and have their stack in that order, Z-A from top to bottom.)

Congratulate your winner!

If you have a can of alphabet soup, that would be the perfect prize.

OPENING GAME: NOW I KNOW MY ZYX’S (ONLINE VERSION)

(This game is to be used with live, digital interaction)

SUPPLIES:

Digital list of these challenges for other Leaders and a digital or printed list of the answers for the Leaders. (chat turned on)

GAME PREP

You’ll need several Leaders set up as “Co-Hosts” on Zoom to help keep this under control.

This could even be a fun game to bring in some parents to lend a hand.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: We learn our alphabet from A-Z. But sometimes, things go backwards and it’s helpful to know your alphabet from Z-A.

Today’s game is going to be a test of that skill and your typing ability.

It is simple but not easy.

When I say, “Go!”, you can start typing in the chat. You will type the alphabet from “Z” to “A”.

Don’t leave out any letters or get any in the wrong order.

When you successfully have done that, I or one of the other Leaders will send you your next assignment. 

If they send you a phrase, you have to type it backwards – including any punctuation.

If they send you the title of a list, you have to type the items in that list backwards and the words have to be backwards. 

So if we asked for the three words said before a race, you would type:

!oG .teS ?ydaeR

Leaders each have a copy of the answer key to check your work before giving you the next assignment.

The first person to complete all 7 will be our champion!

Get ready to start by simply typing all 26 letters of the alphabet in reverse order.

Ready? Set. Go!

Here’s the list:

1. Alphabet
2. Colors of the Rainbow (ROY G BIV)
3. Numbers, 0-10 (not spelled out, just the digits)
4. Days of the Week
5. Months of the Year
6. First five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
7. The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Answer key:

1. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba
2. teloiv, ogidni, eulb, neerg, wolley, egnaro, der
3. 109876543210 (has to include “0”)
4. yadrutaS, yadirF, yadsruhT, yadsendeW, yadseuT, yadnoM, yadnuS (first letters must be capitalized to count and they must be in reverse order like this)
5. rebmeceD, rebmevoN, rebotcO, rebmetpeS, tsuguA, yluJ, enuJ, yaM, lirpA, hcraM, yraurbeF, yraunaJ (first letters must be capitalized to count and they must be in reverse order like this)
6. ymonoretueD, srebmuN, sucitiveL, sudoxE, siseneG (first letters must be capitalized to count and they must be in reverse order like this)
7. nhoJ, ekuL, kraM, wehttaM (first letters must be capitalized to count and they must be in reverse order like this)

Note: Use this game to set up a lesson on 1 Peter 2:21, helping students move forward in life, even when everything seems backwards.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP – Save 92% on $2,400 worth of youth group lessons, Bible studies, games, events & more. Only available through April 25!