Christian Object Lesson - Knock Down, or Build Up

Christian Object Lesson -
Knock Down, or Build Up
In all our relationships the things we do
can say can either build up or tear down.
This wacky youth group game presents the
same choice to teams of youth.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
www.CreativeObjectLessons.com

There are times when we have fun, draw closer to one
another, talk about all kinds of things, and experience the joy
of being together. Other times though it seems that the things
we say, or things that are said to us seem to hurt even more
when it involves our families.
We often hear it said that the people we hurt the most are
often the ones that are closest to us.

There are times I wish I could have taken back the words
the moment I’ve said them, but it’s often too late;
damage done.
In all our relationships the things we do can say can
either build up or tear down. This wacky youth group
game presents the same choice to teams of youth

STACKERS
Resources
1. Plates and cups – You want an even number of plates and cups
so they can be stacked. Don’t use breakables ones as they will
be knocked over and dropped. Plastic works great, but you can
also use disposable ones. Be warned that if they are too light,
they can be easily blown over.
2. Balls – Tennis balls work well but you can use a smaller ball to
make the game more difficult or a bigger one to make it easier.

3. Instead of cups and saucers you can use other objects but must
take into account the weight of objects and the ball used. A light
ball won’t be able to knock down heavy objects. Other options
include using just cups, jenga blocks, shoe boxes, empty food
cans (beware of sharp edges), Pringles cans, cereal boxes,
wooden blocks, etc. The only requirement is that the objects
must be easily stackable by the youth.

Preparation
• Create an open space in the middle of a room or of an
outdoor area.
• Place the cups and saucers in a pile for each team.
• Set up teams an equal distance from the piles in the center.
The further away, the more difficult the game becomes.
• Give each team a ball.

What to Do
1. The first person on each team must run to the pile in the center for
his or her team in the play area and stack all the plates and cups.
The cups and saucers must be stacked so that each cup rests on a
saucer, then the next cup and saucer is placed on top, continuing
until a tower of cups and saucers is built.
2. After the tower is built, the youth runs back to his or her team and
tags the next person.
3. The next person has a choice. EITHER run straight to their own
team’s tower in the center and unstuck and re-stack the cups and
saucers OR

4. Toss the ball to knock down another team’s tower. If the ball is
tossed, the next person in line must retrieve the ball and bring
it back to the group before the person who tossed it can run to
their tower in the center and unstuck and re-stack the plates
and saucers.
5. If a team’s tower is knocked down by another team, the person
who originally stacked that particular tower must run to the
center and stack them again before the next person can go to
the center and unstuck and re-stack the plates and saucers.

6. The first team to have everyone on the team finish
unstucking and re-stacking their tower wins.
7. Strategically, a team has a choice to focus on building
their own towers or taking time to knock down other
towers so that they slow others down. Bear in mind
that they could knock down more than one tower with
one throw – including their own!

Take It to the Next Level
In all our relationships the things we do and say can
either build up or tear down. It always seems easier to
tear someone down rather than build them up. It takes
a long time to build someone up with positive words,
words of life, words of blessing, but only a moment to
tear them down. And often, all the positive that was
done before is wiped out in an instant.

We can all remember occasions when we have
personally been torn down by someone’s hurtful
words. Most of us have been intentionally, or
unintentionally torn someone down with our words or
actions.

• Paul tells the Christians to let no “unwholesome talk” come
out of their mouths. What are some things that might be
called “unwholesome talk”? Words that tear down?
• Why do people speak to others with hurtful words?
• What are some examples of words that build up?

• Before we do or say things to others, we need to ask
ourselves, will this build up or tear down? Will it
benefit, or harm?
• How should we respond when we have been hurt by
words?
• How should we respond if we have hurt others? What
can we do to make it right?
• How can we build up others who have been hurt?

Closing
Give each youth some adhesive address labels and a something to
write with. They must write down encouraging remarks on the
stickers and place them on the backs of other youth with a
personal comment to encourage them. Be sure to let the youth
know this is a time to be serious and if they can not do it in a
meaningful, caring way you’d rather them not participate. You
might want to have some soft music playing while they do this.
Tell them to go build each other up.

Then ask for volunteers to come to the front and read
the words on their back. Let the youth keep them and
ask them to place them some place at home where
they will be reminded of the encouraging words.

Action Point
Issue the youth a challenge to speak positive
words to at least 2 persons everyday for the
next week and then in the next meeting ask
them to share their experiences.

Scripture References
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
of good repute, if there be any virtue, and if there is anything
worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8)
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto
the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you
need to know when planning your very own
object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed
object lesson ideas and another 200 object
lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms
and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…
Creative Object Lessons
www.creativeobjectlessons.com

Christian Object Lesson - Knock Down, or Build Up

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