Object Lesson: Knock Down, or Build Up

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 unstack 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 unstacking 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

Object Lesson: Knock Down, or Build Up

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