This document describes a youth devotional activity called "Tiny Olympics" that is meant to teach children that they can do anything through God's strength. It involves dividing the children into teams based on size for mini games like tug-of-war. The smaller children are unsure if they can win until an adult helps their team, showing that with God's help anything is possible. It also provides variations on mini Olympic games that emphasize dexterity over size, teaching that one can help others through pointing them to God's strength.

1. Youth Devotional - Tiny
Olympics
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

2. This creative teaching activity uses games to remind
children or youth that the Christian faith is not a I can't
religion. It is always a I can religion. The assurance is found
in Phil 4:13, I can do everything through him who gives me
strength. In this passage we are promised the strength to
deal all adversities of life - trials and temptations. This
power is given to us as long as we are in Christ.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

3. Materials
Long rope. (Towels or bed sheets can
be tied together to make a rope.)
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

4. Activity
Don’t tell the youth or children why, but they must send their
10 littlest (smallest) people together for a very special task.
Once the kids or youth have selected their smallest, reveal the
rope and tell them you are going to having a “Tiny Tug” of war.
After a couple of tries and encouragement to the winning team
ask the losing team if they think they will win? But this time
help them. Of course with the teacher on their side they are
sure to win.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

5. Application
While things may seem difficult or
impossible to us, when God is on our
team we can do anything.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

6. Variation: Mini Olympics
Mini tug-o-war: Get a rope about 1 meter long and make the
markings on a table. The catch is the participants may only use
one hand to pull the rope and may only use a thumb and index
finger to grab the rope. Done in this way, the deciding factor is
not the strength or weight of the person, but the strength of
their grip with the two fingers.
Mini Javelin Toss: Use a straw and only two fingers to toss it
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

7. Mini Shotput: Use a ball bearing or marble and flip it with your
thumb
Mini hockey: Use a tabletop and a carom seed or checker disc and
straws in a person’s mouth to move it the seed through the goals
Thumb wrestling: Gripping fingers so only the thumb is raised
extended, participants try to hold the other persons thumb down
using their own.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

8. Synchronized Twirling: Dexterity competition twirling a pencil through
fingers
Relay race: moving a coin on the top of your hand, from top of thumb
to the pinky and back using only once hand;
Marathon race: rolling a coin the farthest distance;
High Jump: Flipping a coin in the air using the thumb and index finger
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

9. Application
Many times we think we must be big and
powerful to do things. We think we can only
help if we are strong. But even if we are not
strong enough and powerful enough or big
enough we can still help others by pointing
them to God who is all strong and powerful.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

10. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of
sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle),
purity (white background), spiritual growth
(green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and
(Baptism) blue circle.
Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html

11. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
life is used in several places in the Bible.
This series is a great follow up for new
Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of
our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a
sports theme and is great for athletes as
well as a tie in to the youth Olympic
Games.
Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html