Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Knock Down, or Build Up

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Youth Ministry
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.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 restack 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)



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Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Knock Down, or Build Up

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