Hobbies And Interests
Video Games
Video games offer a digital medium to learn about the Bible and Christian values, and also provide an opportunity for boys and men to bond. The free online video game David and Goliath, for example, lets players act as David and take turns throwing stones at Goliath. In the video game Bible Catch, players work together to find all the books of the Bible in a room and place them in the proper order on a shelf. In the game Fishermen, players act as fishermen sharing fish with the needy. These games emphasize non-competitiveness and teach stories from the Bible.
Sunday School Games
Sunday school games can be played in a small or large area, require little to no supplies and are casual and light-hearted. They unite a game mechanic with a lesson from the Bible or test knowledge about Christian history. For example, in Battle of Knowledge, young men play on two teams. Each team tries to throw a bag into the right cell of a grid. If they succeed, they get the opportunity to answer a Bible trivia question. In Bible Jeopardy, players break into two teams and choose a block worth a certain number of points. If they answer the Bible-related question associated with the block correctly, they win those points. These casual games teach Bible trivia while building fellowship with team play.
Physical Games
Christian-themed physical games offer boys and men a way to bond in an energy-consuming activity. In The Tomb, Out of The Tomb, for example, requires players to stand a line with one serving as leader. When the leader says "In the tomb," the rest of the players jump to one side; when the leader says "Out of the tomb," they jump to the other side. This activity alludes to Jesus' resurrection from the tomb. A man jumps who jumps in the wrong direction is out of the game. In The Kingdom, one player acts as the king and the others perform different virtues of Christian life to enter the kingdom. For example, one player mimes giving something to another player to express generosity. Although this game has a competitive aspect, each player takes a turn being king. These games teach Christian beliefs while giving the men and boys a workout and physical activity.
Word Games
Because the Biblical tradition is written in words, word games also offer numerous ways to build relationships among Christian boys and men. The Internet offers many downloadable word find puzzles, such as the Resurrection of Jesus and The First Christmas, which players can complete together. In Amazing Verse, players memorize Bible verses, then are challenged to remember the verses as different lines are erased from them. These games are played in teams and teach Christian themes, test Biblical trivia and encourage casual learning.