Fun & Entertainment Activities

God never says, “Thou shalt not have fun, nor shalt thou smile in all thy days.” Having a good time is not a sin, but we should pay attention to the principles God has laid out for godly living when we do engage in leisure activities. First and foremost is Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” When we are relaxing and having fun or when we are seeking entertainment, we should always make sure these activities are pleasing God.

Things like food, wine, money, etc., are morally neutral. Wine, for example, is neither good nor evil. It’s what we do with it that makes it so. Paul points out that “…if food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Corinthians 8:8). He immediately follows this, however, with an important instruction we should apply to all our activities, including fun and entertainment. “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9). Our freedom to relax and enjoy our lives should never cause others to stumble in their faith. A classic example is that we should not serve wine at dinner if we have invited someone who is a recovering alcoholic. We should follow Paul’s lead, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).

God also does not want us to be under the influence of unbelievers. We may associate with them, as Christ did when He sat at dinner with sinners and tax collectors, but we should not allow ourselves to be influenced by them. Paul writes, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). For example, a man shouldn’t go with his buddies for a round of golf if he should be spending time building his relationship with his wife or if their conversations are coarse or profane. We should be living for God in all things, and we should be able to have the strength to say “No!” when someone tries to take us away from that.

According to Colossians 3:17, we should also give thanks to God through Jesus Christ for the fun and entertainment He provides. Someone once pointed out that “recreation” means to “re-create” or “renew.” God allows us this time to be renewed and to grow in our faith. James tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Fun and entertainment are gifts of God, given so that we might come closer to Him. We should remember this when we are planning our recreation and remember to thank God for such a good and perfect gift.

Article source: GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-fun-entertainment.html.

Please note: While this article may reference alcohol, JIK does not endorse or encourage alcohol consumption. If you already drink alcohol, we recommend limiting your intake or avoiding it altogether. There are many healthier ways to relax and have fun. ❤️

The video below is a 27-minute faith-based video discussing boredom in kids. Many of the tips are also valuable for adults.

The video explores topics such as:

• What is boredom in kids?
• Benefits of boredom
• The eight great smarts (how different kids think and what fascinates them)
• Crying for attention (when kids say they’re bored, is it really boredom or do they crave time with you?)
• How to engage kids
• How to use kid’s smarts to make an impact/for service
• And much more!

The author of the video above, Focus on the Family, also has a list of interesting faith-based games and activities. These include:

• The Question Box: I filled a wooden box with cards that have challenging questions, such as “How do we know God exists?” “Is Jesus really God’s Son?”…
• Gratitude Detectives: YOU ARE A GRATITUDE DETECTIVE. Here’s your mission: Take these tickets to church. BE on the lookout, and CATCH people in the act of doing GOOD — maybe your pastor, teacher, a friend… 
• Cristo Me Ama: Learn how to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in English and Spanish. Listen to…
• Reflecting on Scripture: …using a dry-erase marker, I write verses on the bathroom mirror to encourage or challenge my kids. They are spending time in the Word while they brush their teeth or comb their hair. After a week, I wipe off the Word there and…
• Watch a show/movie with no volume and ask the kids to identify who is in charge of the conversation… ask questions like “who got angry first” “what do you think they just said” “why did that person just leave the room”… this awakens the smarts in some kids, a great way to entertain some kinds, and also helps some understand body language. 
• Playing outside ?… aside from the fun of playingggggg outside, ask them questions (why that leaf brown and that green)… take pictures of new things in your environment… 
• They also have PDFs of games and cards on various topics you can print out and cut to make this more fun (which can also be beneficial to adults)…
• … and many more amazing activities

To read more about the activities above and explore more fun and faith-filled activities, please check this link.

Spiritual Activities:

• Bible Study and Devotions: Combine these into a daily routine. Start with a group Bible study, using discussion prompts from pastors. Follow with a devotional reading and a light breakfast.
• Hymn Sing-alongs and Listening Sessions: Provide hymnals for group singing and curated playlists for quiet reflection.
• Prayer Groups and Fellowship: Organize resident-led prayer groups and small group visits to bedridden residents.
• Church Services: Invite churches to lead services physically (or broadcast) to a nursing home/hospital/retirement community.
• Choir and Church Buddies: Form a resident choir and partner with a local church for volunteer opportunities.
• Weekly Spiritual Retreats

Activities for the Mind and Soul:

• Spark Memories with Photos: Share photos to encourage residents to reminisce and share their stories.
• Life Review and Living History: Offer classes for residents to reflect on their life journeys and share their faith stories.
• Mentoring Program: Connect residents with younger generations for faith-based mentorship.
• Voices of Wisdom: Seniors share their faith journeys and life experiences orally in groups, or through video/audio.
• Exercise: Group activities that can involve simple exercises or more complex dance routines. 

Social and Community Activities:

• Games: Hold a Game Day for seniors once a week or monthly. Include games that stimulate the mind, such as puzzles, crosswords, card games, dominos, and board games.
• Dinners: Host community dinners.
• Weekly Church Outings: Organize group outings (or transports) for residents to attend services.
• Lunch Partners and Visitation Ministry: Pair residents with homebound members for meals and friendly visits.
• Senior Choir: Form a senior choir to sing at church and community events.
• Sunday Worship for Homebound Members: Offer special worship services (including communion) for seniors/residents who are unable to attend church in person.
• Telephone Reassurance and Writing Ministry: Connect residents with others through phone calls, letters, and cards.
• Senior Theater: Seniors / Older adults can be invited to practice and perform skits and plays for the church and community. They can also participate as extras in existing church productions 🙂

Additional Activities:

• Brain Stimulation Crafts: This program uses crafting activities to stimulate the right brain hemisphere.
• Cooking: Prepare meals for church functions or bake goods for homebound members. The meals could be “themed” – Greens Grooves, Jollof Jam, Suya Sizzle, “1950s.”
• Gardening: Maintain a community garden to donate fresh produce to those in need.
• Field Trips: Organize outings to religious and non-religious landmarks, historical sites, museums, galleries, local parks, etc.
• Health Checkups: Churches/organizations can offer health care services to older adults/seniors, including blood pressure checks and visits to members discharged from the hospital.
• Painting/drawing/paint & sip for the seniors. 
• Scrapbooking: Preserve precious memories! Seniors can create unique scrapbooks from their family photos. Decorate with stickers, stamps, and handwritten stories. It’s a therapeutic activity that allows them to reminisce about cherished moments.

In conclusion, from the purpose lesson, we understand that a senior’s age (or life stage) is also a time for them to consider legacy. Encouraging them to explore deep questions about purpose, impact, and legacy can be a wonderful topic of conversation.

Kindly perform a Google search on how to play the games and what you’ll need (we had to summarize so this information isn’t lengthy).

• Bible Jeopardy: An engaging trivia game where players answer Bible-related questions from different categories.
• Team Balloon Race: An energetic team game where participants race to the finish line while carrying balloons.
• Life-Sized Picture Puzzle: A teamwork-centered activity where people work together to solve a life-sized puzzle. All you need is a giant puzzle and floor space.
• Word Games: Encourage scripture memorization and fellowship by creating fun word games around Bible verses. Requires a Bible and paper.
• Team-Building Exercises: Promote collaboration and cooperation through fun team activities. Builds trust and positive relationships within the group.
• Open Discussions: Create a safe space for members to freely discuss their thoughts, questions, and issues, promoting open dialogue and engagement with current events.
• Memory Lane: Challenge memory skills by recalling Bible facts and stories. Increases understanding of scripture and promotes fellowship.
• Trivia: Get ready for some fun with engaging trivia questions. Perfect for group gatherings, this game requires paper and pens.
• Lingo Bingo: Increase Bible literacy with a bingo game filled with scripture-related words. Promotes understanding of scripture and connections within the group.
• Spin the Wheel of Faith: Participants spin a wheel and answer faith-related questions. It challenges their Bible knowledge and fosters fellowship.
• Two Truths and A Lie: A game where each person shares two truths and one lie about themselves, while others guess which statement is false. It fosters trust and fellowship within the group.
• Faith Cake Walk: Participants answer scripture-related questions and walk in a circle until the music stops. It promotes Bible knowledge and fellowship.
• Bible Hangman: A game similar to traditional Hangman, where players guess letters to reveal a hidden Bible-related word or phrase.
• Alphabet Purse: A creative and quick-thinking game where participants draw an alphabet letter from a purse and find something in their bag that starts with that letter.
• Bible Skits: Enhance understanding and engagement by acting out Bible stories, ensuring all members feel comfortable participating at their own pace.
• Bible Charades & Skits: Enhance engagement with interactive activities like Bible Charades and Skits. People act out characters, stories, or verses in Charades, while in Skits, they perform Bible stories. Both are fun, inclusive, and ideal for groups or individuals.
• Worship Relay Race: Teams complete activities related to prayer, scripture memorization, and worship. It fosters spiritual growth and connection with God.
• Worship Music Trivia: Participants answer questions related to worship music, promoting fellowship and appreciation for worship.
• Blindfolded Prayer: Members pray while blindfolded, listening for God’s guidance. It enhances faith and strengthens their relationship with God.
• Bible Bee: Contestants take turns quoting verses from the Bible. If someone fails to recite a verse, they’re out, and the game continues until only one player remains.
• Service Projects: Encourage members to identify causes they care about and organize relevant service projects, such as volunteering at food drives or participating in community cleanups, to foster a sense of purpose and engagement.
• Social Media Challenges: Harness the power of social media by connecting it to faith through fun challenges like finding memes related to favorite Bible verses or sharing worship songs, fostering healthy interactions and understanding members’ interests.
• Weekend Retreats: Provide opportunities for reflection, recharge, and friendship building through transformative weekend retreats featuring guest speakers, group exercises, Bible study, and meaningful discussions.
• Name That Hymn: Participants listen to worship music and identify hymns. It enhances knowledge of worship music and fosters fellowship.
• Bible Verse Scavenger Hunt: Test your Bible knowledge with this thrilling scavenger hunt for specific verses. Gather your Bibles and prepare for the challenge.
• Speed Quiz: Test knowledge, speed, and quick thinking with Bible-related questions. Promotes understanding of scripture and fellowship. Requires a Bible and paper.
• Nature Adventures: Escape everyday distractions and connect with nature through outdoor activities, fostering teamwork and appreciation for God’s creation.
• Bible Book Hunt: Join forces for a fast-paced search through the Bible’s books. All you need are Bibles and enthusiasm for the hunt.
• Basket of Blessings: Members pick blessings from a basket and decipher their hidden meaning. It promotes understanding of blessings and fellowship.
• Concentration Concentration (Names in the Bible | Books in New Testament | Books in the Old Testament | Cities in the Bible)

• One key takeaway from this video is the necessity to align EVERY action with the principles of Christ — to recognize every form of entertainment as a blessing from God. For instance, if you have a passion for travelling, you can view these destinations as opportunities to marvel at the magnificent creations of God.
  
• Another crucial point emphasised was that the more challenging it is to reconcile an action with the principles of Christ, the greater the indication that it might be better replaced with something more fruitful.

• Call To Action: Reflect on some of your life experiences and talk to the Holy Spirit about them. 💛
• Need to talk to someone? We’re here.