Below you’ll find the show notes for episode 80, Rethinking Bible Games: A Deep Dive into Their Role in Women’s Ministry, from the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast.
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Rethinking Bible Games: A Deep Dive into Their Role in Women’s Ministry
A few years ago, I wrote a post about how icebreaker games can build relationships. As we dive into the topic of Bible games in women’s ministry, it’s a great post to reflect on. If we choose to play Bible games, they should build relationships too.
Today I want to look at the role of Bible games in women’s ministry.
Spoiler alert – I don’t do Bible quizzes, Bible trivia, or Bible games with rare exceptions.
You may have a different opinion and that’s okay, but I want to encourage you to read to the end and be open to the idea that it may not be having the effect you desire.
Before I share my thoughts, I want to ask you a question.
What’s your goal in using Bible games?
- Is it to develop quick recall?
- Is it to encourage women to acquire more biblical knowledge?
- Maybe your goal is just for your women to have fun?
While we want women to read their Bibles and grow in their understanding of God’s Word, knowledge on its own is not enough.
We don’t want women to only know about God, we want them to KNOW God personally.
Look at the Pharisees. They knew God’s Word, but they could not recognize Jesus in the flesh.
If our focus is on Bible facts and not on sharing the gospel, we have missed the mark ladies.
If we can learn to filter our women’s ministry decisions and planning through the filter of “why” I believe we’ll be a lot more effective.
Bible games are great for people who know the Bible. They can be great for people who have grown up in the church or who have attended Bible study for years.
Twenty years ago that probably would have described most of the women attending your meetings, fellowships, Bible studies, and events, but times have changed.
This year the small group my husband and I are in includes at least four people who did not grow up in the church. It’s a constant reminder to me that they don’t understand many of the words we throw around. God’s Word is new to them. They are hearing most of these stories for the very first time.
It can help us to remember, that not every woman in attendance has read through the Bible.
Pointing out what they don’t know is not encouraging.
Instead, they’ll leave our events feeling like they:
- Aren’t not enough
- Have so much to learn
- Don’t fit in
- That they’ll never catch up
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any woman at any event to leave feeling less than.
I want women to leave feeling loved, encouraged, wanted, valued, and smart!
Let’s consider our guests too.
I hope you have women at every event or meeting who are guests. It’s best to operate in the mindset that we will have visitors.
- Always expect visitors and plan accordingly.
- Assume there will be women in attendance who do not own a Bible and have not read the Bible.
- They won’t have a wealth of Bible trivia at their fingertips.
Even if you make participation optional, highlighting their lack of Bible knowledge in any way may keep them from ever coming back.
A Time and Place for Bible Games
As I step down off my soapbox, let me say there is a time and place for Bible games.
Bible games can be an effective way to reinforce what was just taught, like in a Bible study or during a retreat weekend.
We played many Bible games when we taught high school Juniors, but we focused on the material from the lesson that we had just taught that day.
At the end of one of our women’s Bible study of Ephesians and Titus, I created the game Paul or Princess. I pulled scripture verses and mixed them up with quotes from princess movies. I put women into teams so if they did miss a week or more of our Bible study they weren’t at a disadvantage. Because most of the princess quotes are pretty easy to find online, I did ask that they not use their phones or their Bibles, but you could easily make it an open Bible game.
Another exception I’ve recently made is I am sharing Women of the Bible Trivia questions in the women’s ministry Facebook group for our church.
Once a week I post a question on a graphic that has two possible answers. The wrong answer connects with another woman in the Bible. Every graphic has a hint on it with the scripture reference.
I want to encourage our women to open their Bibles and read God’s Word.
If you want to purchase a set of these graphics you can find them in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Shop here.
I’m not saying all Bible games are wrong. I’m speaking specifically about women’s ministry events, fellowships, Bible studies, and meetings. If you want to gather for a friendly game of Bible Trivia with your friends, please do!
Today’s Toolbox Tasks:
- Discuss the pros and cons of playing Bible games at your women’s ministry meetings, Bible studies, and events.
- Decide when they are appropriate and what guidelines you’ll put into place so women aren’t discouraged by their lack of biblical knowledge.
If you’re looking for a game or icebreaker to play with your group, I encourage you to check out my Icebreakers & Games page here. You’ll find lots of ideas that will encourage connection and conversation as women share personal preferences and experiences.
You may also want to read:
How to Select Icebreaker Games that Build Relationships
Rethinking Women’s Ministry
Paul or Princess
Women of the Bible Trivia Graphics
Icebreakers & Games Masterlist
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