Bible Icebreakers - Knock Down, or Build Up

Bible Icebreakers - 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.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
CreativeIcebreakers.com

Description
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 re-stack 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)

www.CreativeIcebreakers.com
This EBook not only provides 52 of the
world’s most popular group icebreaker
activities, but also includes lesson ideas and
questions to smoothly transition into
discussions about issues common to most
groups.
Click here to find out more!
Icebreakers Ahead: Take it to the next Level

Bible Icebreakers - Knock Down, or Build Up

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