Age of Players: 8 and above
Number of Players: 8 or more
Prep: No prep needed
You will need: a large space
How to Play:
Players split into two teams and line up in two parallel lines. Each team member faces someone from the opposing team. They sit down with their feet touching. Each partner is given a number. When their number is called the two opposing partners must stand up and jump over everyone’s legs, run around the group and over the legs until they are back in their place. The player that gets back the fastest is the winner. Watch the game here.
VARIATION: A variation of this game is that every partner group is given a different animal or keeps their number and the leader tells a story which includes these elements. The players must listen out for when their animal or number is called.
Click here for the ‘Ladders’ game Powerpoint image
Applications:
AVOIDING TEMPTATION: The ‘Ladders’ game reminded me of how we have to avoid temptation… because you were all having to avoid stepping on your friends’ toes! We all face temptation to do the things we know aren’t good for us. When we struggle we can turn to Jesus for help and ask him to help us when life gets tough. We can remember that just as Jesus was tempted in the desert, he combatted it with the Word of God – let’s follow his example and remember the words of God when we get tempted! (James 1:13-18, Luke 22:40, Matthew 6:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13)
CAUTION/FOCUS/PRECISION: Wasn’t it difficult to avoid stepping on people’s legs in the ‘Ladders’ game?! You had to act with caution and be very focussed and precise in how you ran. Sometimes we have to take caution and act with focus and precision in our daily lives. Jesus is a great example of someone that lived in a focussed way; he lived his life with one purpose – to live and die so that people might know God. (Colossians 3:2, Proverbs 4:25)
DETERMINATION/PERSEVERANCE: The ‘Ladders’ game is one that you have to be determined to win if you are going to play. It’s all about how fast you can get and how much you can persist in getting up when your number is being called. (Romans 12:12, Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13)
RUNNING THE RACE: The ‘Ladders’ game is a great example of running a race – yet Paul talked an even greater race that we can run! The race of life with Jesus! (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1, Isaiah 40:31)
WALKING WITH GOD: Just as in the ‘Ladders’ game you had to watch while you were walking, so we can have an exciting and unpredictable walk with God throughout our life. (2 Corinthians 5:7, Deuteronomy 5:33)
