Proverbial Balderdash

This is a fun…and funny…little exercise. On top of that, your students may learn something. Let me explain.

Depending on the size of the group, split up your group into teams of 2-4 kids each. Make sure each team has writing supplies (pen and paper).

Tell them you will give them the first part of a Proverb from the Bible, but not the second part. The students will have to “complete the Proverb,” by writing out what they think the Proverb says in its entirety.

For instance, if you say, “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son….” they will have to complete the Proverb. (If you can project these on a screen one at a time, it helps a lot, and keeps you from having to repeat yourself, so much.)

Give them about 8 different Proverb “beginnings” (one at a time) and let them complete each of them in written form on their paper. After all of the Proverbs have been announced and completed, have the students pass their papers forward. Take a few minutes to read through them out loud. It’ll definitely provide for a few laughs. Have the groups own up to which Proverb “ending” is theirs.

This is usually an eye-opening experience for most students. They simply don’t know the Bible’s content. Proverbs is from the “wisdom books” of the Bible, an area that most teenagers aren’t too strong in.

Here are a few to get you going:

1. (6:16) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to Him….
2. (10:12) Hatred stirs up strife, but….
3. (11:7) When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and….
4. (13:20) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but….
5. (15:22) Without counsel plans fail, but….
6. (16:18) Pride goes before destruction, and….
7. (20:29) The splendor of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men….
8. (28:5) Evil men do not understand justice, but….

You might want to follow this up with teaching about how important God’s Word is for us. Check out Psalm 119.

Idea by Joseph