This activity can be used as a simple GAME that has absolutely no point, or as an OPENER that leads to a spiritual conversation. Totally, your call. The good news is, you don’t need anything to pull this one off. Here’s what you do.
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow works a bit like an icebreaker. If you have a large group, you’ll need to break them down into smaller teams. Just make sure there are 6 (or less) students per group.
When everyone is situated, have each person share 3 different, truthful things about them: something they did yesterday, something they did today, and something that they will do tomorrow.
Let everyone take their turn, one after the next, without interruption. When all the students have shared their 3 “events,” THEN ask one student in the circle to try and accurately recall all the other students’ events. If he/she gets it right, give him/her a prize of some sort. If he/she gets it wrong (and time permits), allow another student to try.
Where to take it from here:
If you choose to use this fun little activity as an OPENER, you can easily segue into the Bible passage that talks about Jesus being the same “yesterday, today, and forever.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.” (Hebrews 13:8-9)
Say, “While we don’t always live a consistent life – as evidenced by some of our personal events we just talked about – Jesus does. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did thousands of years before, He also does today, and promises to do forever.”
Optional Questions:
1. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that Jesus is consistent “yesterday, today, and forever?” Why?
2. What are some of the things Jesus has done in the past?
3. What are some things He’s done very recently?
4. What do you think He’ll do in the future?
5. In what ways could our lives be more like Jesus’?
Original idea by Joe S.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.