This is a REPOST from July 2020. Some of the theme pages I was just able to fix links on and reactivate, but this one is giving me trouble so I’m having to repost it.
I love board games, puzzles, and all those things, especially with family and friends. Growing up, my family always played games. My dad was a big domino player, and my mom was pretty good at Uno. She would draw four you to tears! You definitely didn’t want to sit next to her during a game of Uno! My parents are both gone on to be with the Lord, so playing games around the table is such a beautiful memory.
I originally posted this game theme back in 2011. I’ve dusted it off and tweaked it a little for you.
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Game Theme Concept
—Originally Posted 2011 as a “Game Night” women’s ministry theme
—Updated July 2020
The event themes on the website can be used for showers, parties, women’s ministry retreats and activities, or church functions. Each theme will have one or several possible spiritual applications. I give you lots of info and ideas—You pick just a few to enhance your event. More ideas can be used for showers and parties, but less is always more for ministry events.
Theme Title Ideas
- All Game for Fun
- Bingo Night
- BREAK THE ICE Game Night
- CANDY LAND Game Night (games and candy buffet)
- Checkers, Chess, & Chatter
- CONNECT 4 Fun
- Family Game Night
- Friends, Family, & Fun
- Fun & Games
- Fun in a Box
- Game. Set. Match.
- Game Changers
- Game Night
- Game Night CONCENTRATION
- Game Night Extravaganza
- Game Time
- Get on Board!
- Get Your Game On!
- Get Your Head in the Game!
- Hop on Board!
- MONOPOLY on Fun
- Mystery Dinner
- On Board
- OPERATION Game Night
- Puzzle Night
- Puzzled
- Video Game Night
- Your Turn!
Spiritual and General Applications
- Focus on getting your head into the game of living the Christian life to the best of your ability.
- Focus on doing more than talking a good game as a Christian.
- Focus on knowing the competition and being aware of temptations and downfalls. (The games Chutes & Ladders, Battleship, and Stratego are all good illustrations for this.)
- Focus on fitting in and finding your place by using your gifts in the body of Christ. —for a Puzzle Night.
- Focus on the “mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). —for a Mystery Dinner.
- Focus on fellowship and fun with family and friends.
- Focus on relationship building with others.
Theme Verse Suggestions
“…Choose you this day whom ye will serve…” Joshua 24:15 —As in it’s your turn such as in a board game.
Devotional and Workshop Ideas
- Pick up some Game Night Devotional Writing Ideas here. (pdf)
- Find more devotional writing prompts here.
- Find all my devotional book collections on my Amazon Author Page.
Simple Decorating
For game night, the point is to have fun, so less is probably more for sure for this theme. You don’t want everyone to have to do a lot of clean up for this one.
- Tray or small table with various old games, puzzles, and game pieces. Check yard sales and thrift stores. You don’t need all the game pieces to be included because you are just going to use them just as decoration.
- Centerpiece of a clear vase and flowers (silk/fake) with puzzle pieces and game pieces filled in bottom of vase to cover stems.
Games to Play
Board Games
There are a lot of board games out there, but don’t pick any too complicated. More familiar ones usually resonate better with larger groups.
- Scrabble
- Operation
- Clue (could be a lengthy game)
- Monopoly (could be a lengthy game)
- Chutes and Ladders
- Trouble
- Chess
- Checkers
- Bunko
- Boggle
- Yahtzee
Card Games
- Uno
- Phase 10
- Skip-Bo
- Old Maid
- Go Fish
Other
- Dominoes
- Puzzles
- Jenga
- Charades
- Win, Lose, or Draw
Outside Games
- Tag
- Crochet
- Horseshoes
Video Games
If you are having a Video Game Night, make sure all of your game equipment is hooked up and working properly. Make sure you have new batteries in the remotes.
Sword Drill/Bible Challenges
Just an FYI—I’ve had ladies in the past tell me that Sword Drills that we had in our ladies meetings have helped them learn where things in the Bible are and they were so appreciative of the opportunity to learn even if they didn’t know their Bibles very well in the beginning. It’s a great teaching and learning tool. I always think if you are having a lot of un-churched ladies, you might want to forgo it, but for your regular attendees and especially new Christians, they need to be taught Bible skills, and part of getting to know the Word of God is getting to know where things are in the Bible. If you want to alleviate any awkwardness, just pair up older, wiser spiritual women in Christ to the younger spiritually, and use teams for Sword Drills.
- Give Scripture references and have everyone use their Bibles to be the first to find each one.
- If you are going to do this, make sure you tell everyone ahead of time to bring their Bibles.
- Knowing where things are in your Bible is a good thing and something we should be challenged to do.
Bible Knowledge
- Call out various Bible references to be quoted.
- See who can quote the Books of the Old Testament, New Testament. See who can name the 12 disciples. See who knows the Days of Creation and what God created on each day.
- You can make up your own Bible questions, but there are a lot of Bible trivia games you can purchase as well. Check Amazon or Christian book sellers.
SHOPPING FOR CARD GAMES
Music
You probably won’t need any music to sing, but if this is for a group, you could sing a few “Recess” or “Jump rope” songs/rhymes to get you in “kid” mode. Watch out though. Those songs will stick in your head long after Game Night is over!
Favor Ideas
This is another one of those themes where I don’t think a favor is needed. A memory of fun is what will help your guests remember your Game Night, but just in case you want something, here are a few ideas.
- Give out colorful bandannas to represent “teams” and have everyone keep them at the end.
- Bottle of bubbles (make your own label)
- Mini puzzles
- Small game themed novelty toys. I’ve given you a few ideas from Amazon below
Door Prizes
- Any type of board game
- Card game such as Uno
- Crossword puzzle or word search books
- Puzzle
- Game Gift Basket – Puzzle books, card games, board game, puzzle, Bible trivia book, snacks.
Just for Fun
Group Craft
Do a group craft by recycling puzzle or game pieces. You can buy “Scrabble” type letter pieces at most craft stores or check Amazon. Get some ideas from the creative blogs below.
- “Scrabble” type letter ornaments (Crafty Morning)
- Recycling Game Pieces (Craft Corners)
- Domino Pendants (Jewelry Making Journal)
- Altered Monopoly House Charms (Ink Stains with Roni)
- Snowflake Puzzle Ornament (Mama Pappa Bubba)
Table Hosts
If you are setting up several games, then choose hosts for each of those games ahead of time. Choose somebody that knows the rules to that game and can give a simple overview of the rules so everybody is on the same page. We all tend to have our “own” rules for the most popular games, so a quick overview of the rules you will be playing by might be good.
Rotation
If you have a lot of shorter games, have different tables set up and rotate to different tables after so many minutes so everyone gets to play a little bit of each game.
Invitation Wording Ideas
- LIFE isn’t about being SORRY, so get a CLUE! Forget your TROUBLE and allow some fun to have a MONOPOLY on your time. SCRABBLE along and join us for OPERATION Game Night! It will BOGGLE your mind!
- Get off the CHUTES & LADDERS of LIFE and join us for Game Night!
- Get a CLUE! Join us for Game Night!
- Bored? Hop on Board for Game Night!
- Don’t be SORRY. Join us for Game Night!
- Get into LIFE! Join us for Game Night!
- Stay out of TROUBLE. Get a LIFE and join us for Game Night!
- Please join us for OPERATION Game Night.
- CONNECT 4 Game Night!
- Join us for Game Night. It will be more fun than a BARREL OF MONKEYS!
- It’s okay to RISK some fun in LIFE. You won’t be SORRY when you join us for OPERATION Game Night!
- Our PURSUIT for Fun is not TRIVIAL. Join us for Game Night!
- Having fun in LIFE isn’t a TRIVIAL PURSUIT. Join us for Game Night!
- Are you game for fun? Join us for Game Night!
- It’s your turn for fun! Join us for Game Night!
- Use Your CRANIUM. Join us for Game Night!
- Jump like you have ANTZ IN THE PANTS! OPERATION Game Night is almost here!
- I SPY more than a little fun! Game Night is coming!
- All HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS will be welcome at our CANDY LAND Game Night! Sweet fun along with all the sweet treats to eat!
Food and Serving
Serve snack-able food such as dips and chips, cookies, bowls of nuts and M&Ms, or mini pizzas.
Photo Source
Want the photo used for the page title of this theme? Find the original at Unsplash here.
Please leave any extra ideas for Game Night in the comments. Or if you have used this theme, let me know! I love hearing how the themes are used.
Creative blessings,
Julia
