Missing the Mark Bible Game

Set Up
Your target can be a standard bulls-eye target, or design your target to match your theme. We played this game during our Outer Space-themed VBS program. I drew a large picture of the planet Jupiter, with it's giant Red Spot for the bulls-eye. We had the players write down their ideas of good works on a sheet of paper. For example, obeying your parents, being kind to others, telling the truth, etc. Then they folded them into paper spaceships.

How To Play
Designate a throw line. Place the target about 15-20 feet away. It is essential to make it impossible for anyone to hit the target. Tell the players that the target represents God. The spaceships represent our good works, and the distance between the throw line and the target represents our sin, which separates us from God. Tell the players they must attempt to throw their spaceship as close to the target as possible. Allow everyone to take a turn, but leave the spaceships on the ground as you go; then explain the following object lesson.

Object Lesson 
The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). One of the definitions of sin is to miss the mark of perfection. God is perfect and we are not, which means we cannot get to God by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). In our game some of the players got closer to the target than other players. Likewise, some of us do more good things while we live on Earth. But still, all those good things aren't close to making us perfect like God is perfect. We still miss the mark! We still have sin in the way! (Point out the great distance between the position of the spaceships and the goal.) The good news is that Jesus has made a way! He is our transportation to God! There is no fee, it is a FREE pass. The Bible says that we must repent and turn from our sin so we can be forgiven, because the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Acts 3:19; Romans 6:23).

Close in Prayer
If you've never asked Jesus to be your Savior and Forever Friend, you can do so now. Won't you pray with me? "Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to take my punishment for sinning against you. Thank you for rising from the dead so I can have eternal life with God. Help me to turn from my sins, trust in you, and follow you all the days of my life. Amen."

Here's the good news, the Bible says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13.

(We played this game during our closing program with a few of the children and their parents. We had a wonderful time! Weeks later, I learned that one of the children prayed with her parents that night to receive Jesus as the Lord of her life! PTL!) 

Copyright 1997 S.A. Keith - For individual or classroom use only. Not to be sold or distributed without the written consent.

Help keep the site going, support our site!

Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More