The elements described below offer different ways to engage with the topic of this session. It’s up to you whether you use all of them or just one. They are tools for you; you decide how to use them. What matters:

  • Be flexible and adapt the activities to the group dynamic.
  • Make sure all the teenagers are included and feel comfortable.
  • Be sensitive to emotional reactions, especially when it comes to personal topics.

Communication exercise with Morse code

⏱ 45 minutes

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Materials: for each group, Morse code words in an envelope; for each participant a sheet of paper, a pen and the Morse alphabet

In this exercise, the participants have the task of decoding a Bible verse that is given in Morse code and sending it in the right order as Morse code. The groups may only communicate with each other in Morse code, while participants within a group may talk normally.

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The verse in Morse code (John 10:27 NIV: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”). Print or write each word on its own card:
1. MY: -- -.--
2. SHEEP: ... .... . . .--.
3. LISTEN: .-.. .. ... - . -.
4. TO: - ---
5. MY: -- -.--
6. VOICE: ...- --- .. -.-. .
7. I: ..
8. KNOW: -.- -. --- .--
9. THEM: - .... . --
10. AND: .- -. -..
11. THEY: - .... . -.--
12. FOLLOW: ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .--
13. ME: -- .

Morse alphabet to print for every participant

A .- · B -... · C -.-. · D -.. · E . · F ..-. · G --. · H .... · I .. · J .--- · K -.- · L .-.. · M --

N -. · O --- · P .--. · Q --.- · R .-. · S ... · T - · U ..- · V ...- · W .-- · X -..- · Y -.-- · Z --..

A dot is a short signal (a tap or a short flash), a dash a long one. Leave a short pause between letters and a longer pause between words.

Preparation

  • Decide in advance how many groups you want to form. Depending on the number of participants, you can form as many groups as there are words to solve (a maximum of 13). I split my teens into 3 groups and gave each group several words.
  • If you have an especially large group, you can extend the Morse code with more verses.
  • Cut the Morse code into the individual words.
  • Distribute these words in the wrong order into envelopes, according to the number of groups you want to form.
  • Prepare a pen, a blank sheet of paper and the Morse alphabet for each participant.

How it works

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Who knows Morse code?
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In which situations have you used Morse code, or do you know situations in which Morse code is often used?
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The best-known Morse code is S-O-S. Who could send it right away?

Before there was voice radio, Morse code was used mainly at sea to transmit important messages. In Morse code, every letter has a fixed sequence of long and short light or sound signals. To send a message, the letters are sent one after another in the right order.

Your task now is to decode a Morse code message and send it in the right order.

  • Split into the prepared groups. Each group will get an envelope with words written in Morse code on small cards.
  • To decode them, you’ll also get the Morse alphabet.
  • Your task is to decode the words and, together with the other groups, form the sentence that the words make up. You are to send it to me in the right order in Morse code.
  • The goal is for each group to work out its words and then, as a whole group, put together the solution sentence. At the end of the exercise you are to send it in the right order in Morse code.
  • During the whole exercise you may not talk to the other groups or pass messages on paper. The only way to communicate with the other groups is by Morse code.
  • Each of you may take your own notes, and within your group you may talk normally.
  • Before you go into your groups and start decoding, discuss with each other how you want to arrive at the solution as a whole group.
  • Because as soon as I say “Go,” talking is only allowed within the groups. If you want to communicate with other groups, you may only do so in Morse code.

Reflection

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How was it for you to decode the Morse code without being able to talk?
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What was especially challenging?
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How did you manage to form the complete verse?

📖 Read John 10:27 together in the Bible

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What truths do you find in this verse?
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Who do you think Jesus means by “my sheep”?
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What does hearing his voice require?
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Bible verses you can use here: John 10:3-4; John 16:13; Romans 8:14-16; Proverbs 8:34; John 8:47
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What does following mean? What does it look like?
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How do you hear Jesus’ voice? Where or in which situation have you heard him?
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What parallels do you discover between the exercise and hearing Jesus’ voice?

Communication exercise “Chaos”

⏱ 40+ minutes

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Materials: ropes, a blindfold for every participant, small wooden boards, carpet tiles. Instead of wooden boards and carpet tiles you can also use other objects, for example sticky notes and sheets of paper.

In this exercise, the participants have the task of recovering treasures in a minefield while blindfolded.

Preparation

  • Mark out a rectangular field as the minefield with the ropes. Vary it according to difficulty and the size of your group. The smaller the field, the harder the task.
  • Make sure there are no other tripping hazards in the field (holes, branches and so on).
  • Distribute the mines (wooden boards) and treasures (carpet tiles) in the field.
  • Have the participants form pairs and give each pair a blindfold.

How it works

In front of you is a minefield containing treasures in the form of carpet tiles. Your task as teams is to recover these treasures without stepping on a mine. The sighted partner guides the blindfolded player. Follow these rules.

  • No names may be said.
  • The blindfolded players may not talk during the task and may only take off their blindfold when they have recovered all the treasures and are no longer in the minefield.
  • The sighted partner may not move from their spot.
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Tip: To make the task easier, you can allow them to move. They may not enter the field or make physical contact with the blindfolded player.
  • A treasure has been recovered when the blindfolded player has touched it with the sole of their foot. The sighted partner is responsible for making sure all treasures have really been recovered before leading the blindfolded player out of the field.
  • If a blindfolded player sets off a mine by touching it, they go back to the starting position and begin the exercise again. All treasures found so far are lost.
  • The sighted partner is responsible for the blindfolded player’s safety and makes sure they don’t run into other blindfolded players.
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Tip: Observe the participants during the task and bring your observations into the reflection by asking questions like: “I noticed that ___ positioned themselves like ___ before you gave any further instructions. What made you do that?”
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For the second round, have the participants switch roles so that everyone has both guided and been guided.

Reflection

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What did you notice during the exercise?
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What was especially challenging when you were guiding?
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What surprised you?
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How was it for you to be guided?
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What went through your mind?
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What was especially challenging for you?
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What connections do you see between your experiences in this exercise and your life with Jesus?
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Which situations reflect how you perceive or hear Jesus?
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If you did the Morse code activity and followed it with this one, the connection to John 10:27 fits well here again. Otherwise it’s a good idea to read specific promises out loud here: John 10:27; John 10:3-4; John 16:13; Romans 8:14-16; Proverbs 8:34; John 8:47
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What connections do you see between your experiences in this exercise and Jesus’ promises?
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What is one thing you’re taking away from today’s exercise?
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Share one takeaway and connect biblical truths with the exercise based on what you observed. Sometimes, though, it’s enough to let the experience speak for itself and keep working, without commenting on it.

English version: September 2026