🧰
Materials: 1 ball, 2 movie clips (clip 1, clip 2), the “Honor with the Heart” questions (below), blank sheets of paper, pens

Game “Bodyguard”

🎲
Players: 4+
Materials: one or more balls

Goal of the game: The players in the circle try to hit the VIP with the ball. The bodyguard’s job is to prevent that and protect the VIP.

How to play

  • Everyone except two players forms a circle. The radius of the circle should match the players’ age: the older the players, the bigger the circle.
  • Two players take on special roles: one becomes the VIP, the other their bodyguard. Both stand in the middle of the circle.
  • VIP and bodyguard may move freely inside the circle but may not leave it.
  • The bodyguard may block the ball in any way imaginable: with hands or other body parts, or by standing protectively in front of the VIP.
  • If the ball touches the VIP even lightly, or the bodyguard catches the ball, the roles switch:
  • The previous VIP joins the circle.
  • The previous bodyguard becomes the new VIP.
  • The player who threw the ball last becomes the new bodyguard.

Variations

  • More balls: The game gets more challenging with two or more balls in play.
  • More VIPs and bodyguards: With a larger group and a correspondingly large circle, you can add several VIPs and bodyguards. For example: 4 balls, 3 bodyguards and 2 VIPs.

Reflection

Wow, some of you showed real power. Good thing we only played with balls and not with anything more dangerous.

❓
Who was a VIP? How did your bodyguard help you?
❓
If your bodyguard was there, why did you get hit anyway? What happened?

Now let’s talk about family. The Bible says a lot about how we should treat our parents. For me, it wasn’t always easy with my parents. I didn’t always get along well with them. Sometimes I thought they just wanted to ruin my fun.

💡
Alternative or additional activity: “Team-building exercise ‘Sound Wall’”

Movie clips

Before we get into our discussion, I want to show you two short clips from the movie “Brave.” Pay attention to how Merida and her mother talk to each other.

Brave: “If you could just listen”
Brave: the confrontation scene
❓
What went through your mind while watching the clips?
❓
At which points did you agree with Merida?
❓
At which points did you agree with her mother?
❓
Why do you think it’s sometimes so complicated between kids and parents? What could be the reason?
❓
What do you think about the sentence “I’m doing this because I love you”?
❓
Do you believe that love sometimes means making hard decisions for someone else? Why or why not?

Bible study

Read Ephesians 6:1-3, Proverbs 6:20-22; 23:26; 30:17

❓
How would you put the central message of these verses in your own words?
❓
What promises does God make in these verses?
❓
What warnings does God give in these verses?
❓
What do his promises and warnings tell you about rules, boundaries and your parents?
⚠️
Point out that not all parents always act for the good of their children. If parents demand something that isn’t right, it shouldn’t be done. Encourage the teenagers to talk to you or another trusted adult about it.
❓
How can you invite God into the relationship between you and your parents and give him room there?

Your parents are like a bodyguard protecting their VIP. God has called your parents to look after your well-being and your protection.

If that isn’t the case for you, please talk to me or to another trusted adult.

Your parents are called by God to set rules and boundaries to protect you. Maybe you don’t like those rules. But if you step away from your bodyguard, you get into trouble.

Activity “Honor with the Heart”

👉
Give every teenager a copy of the questions, a blank sheet of paper and a pen.
📝
Honor with the Heart: questions for you alone
1. Which of your parents’ rules are the hardest for you to accept and follow?
2. Why do you think you struggle with these rules?
3. Which of your parents’ rules or boundaries have helped or protected you in your life?
4. What would have to happen for you to see your parents’ rules and boundaries as love?
5. Which attitudes and behaviors would you like to change?
6. What is something you’d like to say to your parents?

Each of you gets the questions and a blank sheet of paper. The questions are meant to help you think more concretely about which rules you find helpful and which you don’t, and why. Spread out around the room and be careful not to disturb each other. This time is yours. Use it to think about the questions. Nobody will read your sheets unless you explicitly give your permission. You won’t have to read your answers out loud later either. The questions are just for you. I’m sure they will help you in dealing with your parents. After you’ve thought about the questions, use the blank sheet to write a letter to your parents. You can write down everything you feel, hope or fear. It’s up to you whether you want to give the letter to your parents later or not.

Challenge

To close, I want to encourage all of you to take on a challenge: in the coming week, try to deliberately appreciate and support your parents. That can mean sharing your feelings with them, helping around the house or simply really listening when they talk to you.

Thank you for being here today. To close, we want to say a short prayer together and ask God to help us honor our parents.

Close with a prayer.

English version: September 2026