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For Sunday school and youth groups

Bible charades

Bible charades is a lively way to review stories with a Sunday school class or youth group. These 105 ideas cover well-known stories (David and Goliath), people (Queen Esther), parables (the Lost Sheep) and objects (Noah's Ark), grouped from easy to hard.

For younger children, read the story first and then act it. For older groups, ask the guessers to say where the story is found as a bonus point.

BibleEasy

Forbidden Fruit

 

Easy Bible charades for kids

This set has 23 ideas. Start with "Noah's Ark", "Adam and Eve", "David and Goliath" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.

  • Noah's ArkEasy
  • Adam and EveEasy
  • David and GoliathEasy
  • Jonah and the WhaleEasy
  • Daniel in the Lions' DenEasy
  • Three Wise MenEasy
  • Baby JesusEasy
  • Forbidden FruitEasy
  • PrayingEasy
  • AngelEasy
  • The BibleEasy
  • Moses Parting the Red SeaMedium
  • Joseph's Coat of Many ColorsMedium
  • Baby Moses in a BasketMedium
  • Zacchaeus Up a TreeMedium
  • The Lost SheepMedium
  • Rainbow after the FloodMedium
  • Dove with an Olive BranchMedium
  • Animals Two by TwoMedium
  • Slingshot and StoneMedium
  • Singing in a ChoirMedium
  • Sunday SchoolMedium
  • The Good ShepherdMedium

Christmas story charades

This set has 9 ideas. Start with "The Nativity", "Star of Bethlehem", "Manger" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

  • The NativityMedium
  • Star of BethlehemMedium
  • MangerMedium
  • Angel GabrielMedium
  • Mary and JosephMedium
  • BethlehemMedium
  • No Room at the InnHard
  • Shepherds Watching Their FlocksHard
  • Gold, Frankincense and MyrrhHard
See the full list →

Easter charades

This set has 2 ideas. Start with "The Empty Tomb", "Palm Sunday" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

  • The Empty TombHard
  • Palm SundayHard

Bible stories and people

This set has 26 ideas. Start with "The Ten Commandments", "Burning Bush", "Garden of Eden" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

  • The Ten CommandmentsMedium
  • Burning BushMedium
  • Garden of EdenMedium
  • Tower of BabelMedium
  • The Good SamaritanMedium
  • Feeding the Five ThousandMedium
  • Walking on WaterMedium
  • Jesus Calms the StormMedium
  • The Last SupperMedium
  • SamsonMedium
  • Samson and DelilahMedium
  • Queen EstherMedium
  • King SolomonMedium
  • Water into WineMedium
  • Loaves and FishesMedium
  • Baptism of JesusMedium
  • John the BaptistMedium
  • PharaohMedium
  • Plagues of EgyptMedium
  • Plague of FrogsMedium
  • Golden CalfMedium
  • Walls of JerichoMedium
  • Cain and AbelMedium
  • The Serpent in the GardenMedium
  • GenesisMedium
  • ExodusMedium

Hard Bible charades for youth groups

This set has 45 ideas. Start with "The Prodigal Son", "Elijah and the Chariot of Fire", "Jacob's Ladder" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.

  • The Prodigal SonHard
  • Elijah and the Chariot of FireHard
  • Jacob's LadderHard
  • AbrahamHard
  • RuthHard
  • Fishers of MenHard
  • Lazarus RisingHard
  • Parable of the Mustard SeedHard
  • The SowerHard
  • Sermon on the MountHard
  • The Lord's PrayerHard
  • Plague of LocustsHard
  • Manna from HeavenHard
  • GideonHard
  • Forty Days and Forty NightsHard
  • Paul on the Road to DamascusHard
  • Paul's ShipwreckHard
  • Doubting ThomasHard
  • Pontius PilateHard
  • Mary MagdaleneHard
  • Martha and MaryHard
  • MethuselahHard
  • Lot's WifeHard
  • Joseph Interprets DreamsHard
  • Jacob and EsauHard
  • Rebekah at the WellHard
  • Hannah PraysHard
  • Young Samuel Hears a VoiceHard
  • Ravens Feed ElijahHard
  • The Widow's OfferingHard
  • Ark of the CovenantHard
  • PsalmsHard
  • ProverbsHard
  • RevelationHard
  • The Twelve DisciplesHard
  • Lamb of GodHard
  • Mount SinaiHard
  • Jordan RiverHard
  • Sea of GalileeHard
  • NazarethHard
  • JerusalemHard
  • Shadrach, Meshach and AbednegoHard
  • The Writing on the WallHard
  • Balaam's Talking DonkeyHard
  • CommunionHard

64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.

Questions

What are good Bible charades for kids?

Stories with a clear action: Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale, Daniel in the Lions' Den, Zacchaeus up a tree.

How do you play Bible charades in Sunday school?

Split the class into two teams. One child acts a story or person while their team guesses within a minute. Give a bonus point for naming the book of the Bible.

What are harder Bible charades for youth groups?

People and events with no single gesture: Methuselah, Balaam's talking donkey, the writing on the wall, Paul on the road to Damascus.

Can Bible charades be used at Christmas?

Yes. The Christmas story section has the nativity, the wise men and the shepherds, and the Christmas charades page has more.

Is there a printable version for church?

Yes. Use the printable cards link on this page for an A4 or US Letter PDF with cut lines.