





                          THE GOSPEL GAME

                     Software Sharing Ministries
                      2020 North Fremont Street
                      Tacoma, Washington  98406
                             206-756-7980


    When early Christians went forth spreading their good news
    about what God had brought to pass in the life, death and
    resurrection of Jesus-- they did so at first by word of
    mouth.  Only after several decades did they begin to write
    their message down.

    The early Christian did not keep the things they knew about
    Jesus locked up in a file case. They used everything they
    knew of Jesus' words and activities in their tasks of telling
    others about him in ministering to one another, in shaping
    their prayers, worship and daily life,

    Imagine the period when the transition was being made from
    the life of Jesus to the written Gospels which tell us about
    it:
    Jesus' ministry running from approximately 27AD to 30AD; then
    by 50AD the first written documents from Christian hands (the
    letters of Paul) are beginning to appear.

    There was about four stages of this development:

    (a) during Jesus' own lifetime no written records were kept
    about him by friend or foe

    (b) from 30AD to about 100AD and beyond, the Gospel was
    spread by word of mouth

    (c) about 70AD written materials about Jesus begin to appear

    (d) finally the disciples themselves gathered various
    materials together (oral and written), emphasizing those
    facets of Jesus' life and teachings which best fitted the
    needs of the local church and the readers.

    Throughout all this, there was the spreading of the good news
    about God's relationship to man, good news which would
    transform the lives of those who read and heard and believed.
    A major thrust of this good news was the revolutionary life
    style taught by Jesus.

    The four documents of good news (the Gospels) are believed to
    have been written for four different social groups. That is,
    they present the life and teachings of Jesus from four
    different points of view:










    MATTHEW:written for Jewish Christians and for gentiles
    living in Asia Minor; presents a fuller biography of
    Jesus and records more teachings than Mark;
    emphasizes that Christianity was not overthrowing
    but fulfilling Jewish law.

    MARK:   written for gentiles living in Rome to demonstrate
    that Jesus was the Messiah and to encourage
    Christians suffering from Roman Persecution.

    LUKE:   written to a Roman official, perhaps to convince the
    imperial government that the Christians were not a
    subversive sect.

    JOHN:   written to a more theological minded and
    philosophical group as compared to the three groups
    above.


    THE GOSPEL GAME is a simulation exercise about the fourth
    stage in the development of the Gospels which we have with us
    today:
    the pulling together of various materials about Jesus to fit
    the needs of particular people.

    The purpose of the game is to demonstrate how a gospel
    writer's outlook on life, point of view, audience, and
    political pressures influenced how he wrote his good news.

    The game has been used in communicant classes, retreats,
    bible study workshops and youth programs. It is recommended
    for use by 5th grade young people through adults.

    Many thanks goes to the many people who creatively played
    with such an idea as this one...




    SUGGESTIONS FOR GAME ADMINISTRATION
    -----------------------------------

    1. THE GOSPEL GAME is played best on the floor of a large
    room.  The room should be large enough to accommodate 6
    teams of 3-5 players each.

    2. Space the teams any way you wish. We have found that
    spacing the teams well enough apart from each other in a
    circle arrangement like the following works best:

                             O
                          O     O

                          O     O
                             O











    3. Each team is to have access to glue, newspapers, old
    magazines, large sheets of construction paper, and blank
    4x6 cards. Each team should also have ample pencils or
    marking pens.

    4. Become familiar with the sequence of game activities as
    found in the players instructions.

    5. Allow one to two hours for playing THE GOSPEL GAME,
    discussion, and follow through activities.

    6. When you are ready to begin the game, spend a few moments
       setting the climate for playing the game. You may want to
       use one of the media resources suggested in this booklet.

    7. Hand out the game instructions to the players. Allow time
    for each team to read. Then "walk through" the sequence of
    events of the game and what is expected of each team.

    8. Hand out game packets and announce that they have a time
    limit of 30 minutes in which to finish their gospel.

    9. Act as a guide to the teams. Interpret the idea of the
    game to each team separately-- answering questions,
    suggesting possible ideas of how to work together.

    10. Demonstrate your own excitement about playing THE GOSPEL
    GAME.  If you are not personally eager to run it, don't
    go through with it. If you, as the administrator of the
    game, are excited, so will the players.

    11. Give the players 30 minutes to make decisions and do
    their paste-ups. Give 15,10,and 5 minute warnings. Feel
    free to give players more time if they need it.

    12. At the end of 30 minutes call time. Each team is to
    select a spokesperson to describe their gospel and how
    they feel it helps the intended audience; as well as way
    their particular gospel is important. Each group should
    be given a three minute time limit

    13. After each team has reported, give three minutes of free
    time in which anyone may join other groups based on their
    gospels.

    14. If possible go directly into the discussion period. Your
    role during this time is to be a facilitator, helping the
    entire group to reflect on their experience and the
    discussion activities.

















    PREPARING FOR PLAYING THE GOSPEL GAME
    -------------------------------------

    1. Collect old magazines and newspapers. 2-3 for each player
    should be sufficient.

    2. Collect a dozen or more small bottles of glue.

    3. Collect 50-60 blank 4x6 cards or cut white construction
    paper to a similar size.

    4. Collect a dozen or more sheets of 3'x5' construction paper

    5. Prepare packets of game materials ahead of time.
    These packets are to contain scripture cards, one audience
    card, and players instructions

        (a) Type or write the enclosed list of scripture verses
            on indicated colored 4x6 cards

        (b) Type or write players instructions on 5x8 cards as
            indicated on the enclosed list (enough for each
            player)

        (c) Type or write audience cards as indicated on enclosed
            list



    AUDIENCE PROFILES TO BE PUT ON CARDS:


    AUDIENCE #1:

    Write to people that are suffering from
    being attacked by Roman soldiers. It is
    important that you give them hope by show-
    ing them that Jesus is the Messiah.

    AUDIENCE #2:

    Write to people that are Jewish Christians,
    giving as full a biography of Jesus and re-
    cording as many of his teachings as you can.
    It is important that you emphasize that
    Christianity is not overthrowing but fulfilling
    Jewish law.

    AUDIENCE #3:

    Write to convince the Roman Government that
    the Christians were not trying to overthrow them.
    It is also important that you tell about healings
    and miracles of Jesus.












    AUDIENCE #4:

    Write to people that await the promised return of
    Jesus. Show them that Jesus gives life now to those
    who will believe.

    AUDIENCE #5:

    Write to people of today to show that there is hope,
    love, and power to those who believe in Jesus. And to
    believe means to become free unto a completely different
    life style.

    AUDIENCE #6:

    Write from the point of view of a gospel writer in the
    future (the year 2100 AD).


    SCRIPTURE VERSES TO BE PUT ON CARDS:

    Special Material In Luke:           Special Material In Mark:
    [ON GREEN CARDS]                      [ON ORANGE CARDS]

       Luke 10:30-36                             Mark 2:13-14
       Luke 22:35-38                             Mark 3:31-35
       Luke 18:10-14                             Mark 2:1-12
       Luke 12:32-34                             Mark 8:27-29
       Luke 12:47-48                             Mark 6:45-51
       Luke 13:6-9                               Mark 1:35-39
                                                 Mark 10:46-52
                                                 Mark 7:31-37



    Material Unique To Luke
     And Matthew Together:
    [ON BLUE CARDS]                    Old Testament Quotations
                                               In Matthew
       Luke 12:1-3                           [ON RED CARDS]
       Luke 12:54-56
       Luke 21:32-33                             Matthew 12:18-21
       Luke 12:49-53                             Matthew 8:17
       Luke 6:20-26                              Matthew 13:13-17
       Luke 11:2-4                               Matthew 9:13
       Luke 12:10                                Matthew 9:13
       Luke 18:15-17                             Matthew 13:34-35
       Luke 11:29-32                             Matthew 15:7-9
       Luke 13:22-24
       Luke 12:39-40
       Luke 17:20-21
       Matthew 8:5-13
       Matthew 24:29-31
       Matthew 24:36
       Matthew 7:15-20
       Matthew 10:34-39
       Matthew 6:34









                       INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAYERS
                       -----------------------

    YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE GOSPEL WRITERS.
    WHAT WILL YOU SELECT TO BE IN YOUR GOSPEL?

                          YOU WILL HAVE AVAILABLE THE SAME
                          KIND OF MATERIAL THAT A WRITER COULD
                          HAVE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.

    YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN AUDIENCE CARD THAT
    TELLS YOU WHAT PEOPLE YOU ARE TO WRITE YOUR
    GOSPEL TO. THINK TOGETHER ABOUT EVERYTHING
    YOU MIGHT KNOW ABOUT THESE PEOPLE: THEIR
    LIFE, NEEDS, PERSECUTION...

                          YOUR TEAM MUST DECIDE WHAT MATERIALS
                          YOU WANT TO USE AND IN WHAT ORDER.
                          LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURE CARDS.  SELECT
                          THOSE CARDS THAT CAN BEST BE USED TO
                          WRITE TO YOUR AUDIENCE. HOW CAN YOU
                          BEST GIVE THEM A MESSAGE OF HOPE,
                          STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND FAITH?

    YOU MAY MAKE UP OTHER MATERIAL OF YOUR OWN
    OUT OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.  BLANK
    CARDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

                          PASTE YOUR "GOSPEL MATERIAL" IN THE
                          ORDER YOU WANT ONTO THE CONSTRUCTION
                          PAPER. WORK AS FAST AS YOU CAN.  BE
                          PREPARED TO SHARE YOUR GOSPEL WITH
                          OTHER GROUPS.

    RULES
    -----

    1. Everyone in your team must agree to any decisions made
    2. You must use at least 12 scripture cards
    3. You must be done within 30 minutes
    4. No talking between teams

























    RELATED ACTIVITIES
    ------------------

    1. Instead of giving the teams audience cards, have them pick
       their own audience.

    2. Compare the general outline of the gospel written by each
    team to the general outline of Matthew, Mark, Luke and
    John. The INTERPRETER'S BIBLE[Abingdon Press] gives
    detailed outlines for each book of the bible.

    3. Instead of just written material for scripture cards, tape
    some material orally-- to recreate oral tradition that the
    Gospel writers had to work with. This may necessitate
    giving the players more time during the game.

    4. The good news of the Gospel written during the early
    church was proclaimed as news of an event which was good
    for people to hear.  The result of its proclamation was
    that many responded with joy and "became Christian"...
    They shared the way of life of the Gospel writers and
    their conviction that Jesus has universal significance.
    Have the group compare the music and songs in contemporary
    hits to their own good news. What is the central
    convictions of the songs and of their own good news?
    Recent movies? TV shows? TV commercials?

    5. Compare the songs and writings of such recordings as JESUS
    CHRIST SUPERSTAR, GODSPELL, and others to the gospels
    written by the players.

    6. Follow through with the creative use of some of the media
    resources listed.

    7. Give opportunity for some of the players to share their
    gospels at worship, family nights, congregational
    meetings...



    DISCUSSION ACTIVITIES
    ---------------------


    What kinds of decisions did you have to make in your group?


    What sorts of problems did you face in selecting material
    for your gospel?


    Do you think the gospel writers of the early church had the
    same problems? Any different problems? Why?


    What was the general message of your gospel to your audience?
    Do you think you communicated any "good news"...?









    Why did you go to join another group? What was their good
    news? What influenced you the most: message? artwork?
    friends? Do you think this happened in the early church?


    Have the players look at the scripture cards used by each
    team.  Mention that ORANGE CARDS represented special material
    that Mark used; RED CARDS represented Old Testament quotes
    that Matthew used; GREEN CARDS represented special material
    used by Luke; BLUE CARDS represented material unique to Luke
    and Matthew together. What color predominates the gospel of
    each team? How does this correspond to the audience they wrote
    to?




    MEDIA RESOURCES
    ---------------

    BOOKS:

    BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN [Westminster Press,
    Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia PA 19107]

    EXERCISES IN INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE [Geneva Press,
      Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia PA 19107]

    THE INTERPRETER'S BIBLE [Abingdon Press, 201 8th Ave.,
    South, Nashville TN 37202]

    THE INTERPRETER'S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE [Abingdon
    Press, 201 8th Ave., South, Nashville TN 37202]

    TWENTY WAYS OF TEACHING THE BIBLE [Abingdon Press]

    THE WESTMINSTER DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE [Westminster
    Press, Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia PA 19107]

    THE WESTMINSTER HISTORICAL ATLAS TO THE BIBLE [West-
    minster Press, Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia
    PA 19107]

    YOUNG READERS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE [Abingdon Press,
    201 8th Ave., South, Nashville TN 37202]























    FILMS:

    THE GUIDE [Cathedral Films, 2921 West Alameda Ave.,
    Burbank CA 91505]

    IT'S ABOUT THIS CARPENTER [New York University, Film
    Library, 26 Washington Pl., New York NY 10003]

    NEW BORN AGAIN [Grailville, Loveland OH 45140]

    THE SEASON [Contemporary Films 330 West 42nd St, New
    York NY 10036 or 828 Custer Ave, Evanston IL 60202]


    FILMSTRIPS:

    BEHIND THE SCENES IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES [Lutheran Church
    Supply Store P.O. Box 60207, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles
    CA 90060]

    CHRIST IN THE ART OF AFRICA,CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN [Presbyterian
    Distribution Service, 200 West Adams St., Chicago IL
    60606]

    FIVE PARABLES OF JESUS [United Church Press, 1505 Race St.,
    Philadelphia PA 19102]

    FOUR GOSPELS KIT [Family Films, 5823 Santa Monica Blvd.,
    Hollywood CA 90038]

    IMAGES OF CHRIST SERIES [Thomas S. Klise Co., P.O. Box
    3418, Peoria IL 61414]

    WRITE IT IN A BOOK [Graded Press, 201 8th Ave., South,
    Nashville TN 37203]


    RECORDS:

    THE BIBLE TODAY [United Church Press, 1505 Race St.,
    Philadelphia PA 19102]

    GODSPELL [Bell Records No. 1102]

    JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR [Decca Records No. 7206]


    OTHER:

    COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL TODAY [John & Mary Harrell,
    P.O. Box 9006, Berkeley CA 94709] highly recommended











