Command

Procedure

1. Have the participants gather in a circle.

2. The facilitator explains that when a command is called out, participants must do the action corresponding to that command.

3. Examples:

   1. “Choir” → Line up in groups of 4, put your hands together like choir folders, and sing/hum Amazing Grace (or facilitator can designate a different hymn to sing/hum).

   2. “Pews” → Line up in groups of 5 and pretend to sit on a pew. Hold that position.

   3. “Love Hall” → Gather in groups of 4 and say, “Nom nom nom...” while pretending to eat from your hand.

   4. “Toilet Scrubbing” → Pretend you’re scrubbing a toilet at church.

   5. “David and Goliath” → Pair up; 1 participant acts as David and swings their hand like they’re launching a stone with a sling. The other acts as Goliath and looks menacing.

   6. “Parting the Red Sea” (for larger groups) → Get into groups of 7; have 3 participants line up on one side and another 3 line up on the opposite side, facing each other with their hands straight out. The remaining participant will act as Moses and hold out an invisible staff. Those standing in line raise their hands to mimic the parting of the Red Sea.

   7. “Stoning Stephen” → Get into groups of 3; 2 participants pretend to throw stones at the third participant, and the third participant acts like he/she’s being stoned.

   8. “Vacuum” → Pretend you’re vacuuming and roam around the area, so everyone is mixed up.

   9. “Abraham Sacrifices Isaac” → Pair up; 1 participant acts as Isaac and pretends to fall backwards (to mimic laying down), while the other participant acts as Abraham, about to kill Isaac.

4. Start the game.

5. The facilitator will cycle randomly through the commands.

6. When gathering in groups, if a participant cannot find enough people to fulfill the command requirement, then the participant is eliminated. Partcipants must form groups as quickly as they can.

• 1. When a participant is eliminated, he/she must say his/her name and answer an icebreaker sharing question in front of everyone and then stand off to the side.

7. Continue until there are only 2 participants are left. Those 2 are the winners, and they don't have to share.

Suggested Sharing Questions

• Age/class/career

• Favorite food

• Favorite animal (participant must act it out as they walk off to the side)

• Most interesting fact about them

• Their most embarrassing moment

• One thing for which they’re thankful

• Refer to Icebreaker Sharing Questions for more

Notes

• There will usually be around 2 to 3 people being eliminated at once.

• If participants take too long to form groups, facilitator has a choice to eliminate them.

• This activity may be used to teach people what it feels like to be left out and to exclude people.

• You may add your own "command" for grouping 6 participants. A possible option is the "Bread Circle." But at the moment, we have no video for this one.

• You may refer to the video below for the commands.