Icebreakers – “We Go All In”
1. All In or Backing Out?
Supplies: None
Read a series of "Would You?" scenarios. Students move to one side of the room for "I'm all in!" and the other side for "No chance!"
Examples:
Eat a spoonful of hot sauce for $100.
Sing karaoke in front of your whole school.
Ride the biggest roller coaster in the world three times in a row.
Go one week without your favorite app.
Wear the same outfit every day for a week.
Ask a celebrity for a selfie.
Give a devotional on-stage at YTH Co.
Transition: "It's funny what we're willing — or not willing — to go all in for. Today we're talking about what it looks like to go all in for Jesus."
2. The Commitment Challenge
Supplies: Index cards
Give everyone a card with a random challenge written on it, like:
Hop on one foot for 30 seconds.
Speak in an accent for one minute.
Balance something on your head.
Stand on one foot until the game ends.
Bark like a dog for 10 seconds.
Try to name the books of the Bible in order.
Before they start, ask: "Who wants to trade?"
Most students will try to find an easier challenge. Give them 30-60 seconds to try and trade, then have everyone perform what’s on their card.
Transition: "It's human nature to look for the easier option. But following Jesus isn't about choosing what's easiest. It's about choosing what's best."
3. What's Your Price?
Supplies: None
Ask students to raise their hand if they'd do each challenge.
Examples:
Hold a spider.
Wear socks on your hands for the rest of group.
Let someone choose your lunch tomorrow.
Delete your favorite game for a week.
Give away $20 to a stranger.
Eat a pickle covered in hot sauce.
Pet an alligator.
After each one, ask:
"What's your price?" (How much would it take for them to do the challenge?)
Transition: "When it comes to doing hard things, we’ll often only do it if the cost isn’t too high — or in this case, if someone will give us the right amount of money! Today we’re going to talk about what happens when following Jesus comes with a cost.”