Here’s a youth activity that can be done simply and cheaply. Credit for this activity can be shared with my Brother-In-Law, Lucas Arnold, YP in West Virginia. We took a silly idea, brainstormed, and came up with an activity that is sure to please your youth group. Noodles! Everyone loves noodles! And there’s so many to choose from! Spaghetti, Ramen, Rigatoni, Macaroni, you get the idea. Noodlepalooza is a themed activity around this versatile food. All activities, games, and food revolve around noodles!
Games
“What games can you play with noodles?”, you may ask. Of course with pool noodles, anything is possible! Have a relay where teens pass a rigatoni noodle with uncooked spaghetti noodles in their mouths. Play sharks and minnows with pool noodles. Play indoor hockey with pool noodles for hockey sticks. Have teens carry a ball using only the ends of 2 pool noodles; call it spaghetti and meatballs! Of course, check out YP Life for all sorts of games that involve pool noodles. The possibilities are truly endless!
Food
The great thing about noodles is you can feed a TON of people for a relatively low cost. Serve Spaghetti with a variety of sauces: meat sauce, marinara, alfredo, etc… Ask your local Bible college student to raid their never-ending supply of Ramen noodles. Use all the broths! Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, or create your own “mystery” broth with fun ingredients. Make a dessert noodle dish, be creative. Explore the versatility of the humble noodle!
Message
Of course, the most important aspect of the youth activity is making it spiritual. Use noodles as an illustration to bring a devotion. Personally, I like to talk about how noodles are rigid and unyielding until they are dropped in boiling water. Then, they become soft and pliable. This relates to our hearts. We naturally tend to bow up and harden our hearts when confronted with our sins and shortcomings. But when we expose our hearts to the boiling water that is God’s Word, it makes our hearts soft and tender to His instruction. Of course, preach whatever the Lord lays on your heart.
Jesse Maxwell | Youth Pastor
Landmark Baptist Church | Haines City, Fl
