Season of Play
For true life, play is not a reward after the “real work.” It’s part of God’s design. Play isn't a break from faith; it's a reflection of how joyful God is!
Think about it: from God’s wild imagination in Creation, to Jesus' first miracle at a party, the Bible shows us a God who just loves to have a good time. When the Church gets playful, we're mirroring God's creativity and showing the world that joy is stronger than fear.
A playful church becomes this living invitation: come on over, join the celebration of God's delight! Plus... it's just plain fun! Over one month, we invite your church to try tiny, doable moments of play in worship and at home—simple, screen-light, all-ages friendly. Expect laughter, low stakes, and high grace. Expect God to meet us in delight.
This series was created by the Upper New York Annual Conference as part of their Preachers: Rest. Work. Play., a Lilly Endowment-supported compelling preaching initiative. Additional worship resources, daily scriptures, and small groups were developed by Breakthrough contributors.
Week 1: Play & the Gift of God’s Delight
Psalm 126:1-3, Zephaniah 3:17
Play is not simply recreation, or rest, or even Sabbath. It's God’s gift to us that helps us to recognize and respond to God’s delight in us. When we play, we learn to hear the song God is already singing over us, allowing hope and joy to rise in us rather than relying solely on our effort.
Week 2: Out of Survival Mode
Matthew 6:25-27, Mark 10:13-16
Play heals and moves us out of survival mode. God uses delight to unstick weary people and reopen imagination. When we play, our brains and our spirits move out of survival mode and into creativity, openness, and trust. It’s not escape from what ails us; it’s medicine.
Week 3: Masterclass for a Stuck Church
Exodus 16:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21
Play turns stuckness into movement and imagination. Play is the lab where the Spirit teaches us new moves. Playing together as a Church trains us to live with wonder and curiosity in the face of mystery. In uncertain times, we don’t tighten control but we stay open instead. Play strengthens our shared capacity to follow God’s surprising movements together. When the community plays, we remember that faith is not certainty but it’s the joyful courage to move together into what God is doing next.
Week 4: Joy in the Wild
Zechariah 8:4-5, Acts 2:46-47, John 2:1-11
Joy is good news that people can see. When a community plays well—laughing, creating, and celebrating together—it shows the delight of God in ways that words cannot. The gift of play becomes public when our joy turns into visible good news. Every feast, festival, and shared laugh is a small rehearsal for the great party of God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. Playful people show the world that grace is not only spoken but celebrated.
Included in Dropbox:
Liturgy & Music Suggestions
Preaching Resources
Children’s Moments Resources
Small Group Guides
Daily Scripture Readings
Slide Deck
Supporting Graphics & Images
