Christmas game night for church families: a two-hour plan
A ready-made plan for a two-hour Christmas game night that works for toddlers, teens, parents and grandparents together.
Updated 1 November 2026 · How we pick resources
A family game night is one of the easiest Christmas outreach events a church can run. It costs little, it's easy to invite neighbours to, and families who'd never come to a service will come to play games. This plan assumes 20–80 people; see the end for smaller and larger groups.
The timetable
| Time | What happens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 | Arrive, name tags, snacks | Put a Bible character's name on each name tag |
| 6:15 | Mixer: "Who am I?" | Everyone asks yes/no questions to guess the name on their own back |
| 6:30 | Bible game show, mixed-age teams | Each team has a child, a teen and an adult |
| 7:10 | Break: hot chocolate and cookies | Play Christmas music |
| 7:25 | Family survey showdown | Family vs family (or table vs table) |
| 7:50 | The Christmas story in 5 minutes | Read Luke 2:8–14; pray; invite people to the Christmas Eve service |
| 8:00 | Prizes and goodbye | Give every child a small gift |
The games
Mixer: Who am I? (15 minutes)
Stick a Bible character's name on each person's back (Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, a shepherd, Herod, Simeon, Anna, Noah, Moses, David). Guests ask each other yes/no questions until they guess who they are. It mixes up families and breaks the ice in minutes.
For a seated version, read clue cards aloud and let tables guess: fewer clues means more points.
Who Am I? The Christmas Story
20 Christmas story characters, from Isaiah and Micah to Simeon and Anna, with four clues each from hard to easy. Read the clues aloud or play the web game, which keeps score for 2 to 4 teams. Answer key with Bible references included.
Bible game show (40 minutes)
Make teams of 4–6 with a mix of ages, so a grandparent, a teenager and a seven-year-old are on the same side. Show the game on a big screen. Use the Kids level if most players are under 11, or alternate levels between rounds so everyone gets questions at their level.
Bible Showdown: The Christmas Story
A click-to-play Bible game show covering the prophecies, the angel messages and the nativity. Kids, preteens and teens each get their own 25 questions plus a Final Round, all with Bible references. Plays in any web browser with automatic scoring, or as a PowerPoint, with printable cards for classes without a screen.
Family survey showdown (25 minutes)
Two families (or two tables) face off to guess the most popular answers: "Name something you leave out for Santa", "Name a food at Christmas dinner". It's light-hearted and needs no Bible knowledge, so visitors can shine.
Crowd Says: Christmas Party Edition
A Friendly Feud-style survey game for two teams: guess the top answers, flip them on the board, three strikes and the other team steals. 12 editable rounds, automatic scoring and a double and triple finale. Great for family nights and youth group parties.
For the youngest children
Set up a corner with picture bingo, colouring pages and a story mat for ages 3–6, with two volunteers, so parents can join the bigger games.
Christmas Picture Bingo
30 different printable picture cards, so children who can't read yet can play, plus a web caller that calls pictures at random and checks a win from the card number.
Supplies checklist
- A TV or projector with a laptop, and a speaker
- Name tags and markers; prizes (small, inexpensive gifts)
- Printed bingo cards and colouring pages for little ones
- Hot chocolate, cookies, cups, napkins
- An invitation card for your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service
- Volunteers: a host, a scorekeeper, two for the kids' corner, two for snacks
Tips for any size of church
- Small church (under 20 people): Skip the separate teams; play the game show with every family as one team.
- Large church (100+): Run two rooms with the same games, or use tables as teams and have one runner per table bring answers to the host.
- Get everyone's name: Have a guest book for visitors who'd like to hear about future events.
Bundle and save
If you also run Thanksgiving and Easter events, the three holiday game shows come together in one bundle.
Bible Showdown Holiday 3-Pack: Thanksgiving, Christmas & Easter
All three holiday Bible game shows in one download, each at three age levels: 234 questions in all, with web, PowerPoint and printable versions.
More resources for your event
Children's Ministry Deals Holidays
Why we picked it: Seasonal series for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter plus free holiday games and minute-to-win-it packs that slot into a game night.
Seasonal curriculum series for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, plus free holiday games and minute-to-win-it packs.
Ministry-To-Children Christmas Plays
Why we picked it: Free no-rehearsal Christmas pageant scripts if you want a five-minute story moment acted by the kids.
Free no-rehearsal Christmas pageant scripts and holiday lessons for small churches, alongside their year-round free library.
Oriental Trading
Why we picked it: Inexpensive bulk prizes, crafts and faith-based Christmas decorations for the event.
Bulk party supplies, crafts, toys and VBS-friendly decor at low prices, including a dedicated line of faith-based Christmas and holiday finds.