Poison
This physical game is not suitable for young children, and is more for older young people (age 15+) as it contains some form of physical strain. The game is best played with around 10 people, but this can easily vary depending on the context.
A large soft item should be placed in the middle of the playing area, such as a bean bag chair or a number of pillows. This is to act as the poisonous bush, which the players must avoid touching.
All players should form a circle around the poisonous bush. Players should hold each others wrists, and not each others hands, to ensure safety when playing the game.
A leader should act as referee, and will tell the players to 'Take the Strain', where upon they take the strain, by leaning outwards. At this point, no-one should be moving, but a tension should be on the circle.
The referee will then shout 'Go', and players will then aim to pull other players into the poisonous bush in the middle. The referee should watch out for people touching the bush, and ensure they are removed from play should they do so.
If a player loses hand contact with a player next to them, and the circle breaks, both players on either side of the break are out. This is to encourage players not to lose grip when playing. The referee should also watch to make sure people are playing fairly, and are not being too harsh with their movements.
If you decide to use this particular game in a Christian context, the poisonous bush in the centre could easily be named Sin instead, allowing the game could be used to show how we should aim to avoid sinning. The game is known to a number of people, and so variations in name can occur. One such example is 'Poison Chair', where a group uses a chair as the poison item. This isn't particularly recommended, as it can cause harm if fallen on. Using something soft is a more suitable option. For a visual example of how the game can be played, see the video above.
