A church youth-group game or growth exercise focused on empathy. Scripture: James 1:19. Workshop exercises: 1) Introduce the theme and read James 1:19. 2) Pair students. One student receives a empathy prompt and practices a response while the other listens and gives one encouraging observation. Switch roles and repeat. 3) Ask students what they learned about empathy. 4) Have each participant choose one practical way to apply the lesson this week. 5) Close with a short prayer or optional reflection.
Teaching notes: Keep the activity age-appropriate, voluntary, welcoming, and centered on Christian character. Use James 1:19 in context and invite discussion rather than forcing personal disclosure. Adapt for group size, mobility, disability, available space, and time. Avoid humiliation, hazing, dangerous physical contact, elimination that repeatedly excludes the same youth, or sharing private information. Maintain normal church safeguarding and adult-supervision practices.