Biblical Bingo: How to Make It, 40 Word Ideas, and 3 Ways to Play

Biblical bingo is an easy way to turn Bible knowledge and familiar references into a group activity. It can work in a Bible class, youth group, small group, retreat, church gathering, or special event.

The main idea is simple: keep the bingo mechanics and change the card items to match the group. One round can use characters, another can use Bible books, and another can mix places, objects, and events.

The result is easy to explain but flexible enough for different ages and different goals.

What is biblical bingo?

Biblical bingo is a themed version of bingo where the card squares contain words or references connected to the Bible.

Instead of calling numbers, the host calls an item from the list. Players look for that reference on their cards and mark it.

You can use:

• Bible characters;
• books of the Bible;
• places;
• objects;
• events;
• words or concepts from a lesson.

The most important thing is to set a clear winning condition before the round begins. One line works well for a quick game. Two lines or a full card can make a longer round.

40 biblical bingo word ideas

Use this list as a starting point and adjust the difficulty for your group.

Characters

1. Adam
2. Eve
3. Noah
4. Abraham
5. Sarah
6. Moses
7. David
8. Solomon
9. Esther
10. Daniel

New Testament

11. Jesus
12. Mary
13. Joseph
14. Peter
15. John
16. Paul
17. Martha
18. Mary Magdalene
19. Zacchaeus
20. Barnabas

Places

21. Bethlehem
22. Jerusalem
23. Nazareth
24. Egypt
25. Galilee
26. Jordan
27. Jericho
28. Bethany
29. Sinai
30. Samaria

Objects and events

31. Ark
32. Manna
33. Temple
34. Crown
35. Cross
36. Desert
37. Flood
38. Exodus
39. Pentecost
40. Resurrection

How to choose the right words

The list should match the people who are playing. A bingo game for young children should not depend on obscure names or difficult details.

For children’s Bible classes, choose characters and objects that have already appeared in lessons. You can also pair each word with an image to make recognition easier.

For teenagers, gradually increase the difficulty. One round can use familiar characters while another can use books, places, or events that require more recall.

For adults, build the list around a specific topic. A study of the Old Testament can produce a very different list from a lesson about the Gospels.

A useful mix includes easy and medium items. If everything is obvious, the round may finish too quickly. If everything is difficult, players can lose interest.

Three ways to play

1. Word bingo

This is the simplest format. The host calls one word and players mark the matching square.

Explain the winning condition before the round starts. One line, two lines, or a full card are easy options.

This format works especially well when the goal is a short, social activity.

2. Clue bingo

Instead of saying the answer directly, give a clue.

If the card contains “Noah,” for example, you could ask, “Who built an ark before the flood?” For “Jericho,” give a clue about the city associated with its famous walls.

This adds participation without turning the activity into a test. Give the group enough time to think, then reveal the answer before moving on.

3. Review bingo

This format works especially well for Bible classes and study groups.

After a lesson or a series of meetings, turn the main names, concepts, and events into a list. During the game, each called item becomes a quick review moment.

You can pause briefly after each answer and explain the connection. That keeps the activity tied to what the group has been learning.

Biblical bingo for children

With children, simplify the experience.

Use short words, familiar characters, animals, objects, and pictures. If the group is still learning to read, cards can use illustrations or symbols representing the vocabulary.

Short rounds are usually better. A child who has to wait too long between calls can quickly lose focus.

Another option is to play in pairs. One child can help another identify the words, making the game cooperative rather than purely competitive.

Biblical bingo for teenagers

For teenagers, you can add more variety.

One round can use characters, another can use books, and another can use events with clues instead of direct calls.

You can also build a round around the theme of the meeting. If the discussion is about leadership, for example, the list can include characters and events connected to leadership.

The goal is to create participation and conversation rather than make the activity feel like a surprise exam.

How to organize bingo at church

Start by deciding how many people will play and how much time you have.

Then build a list that is larger than the number of spaces on each card. This allows you to create different combinations for the players.

For larger groups, automatic card generation saves a lot of work. Building every card by hand increases the chance of repeated combinations or cards that are too similar.

The Bingou guide on how to create custom bingo cards covers the main considerations for building a list and distributing items across cards.

The guide on bingo rules and how to play can also help with the basic rules and winning conditions.

How to make the activity more engaging

Do not make every round identical.

Alternate a simple word round with a clue round, change the theme, or pause for a short discussion after selected items.

You can also prepare a small prize for the winner. A bookmark, chocolate, or small gift is enough. If the bingo is part of a larger program, you can use a different symbolic prize for each round.

Bingou lets you create a collection using your own words and phrases, which makes it easier to adapt the card content to the theme of the gathering.

A good activity starts with a good list

Biblical bingo does not need complicated rules. What matters is choosing references the group can recognize and connect to the theme of the activity.

For children, think about pictures and simple words. For teenagers, try clues and themed rounds. For adults, use focused lists of books, characters, and events.

Build a larger list, create different combinations, and decide on the winning condition before you start. Then let the game do the rest: recognizing each item naturally creates moments for participation, conversation, and fun.