Lesson Cont...

Warm Up

Have you ever given your own money to help someone else? Or have you ever given something you own to help someone else? Do you think what you gave helped that person?

Today, we are going to learn about a woman in the Bible who gave. No one was impressed with what she gave, but Jesus was!

Teach the Story

The story of the widow's offering (or widow's mite) is short and can be read directly from the Bible. Here are some highlights:

• It is important to note the context of this. The actual story of the widow's offering begins in Mark 12:41, but we began this story with the previous section where Jesus is rebuking the scribes and others who were making a show of themselves and their worship. They do the following things to draw attention to themselves:

  • They walk around in long robes

  • They love it when people give them greetings in the marketplace (being the center of attention)

  • They try to get the best seats at the synagogue

  • They love to have the seats of honor at feasts

  • They victimize widows

  • They make long prayers for show

• Right after rebuking them for these actions, he then gives a positive example of what is valued in the Kingdom of God

• The principle here is that God isn't impressed with people who give a lot if they do it for the wrong reasons and if it comes out of their abundance (meaning it doesn't really hurt for them to give the money anyway). God rewards those who give sacrificially.

This is a very important principle for children. Many times adults make them feel like they don't have anything to offer the Kingdom of God. But they can be encouraged that God is truly impressed with them, even when they do things that appear "little" to adults.

For example, do you have children that serve during church services? Taking up the offering, greeting people at the front door, handing out bulletins, etc? You can talk through this with your class and help them understand that what they do is just as important in God's eyes as what the preacher or the music leader does. 

Do you take up an offering in your children's ministry? Or do the children give alongside the adults? They need to know that God is just as impressed (sometimes more!) with them giving a nickel out of their allowance as he is with someone who gives thousands of dollars.

Comprehension Questions

• What were the scribes (Or religious leaders) doing to draw attention to themselves? (see list in story summary above

• How were the people giving their money to the temple?

They were doing it in public, and putting their money in the offering box so everyone could see how much they were giving

• How much did the widow give?

Two of the smallest coins they used, like pennies today

• What did Jesus say about her offering?

That she gave more than everyone else, because she gave all she had and others gave when they still had plenty left over

• In this story, we learned that God values what we give to him, no matter how small it is, as long as we give because of our love for him and not to impress others. How can you give to God? Out of your allowance? In your serving?

Memory Verse

Directions

1. Give the kids one coin each and have them create a picture by rubbing the crayon over the paper. They can make a cross or an other picture. 

Directions

Directions

1. Divide children into 2 teams. One player from each team must go to the opposite side of the room and sit down with an offering plate. When the game begins, the team players will take turns running their money to the offering plate on their side of the team and then back for the next player to do the same. Have players sit down after completing their offering "run" and the first team to complete the "offering relay" is the winner. Play again if time allows and then have children sit in a circle and listen to the Bible story. 

Directions

1. The children will take turns kneeling on a chair facing the back of the chair. Place a jar on the floor behind the chair. Give each child at least five 5 pennies to try to drop into the jar.