YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

1. At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

2. Tell how many coins the poor widow put into the offering.

3. Identify who saw how much the widow’s offering was.

4. State the reason Jesus said she had given more than anyone else.

5. Tell what kind of giver God loves.

6. Recite their memory verse. 


Topics & Themes

Attitude
Faith
Generosity
Loving God
Loving Others
Offerings
Pride
Sacrifices
Women
Widow’s Mite

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, newsprint, marker pen, construction paper, bag with craft supplies, glue, scissors, pencils, various sized coins, a metal pot or container, songbook, CD/cassette tape, and music player, attendance and memory verse charts, stars

Preparation

Primaries are just beginning to develop the logical skills needed to interpret a series of statements. In a group, however, they are more likely to talk to their friends than to pay attention to your lesson and draw conclusions. To help your students learn, get their attention, establish control, and encourage

them to listen carefully. They will understand and retain information better when it’s presented in more than one way. When your students have to listen and look, they are receiving information through two of their senses. The use of visuals help to attract and hold their attention. Your local Christian bookstore can provide a wealth of pictures, flannelgraph and other visual aids to help bring life to your lessons.

Before you come to class, place the following items into a paper bag to be used in decorating the children’s greeting cards: lace scraps, braid, rick-rack, colorful fabric scraps, colorful buttons, small silk flowers and stickers. Be sure you have enough so that each child will be able to have some of each item. Write the following on a sheet of newsprint, and display it on the wall:

As my gift to you, I promise to
__________________________________.

Name_____________________________

How to Teach This Lesson

This lesson not only addresses the subject of giving, but also our attitude about giving. It is true that everyone is taught to give. But, we are also told with what spirit we are to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

The offering spoken of in today’s lesson “probably occurred in the Court of Women where there were 13 trumpet- shaped boxes in which worshipers would place their gifts. The scene was probably even more impressive as it was drawing near to the time of the Jewish Passover which brought many more worshipers to the temple in Jerusalem” (The Complete Biblical Library).

These offering boxes were more than likely made out of brass or other metal, so that when money was dropped into them they would make a clatter, attracting the attention of others. You can illustrate this by allowing the children to drop various sized coins into a metal pot, or having the children toss coins into the pot. Arrange the children in a circle at least eight feet in diameter. Place the metal pot in the center of the circle. Give each child a coin (penny) and have them toss their coins in the pot one at a time. Generally speaking, the more noise, the more money that was being offered. The rich men were proud, and wanted attention and praise, so their offerings were often given to show off.

The two mites that the poor widow placed into the offering were of far less value than our penny. The exact value of a mite changes with the rise and fall of the currency market. However, the amount was of little consequence when compared to that of the rich men’s offerings.

As Jesus sat with His disciples in the Temple, the large gifts of the rich men looked like much more than the two small coins the poor widow gave. People were surprised to hear Jesus say that she had given more than all the others. What Jesus was really saying was equal amount of an offering is not as important as what it costs the giver. The rich men gave out of their riches – they would not miss what they had given. The widow’s offering was sure to affect how she could live. There was nothing left with which to buy food or clothing. She had given all that she had. Hers was a gift of love and faith.

Emphasize that the greatest gifts are not always the most expensive in terms of money. A gift of your time that makes use of your talents is often of greater value. Everyone, including children, can give the good gift of themselves to God and to others.

Review Questions

1. Describe the offering boxes that were in the Temple.

2. How much money did the widow woman place in the offering?

3. What did the rich men want when they gave their offering?

4. Do you know why Jesus said that the widow gave more than anyone else?

5. What kind of giver does your memory verse say that God loves?

6. What can you give as an offering to God?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Give each child a sheet of construction paper. Have them fold it in half to make a greeting card.

Allow the children to choose items from the supply bag to decorate their greeting card cover. On the inside of the card, ask the children to copy the message written on the newsprint, adding their own “gift” in the blank. Suggested ideas are: give a hug and kiss; wash the car; wash the dishes; set the table; clean my room; wash or walk the dog; etc. These cards can be given to their parents, grandparents, a friend or neighbor.

REACH Activity

Special Materials Needed:
Props for role play (coins, offering box, etc.), cereal box, wrapping paper or fabric, glitter glue, ribbon or string, 11 x 17 paper, color pencils, hole punch, red construction paper

Activities:

1. Before the YEA lesson, ask students to predict the meanings of the following words: widow, mite, offering, and temple. After a briefly sharing predictions, begin the lesson.

2. During the YEA lesson, stop and ask the students if they know what the phrase, “straight from the heart,” means. Discuss briefly then continue the lesson.

3. Use 11x17 paper and color pencils to draw a comic strip about the lesson. Share with family and friends.

4. Have the students role play the YEA lesson with props. Invite family and friends. The audience will be important if you plan to use activity five. This activity calls for a child to play the part of Jesus. If that makes you uncomfortable, go to activity #6.

5. After the role play activity, ask the audience if they have any questions for the characters. Characters’ answers or comments should relate directly to the YEA lesson.

6. Jesus taught a very important lesson about giving. The widow gave the two coins because she loved God. But the rich men gave just so everyone could see how much they had. Are you more like the widow or a rich man when you give a gift to someone? Write your answer in your Bible notebook. You do not have to share your answer.

7. Describe the last gift or offering you gave to someone. Who did you give the gift to? Write about it in your Bible notebook. Share with family and friends.

8. Think of a gift that you can give to someone who really needs it. Then do it.

9. When God tells us to be a cheerful giver, does He mean for us also to be cheerful in giving our time in serving others? Make a list of the jobs your mom and dad want you to do each week. Put a checkmark by the ones that you did cheerfully this week. Then write in your Bible notebook a goal to do each job cheerfully next time.

10. Write a song in your Bible notebook about the YEA lesson using the tune “Jesus Loves Me.” Teach the song to family and friends.

11. Use a Bible dictionary to find the meaning of the words “widow,” “mite,” “offering,” and “temple.” Write them in your Bible notebook. Use each word in a paragraph that retells the YEA lesson.

12. In your Bible notebook, write what “offering” and “temple” have in common. Use your Bible, concordance, and Bible encyclopedia. Share with family and friends.

13. Use your Bible, concordance, and Bible encyclopedia to find out more about money used in Bible times. Write the information in your Bible notebook. Draw pictures of the different kinds of money, if possible, and label them. Share with family and friends.

14. Make an offering box out of an empty cereal box. Starting at the top of the box where the side and back meet, cut each side down halfway between the top and bottom. Then cut horizontally across the sides and front, so that you have half of a cereal box, with a very tall back. The back of the box can be folded forward to create the lid. The flap should fold over about one inch past the opening. Cut away the rest. The flap is now the lid of the box. Cover the box and lid with paper or fabric. Use a hole punch to make two side-by-side holes on the lid and two holes on the box to match up evenly. On one side of the box use any color tool to write the memory verse. On the other side the student write should write their name and the words “Offering Box” with glitter glue. For example: Cynthia’s Offering Box. Thread and tie a piece of ribbon or string through the holes. During the week the student can put any kind of offering in the box that they want to give. If they want to give of their time they can write it on a piece of paper and put it in the box. Practice the verse until memorized.

15. Sing: A. “Give of Your Best to the Master” on page 147 of the CEM Hymnal. B.“If You’re Happy” on page 47 of Kids Classics Collection. C. “I Gave My Life for Thee” on page 160 of the CEM Hymnal.

16. On one side of a piece of paper, write the main idea from this YEA lesson. Then look back through the lessons you have already done in this YEA book. Which one is similar to this lesson? On the other side of the paper, write the main idea from that lesson.

17. Add this week’s hidden treasure to your treasure chest. (Treasure suggestion: a giving heart.) Outline the chest with a bold permanent marker.

18. Do a sword drill with this week’s Daily Devotionals.

More Information: Use the Daily Devotional Scriptures to have a sword drill. Read the Scripture reference to the child. Then start the timer. When the child has found the verse, stop the timer. Read the verse and talk about how it relates to the lesson. Challenge the child to see how quickly he/she can find each of the verses in the Bible.

19. Cut a heart out of red construction paper. Write your memory verse and the Scripture reference on the heart. Fold it and put it in your Bible. 


Song

“Down In My Heart” is on page 69 of the Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Ask one of the children to lead in a prayer thanking God for showing them that it is more important how they give than what they give.