Leader Guide
Bible Activity
- Bibles—to make the activity fair for all children, do not use tabbed Bibles or electronic devices unless all the children have them
- Whiteboard and marker, or chalkboard and chalk
- Eraser
- Sticky note pads—one pad per pair of children
- Pencils—one per pair of children
- Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with second hand, or timer app
Be sure there is a clear path between the children and the board.
If you would prefer not to race, you may have groups raise their hands to fill in the blanks.
Write on the board:
1. Who gave freely?
2. What did they give?
The Bible verses are about people who freely gave what they received from God.
Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “I will freely give what I receive.”
Have the children sit down in pairs. Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible. Give each pair a Bible. The experienced Bible user can quickly look up the verse. The other child can be the “messenger.” They write the answers on a sticky note and stick the note to the board. If both players are experienced Bible users, the players can alternate looking up a verse and being the messenger. Have children close their Bibles before you announce the next verse.
Allow spelling errors because of the fast pace of the game.
Increase the 45-second time if necessary.
Do as many verses as time allows. Be prepared to help any children with special needs.
Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.
I will say a verse reference and write it on the board. You may start to look it up as soon as I say it. Once you find the verse, you will write down your answers to the two questions on the board: 1. Who gave freely? 2. What did they give?
The messenger will write your answers on the sticky note, then quickly stick it to the board. You have 45 seconds to do that. Each team scores five points for a correct answer on the board in time. The pair with the most points wins.
If possible, read the verses surrounding the verse/s listed so you can share the background of what is taking place and who or what the person is giving.
1. Luke 19:8 (Answers: 1. Zacchaeus 2. Wealth or money)
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
2. Luke 21:2–4 (Answers: 1. Widow 2. Two coins/two small coins/everything)
2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
3. Exodus 36:6 (Answers: 1. Men and women 2. Gifts and sacred offerings for the sanctuary)
So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings.
4. Acts 3:6 (Answers: 1. Peter 2. Healing/power of Jesus/ability to walk)
But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
5. Luke 10:34
There are several answers in this verse. Have the pairs write down all the answers they can find and give additional time. Also consider giving bonus points to any pair that names a correct answer that no other pair identifies.
(Answers: 1. Samaritan 2. Care, help, olive oil, wine, bandages, a ride, a room)
Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
6. 2 Kings 4:8 (Answers: 1. Wealthy woman 2. Meals/food)
One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.
7. John 12:3 (Answers: 1. Mary 2. Expensive perfume and her worship)
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
8. Matthew 27:59–60 (Answers: 1. Joseph 2. His own new tomb)
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.
9. Acts 2:44–45 (Answers: 1. All believers 2. Everything/property/possessions/ money)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
10. Acts 16:14–15 (Answers: 1. Lydia 2. Home/hospitality)
14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.
Conclusion: We have been generously blessed by God. Let us always be willing to freely give of our faith, money, possessions, time, and abilities; whatever will help and bless others.