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Leader Guide

Teaching

  • Four paper plates
  • One unbreakable bowl - disposable, plastic, or metal
  • Water bottle full of water
  • Marker
  • Whiteboard and markers or chalkboard and chalk
  • Ten quarters
  • Ten dimes
  • Two pennies
  • Table
  • Cloth for spills
  • Bible or device with the Superbook Bible app
  • GizmoNote (optional take-home note) 

Discipleship Challenge materials:

  • Cheerful Challenge Coin Page
  • Giving Bank Page
  • Cardstock - two sheets per child, plus extras
  • Scissors
  • Children's scissors
  • Glue sticks or tape
  • Bibles or the Superbook Bible app

    Write the SuperVerse on the board: 2 Corinthians 9:7:

    "You must each decide in your hearts how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

    Draw a large heart with a smiling face inside it on the back of two paper plates.
    Draw a large heart with a sad face inside it on the back of two paper plates.
    Put two pennies on the front of a plate with a smiling face.
    Put ten quarters on the front of a plate with a sad face.
    Put five dimes on the front of each of the remaining two plates (smiling, sad)
    Put the four plates on the table.
    Optional: Print the GizmoNote, one per child to take home after class.

    Discipleship Challenge:
    Make a copy of the Cheerful Challenge Coin Page on cardstock, one for each child plus extras.
    Make a copy of the Giving Bank Page on cardstock, one for each child plus extras.
    Make a finished craft to use as a model to display in class.


 

Let’s say today’s SuperTruth together: “I will be a cheerful giver.”  

 

Giving is good, but what pleases God is cheerful giving.

 

In the Superbook adventure, when Chris first heard about the lack of money for the food drive, why didn’t he feel he needed to help? He gives money when he can; other people have more money.

 

Why did Chris change his mind? He learned he should give cheerfully and regularly.

God consistently gives good things to us; God never changes, and He is our perfect model for giving.     

 

Giving cheerfully is what our SuperVerse is about. Let’s say it together. 2 Corinthians 9:7:    

 

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

 

In the Jewish Temple, we watched people give their tithes and offerings.  

How much is a tithe? One-tenth or 10% of what you earn or receive.   

 

Who would impress you the most—the rich people giving lots of gold or the poor woman who gave only two tiny coins? Children respond. 

 

God doesn’t view offerings the same way as we do. You may think that at your age you don’t have much to give so your offerings aren’t valuable to God. But Jesus makes it very clear that just two small coins given willingly and cheerfully can please God—even more than larger gifts that were given to impress people or to fulfill an obligation.          

 

2 Corinthians 8:12 says:

 

Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

 

Isn’t that awesome? If your heart is right, your gift is blessed and accepted by God!  

 

Arrange the two sets of plates on the table. Position the two plates with dimes together. Position the two plates with pennies and quarters together leaving space between the two sets of plates.

 

Let’s say that these are two offerings from two different givers. 

Show the pennies and quarters to the children on the plates.  

Don’t answer now; but consider which offering you think that God is most pleased with. 

 

Show the plates with the dimes to the children.

Here are two offerings of the same amount.   

Don’t answer now; but consider which offering you think God is most pleased with.

 

What did you think about the first offerings with the pennies and quarters? Children respond.

What did you think about the identical offerings with the same number of dimes? Children respond.

 

The simple truth is that we really can’t judge. Do you know why? Because we can’t see inside the givers’ hearts, we don’t know their motives or reasons for giving.      

 

Slowly turn the plate with quarters over so the coins slide off onto the table.

Reveal the heart with the sad face on the back of the plate. You couldn’t see this sad face that represents the attitude of the giver’s heart. I think this person was sad to give money to God!

Slowly turn the plate with pennies over so the coins slide off onto the table. Reveal the heart with the smiling face on the plate. You couldn’t see this cheerful heart when this offering or tithe was given. This person was happy to give money to the Lord!  

 

So, now, based on what we know from our SuperVerse, which offering do you think pleases God more? The happy heart, the pennies. 

 

Let’s look at the second set of offerings. Both givers gave the same amount.

Repeat the process and discussion using the two plates of dimes.

 

The attitude and motive of the heart makes all the difference to God!

God sees what we can’t. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about their giving in Luke 16:15:

 

Then He said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.”

 

In the video, Jesus’ disciples were impressed with people giving larger offerings. However, Jesus looked inside their hearts and saw what kind of people they really were. He knew the rich people were giving out of their surplus—extra money that they had. Or perhaps they were giving money just so other people would admire them! However, Jesus saw that the poor widow sacrificed all that she had to live on, and she trusted God to meet her needs. Her offering was all she had.

 

Hold up the water bottle, take the cap off, and gently tip it so that some water flows out into the bowl.

The bottle doesn’t need to be squeezed or have pressure applied for water to come out—it just naturally does. Stand the bottle upright and then tip it over again. The water did not hesitate to come out. It freely poured out. That’s what it was designed to do.

 

And this is God’s design for us—to give cheerfully from our hearts.    

 

Remember the verse from the game you played, Proverbs 3:27–28:

 

27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. 28If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

 

The Lord is pleased when we love and serve others with a cheerful heart because we are so thankful to Jesus for all that He has done for us!

 

Now it’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where we will learn more about giving in a practical way.      

 


Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

 

Give each child a Cheerful Challenge Coin Page and a Giving Bank Page.  

Give children’s scissors to each child and provide glue sticks and tape to share.

Display the model craft of the Giving Bank.

Have children carefully cut out and assemble their banks following the instructions. Assist as needed.    

Tell the children to cut out their Cheerful Challenge Coin Pages at home (so coins do not get lost).

 

Hold up the model Giving Bank and the first Challenge Coin. The Discipleship Challenge for the next three lessons is called the Cheerful Challenge. This challenge is about putting into action what we are learning about cheerfully giving to God and others. God loves when we give cheerfully!

 

Choose a volunteer to read aloud Matthew 6:21, on the front of the bank.  

 

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

 

When we decide in our hearts to cheerfully give to God and others, it shows that the desire and priority of our hearts is to please God. This demonstrates that we value or “treasure” God’s will over our own desires, putting Him first.

 

Hold up Coin #1 of Challenge #1 and have a volunteer read aloud the Bible verse reference on it. 1 Chronicles 29:14b.

 

Ask the children to look at their coin pages. At home, you may carefully cut out the Challenge Coins. One coin of each of the three challenges has a Bible verse like the one I am holding.

Have a volunteer read Coin #2 of Challenge #1.

Coins #2–4 of each challenge say “Give to God” and “Give to Others.”

 

You will also carefully cut out the Challenge Bookmark. The bookmark can be used to mark the challenge verse in your Bible as a quick reference for the challenge.

 

For each challenge, you will read and learn (if possible) the Bible verse. God’s Word is a precious gift to us. When we give our time to read, learn and apply His Word, it shows we value and are thankful for His gift. When this part of the challenge is completed, drop coin #1 into the bank.    

 

The second part of each challenge is about cheerfully giving back to God and sharing with others what He has given us. On the Challenge Bookmark are different ways we can give and share. Be creative and think of different ways to use God’s gifts He has given to you! It isn’t only about giving money! As you give, drop a coin into the Giving Bank. Pray and be alert for opportunities to give and share. When you do, don’t be surprised if you need to make more coins!

 

It’s a blessing to give to others, and we’ll store up treasures in heaven for all eternity!

 

Remember, for Challenge #1, learn the verse on Coin #1. Then ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and ears for opportunities to give to God and to share and serve others! When we meet again, you will have a chance to share about your coins of giving!