Leader Guide

Relay Game

Craft sticks - two per team of five players
Pennies - 20 per team of five players
Two chairs per team
Three unbreakable bowls per team (disposable, plastic, metal)
Painters tape or masking tape
Bibles or the Superbook Bible app

Refer to illustration for the game setup.

Tape a line on the floor near one end of the room.

Place one bowl for each team behind the line, leaving 4–5 feet between the bowls.

Place a bowl for each team in the middle of the playing area about 10 feet from the first bowl.

Place two chairs about 8 feet from the middle bowl for each team.

Place one bowl for each team on the floor at the chair for each team.

Place 20 pennies in each team bowl at the starting line.

For larger classes add teams and materials as necessary.

Optional: Read Luke 21:1–4:

¹While Jesus was in the Temple, He watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. ²Then 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. ⁴For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

How much did the poor widow give? Two small coins, two mites.

Hold up a penny. A mite was worth about 1/5 of a penny!

The widow’s offering was so small, it may have been the smallest one given that day. Even so, Jesus said she gave more than all the rest because she gave all she had!

God takes what we cheerfully give and He multiplies it in His kingdom. In doing this, God receives praise and glory!

Divide the children into teams of five. If possible, mix older and younger children on each team.

For each team of five, have teams select players for the following roles and stand at these positions:

· Two players will stand at the starting line and travel back and forth to the storehouse/church.

· One player will stand at the storehouse/church bowl to receive the tithe.

· Two players will stand at the chairs and stack the coins.

Hold up 2 pennies and walk to the different stations as you talk. In this game, two players on each team will take turns bringing two small coins or mites to the church or storehouse and place them into the bowl (bowl halfway to the team’s chairs). The players will travel back and forth, one at a time, as one player returns to the starting line.

Hold up a craft stick in one hand. You know what? You look like you can handle a greater challenge!

Place two coins on the end of the craft stick. You will carry the coins like this using only one hand to hold a craft stick. You cannot use your other hand to help as you travel. If a coin falls, you must return it to the craft stick before continuing.

The player at the storehouse will take the coins from the offering bowl and carry the coins on a craft stick to the two players by the chairs and put the coins in that bowl. The player then returns to the storehouse to receive more offerings.

The two players at the chairs represent what the tithe supports/funds inside and outside the church:

Chair #1: Church ministries.

Chair #2: Missions and outreach.

They will each take one of the two coins out of the bowl and stack them into a tower on a chair.

The winner is the first team to build two towers of 10 pennies each.

Optional:

Play as one team with a timer for the fastest time in two or more rounds for all the coins to be given, distributed and stacked.

Play additional rounds with players switching stations and responsibilities.

For smaller classes, play on teams of 3 with one person at each station.

Conclusion: What if the players did not bring enough coins to the storehouse, could the towers have still been built? No!

For the church and all of its ministries to function, people must cheerfully give to God!

Are you ready to trust God and give to Him first? Whether it is a small coin or a large gift, when you give cheerfully, be ready for God’s blessing because the windows of heaven will open!