Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous two lessons about the poor widow who gave a tiny offering, but it was everything she had. Back in the western town, Professor Fern helps a dejected Widget understand that there are many ways to be generous besides giving money. Children learn the importance of generosity: To cheerfully give and share what God gives you. The lesson today will focus on giving our time and talents to God and others.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.

Optional Opening Game

Hold up the can. In this game you will practice giving something that isn’t money to help others.

Have one child sit in the chair.

Have 3 or 4 children stand in a row several feet behind the chair.

The seated child must close his/her eyes and not look behind.

Give the can to one child standing in the row.

That child walks to the chair and quietly places the can next to the chair then returns to the row.

Have the seated child open his/her eyes, turn, pick up the can and guess which child gave the can. If the child guess incorrectly, let them guess again.

Have the child who gave the can sit in the chair and play. Move players in and out of the game as it progresses. Play until each child has a turn to give and guess.

Conclusion: This looked fun! Which did you like more, giving or guessing? Children respond.

When we met last time, we learned about giving generously, not so others can see and praise us, but to show God’s love to others. Giving generously means to cheerfully give and share what God gives you. Giving money is important, but that’s not the only way to be generous. In this game, you gave a can of food which can feed someone who is hungry. In today’s lesson, we will learn about ways we can generously give and share what God gives us!

Video Lesson

The Widow’s Coins

In today’s video, Jesus and His Disciples watch as the people give their offerings in the Temple collection boxes. Jesus points out to His disciples how to give generously, even when you only have two small coins!

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

· Jesus often came to the Temple to teach and to hear others teach God’s Word. (Luke 4:16, 20:1)

· What other things do people come to the Temple or church to do? Give offerings, sing, learn about God and Jesus, pray, worship, praise God.

· Place the chair in front of you. When Jesus taught in the Temple, was He standing up? What did He do? (If a hint is needed, choose a child to sit in the chair). He sat down.

· Where did Jesus sit? If a hint is needed, move the chair next to the coins on the table. He sat near the collection boxes or the offering.

· Hold up the container of coins. Who gave the most money? The rich or wealthy people.

· Hold up the two pennies. Who gave the two tiny coins? The poor widow.

· Stand up if you think Jesus was most happy with the rich people’s offerings. Children respond.

· Thank you, you may sit down. Hold up the two pennies.

· Stand up if you think Jesus was most pleased with the poor widow’s offering. Children respond.

· Did Jesus call the rich people and the widow to come over so He could talk to them about their offerings? No!

· You listened well! Who did Jesus talk to about the offerings? His disciples, His followers.

· Jesus gathered His disciples around Him and said, “This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. They have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she has given everything she has.”

Option 1 uses the bag of wrapped candies; Option 2 uses the container of silver coins.

I want to show you something I think will help to understand why Jesus said the widow’s tiny offering was more than the others. Gather the children around the table and stand behind it.

OPTION 1: Using CANDY:

Pretend you have this bag of candy and it’s your favorite kind! Open the bag and pour it out in a pile.

A friend asks you for two pieces of the candy.

Pull out two pieces of candy. You give these two pieces to your friend.

Look at all the candy you still have! Can you even tell you gave two pieces away? Children respond.

Move the bag of candy out of sight. Let’s say these two pieces of candy are all you have and remember; it’s your favorite kind of candy!

A friend asks you to give the two pieces to him. Is it still easy to give the two pieces away, or is it harder now? Harder.

Why is it harder? Because it is all I have. I have none left for myself.

The rich people gave a lot of money but they kept more back for themselves.

The poor widow gave all she had, she had nothing more to give.

OPTION 2: Using SILVER COINS:

Pretend this container of coins is all yours! Open the container and pour it out in a pile.

A friend asks you for two coins.

Pull out two coins. You give these two coins to your friend.

Look at all the coins you still have! Can you even tell you gave two away? Children respond.

Move the bag out of sight. Let’s say these two coins are all you have. You don’t have any more money anywhere else.

A friend asks you to give them the two coins. Is it still easy to give the two coins away, or is it harder now? Harder.

Why is it harder? Because it is all I have. I have none left for myself.

The rich people gave a lot of money but they kept more back for themselves.

The poor widow gave all she had, she had nothing more to give.

Object to GO!

Put the wristwatch on and hold your arm out for children to see or hold up the image. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

· I am wearing something on my wrist; what is it? A watch, a wristwatch.

· Yes, why does someone wear a watch? To tell time, to see what time it is.

· Can you name something else that shows us what time it is? A clock.

· In today’s video, a professor talks to Widget about time. Which professor do you think it is—Professor Quantum, Professor Fern, or Professor Spectrum? Children respond.

· I like all of your guesses! Now it’s TIME to watch the video and find out the answer!

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Play Video (Time & Talent)

Time & Talent!

· Hold up the wristwatch. Which professor spoke to Widget about giving time? Professor Fern.

· Why was Widget feeling sad? She wanted to be generous but didn’t have any money to give.

· What did Widget do to help Miss Tina? She gave her time and used her flying skills to help hang decorations.

· How did Widget generously help Gizmo? She held an umbrella while he worked on plumbing.

· What did Widget give up to help Miss Tina and Gizmo? Her time to play soccer.

· What did Professor Fern ask Widget to do? Help her pick out school supplies.

· Did Widget need money to be generous to help the three people? No!

Optional Object Lesson:

Verse to GO!

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is Proverbs 11:25. Say the memory verse slowly.

““The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped” Proverbs 11:25

We learned the first and second parts of this verse before. If this is your first time, no worries; we will learn both parts together today!

Stand facing the children and help them to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.

The one… point both index fingers to your chest.

Who blesses others… Outstretch one hand to give.

Is abundantly blessed… point to sky with one hand and bring the hand that was outstretched flat to your chest.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

Great! Now the second part of the verse.

Those who help others…. Point to self and others, then stretch arms outward

are helped… Smile and bring one hand flat to your heart.

Let’s say both together now.

The one… point both index fingers to your chest.

Who blesses others… Outstretch one hand to give.

Is abundantly blessed… point to sky with one hand and bring the hand that was outstretched flat to your chest.

Those who help others…. Point to self and others, then stretch arms outward

are helped… Smile and bring one hand flat to your heart.

Optional: Make sure the children understand what it means to bless others and the meaning of “abundantly”.

We bless others when we show God’s love and kindness to them.

The word “abundant” means many of something or a large amount.

So, by blessing others, we will receive blessings from God and others.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse. They may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand its meaning.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson in a simple prayer to encourage the children to generously to God and others.

For example: Dear God, show us ways that we can be generous and give our time and talents to You and others. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Self-Control

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

Create your own motions or use the suggested motions as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “The Golden Nugget” under Resources or under Extras! in the DVD main menu.

The Golden Nugget

Play the video song “The Golden Nugget.”

Encourage children to move and sing along. Move up and down riding a horse. Use a shovel and a pick to dig up gold with the prospectors!

Chorus

When you bless others you’ll be blessed abundantly
Bring ’em in, Help ’em out, Help ’em up, Give a shout
Bless abundantly
Think of the one in need

Singing Activity

Lead the children in singing the song “Generosity” (to the tune “London Bridge”) from Lesson 1.

Additional instructions and chords are located in Lesson 1

Take-Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

· What is the widow doing in this picture? Giving her coins (money) as an offering in the Temple. Dropping her two coins into the offering (collection) boxes.

· Did Jesus think what she gave was too small? No, He said she gave the most or more than the

coins?

· What does it mean to be generous? To cheerfully give or share what God gives you.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for WIDOW’S COINS, one per child; available for purchase under Products. Explain that there is a different trading card for each of the three lessons, so if they come back to Sunday school each week, they can collect all three! (Lesson 1 was RIG OF THE WEST—GENEROSITY, Lesson 2 was PROFESSOR SPECTRUM.)

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Canned Response” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Gold Rush!” from Lesson 1 

Play the game “Coin Drop” from Lesson 2