Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous three lessons about the poor widow who generously gave all that she had. Back at Quantum Lab’s kitchen, Miss Tina just took a freshly baked batch of cookies from the oven and they smell so good! Will she enjoy them by herself or give them to a bot to share with someone else? Children learn about generosity: To cheerfully give and share what God gives you.

The lesson’s focus today is how God generously gives to us first so we can be generous too!

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted.

Optional Opening Game

Have the children line up single file, with about three feet between them (adjust as necessary).

Stand in front of the first player in line and pass them the ball.

The player then chooses to shout “OVER” or “SIDEWAYS” and passes the ball to the next player in line. If the player shouts “OVER”, the ball is passed overhead to the next player.

If the player shouts “SIDEWAYS,” the ball is passed around either side of the player to the next player.

When the ball is passed to the last player in line, Shout “TURN AROUND.”

All players will turn around and play resumes facing the other direction.

Optional: once the player in the front of the line passes the ball, they immediately quickly walk to the back of the line and stand behind the last player in line.

Players will need to take a few steps forward for a small room.

Continue playing until the original first player returns to the front of the line.

Conclusion: Did you like to give or receive the ball the most? Children respond.

Did you like to pass the ball over or sideways more? Children respond.

In this game, you gave the ball to others and it came back to you. This is like giving. When we give, we receive a blessing in return.

That is like the Bible verse we learned in a different lesson: “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” Proverbs 11:25 (MSG)

You never knew if the ball would be passed over or sideways to you. When you give, you never know what, when or how you will receive a blessing in return! It’s like a fun, good surprise God will bless us in so many different ways with His good gifts!

Object to GO!

Show the cookies/cookie bag or hold up the image.

Next, lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

· Clap your hands if you know what I am holding. Children respond.

· Raise your hand if chocolate chip cookies are your favorite cookie. Children respond.

· What other kinds of cookies do you like? Children respond.

· In today’s video, someone at Quantum Labs bakes some chocolate chip cookies and they smell so good! Who do you think is the cookie baker? Professor Fern, Professor Quantum, Rig, Rodney, or Miss Tina? Children respond.

· I think some of you may have guessed correctly. Let’s visit Quantum Lab’s kitchen to see who the cookie baker is.

Leave the question unanswered until it after the video.

Play Video (Generosity Squared)

Generosity Squared

· Hold up the cookies or image. Raise your hand if you guessed that Miss Tina baked the cookies. Children respond.

· What two things happened when Gears smelled the cookies? His lightbulb lit up, he made a dinging sound.

· Who invited Gizmo to a tea party? Rig and Widget.

· Why was Gizmo in a hurry? He needed to bring a snack to the party and he didn’t have one.

· How was Miss Tina generous with Gizmo? She gave him her cookies to share at the party.

· What did Gears think about what Miss Tina did? He didn’t understand why she gave the cookies to Gizmo when she wanted to eat them herself.

· Who did Gears say would get the credit for being generous now? Gizmo.

· Was Miss Tina sad that Rig and Widget might not know she baked the cookies? No!

Optional Video Illustration

Miss Tina did not care who knew she generously gave the cookies to Gizmo. She could only be generous with Gizmo because God was first generous with her.

Choose two volunteer children or leaders to stand near you.

Here is a coin I want you to hold, please. Give a coin to Volunteer #1.

{Volunteer #1 name} Please give the coin to {Volunteer #2 name} Volunteer #1 gives the coin to Volunteer #2.

Thank you! {Volunteer #1 name}. Please give one more coin to {Volunteer #2 name}.

Pause a moment. Why can’t {Volunteer #1 name} give another coin to {Volunteer#2 name}? Children respond.

Yes, he/she doesn’t have a coin to give because I only gave one coin. {Volunteer #1 name} can only give if I give first, right?

Hand the second coin to Volunteer #1. {Volunteer #1 name} Please give the coin to {Volunteer #2 name}. Volunteer #1 gives the coin to volunteer #2.

{Volunteer #1 name} could only give to {Volunteer #2 name} when I gave the coin first.

When I didn’t do that, there was nothing to give.

Because God gives generously to us first, we have all we need and more to share with others. Without God, we have nothing!

God gave to us first. He first loved us and then gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins. The Bible says: “Since He (God) did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32 (NLT).

Living for God and telling others about Jesus is the best way to thank God for His wonderful gift!

Video Lesson

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

The Widow’s Coins

In today’s video, Jesus and His disciples are in the Temple watching people give their offerings. Jesus gathers His disciples and surprises them when He says who gave the most.

Teaching Time

Place two pennies near one end of the table.

Place the container of silver coins near the other end of the table.

In the Bible story, the rich people brought large amounts of money into the Temple.

Place the container of silver coins on the table.

The poor widow brought her tiny offering to the Temple too. She only had two small coins, worth less than one penny. Move the two pennies toward the center of the table.

Jesus sat near the collection boxes and saw the large offerings the rich people gave.

He also watched as the poor widow gave her tiny offering.

Then Jesus gathered His disciples around Him and talked to them about what He saw. Jesus told His disciples how pleased He was with the large offering the rich people brought, right? Children respond. No!

What did Jesus say about their offerings? They gave only a small part of what they had.

Take 10-15 silver coins next from the container and stack them. Let’s say that this stack of coins is the offering the rich people gave.

Stack the two pennies next to the stack of silver coins.

Which stack is higher? Children respond.

Yes, the rich people gave many more coins than the widow.

But even though they gave more coins, Jesus said the widow gave more. How could her offering be more? She gave everything she had.

Yes! Pour out the container of coins in a pile next to the stack of silver coins.

The rich people gave only a small part of their money. Look at all the extra coins left over!

Point to the widow’s coin stack. I don’t see any extra coins next to the widow’s offering, do you?

Children respond.

The widow gave everything she had.

So, why do you think she could give everything she had? Because she loved and trusted God.

The Bible tells us, “Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!” 1 Chronicles 29:14b (NLT)

The poor widow knew she could not give unless God gave to her first. She gave everything she had and trusted God to give her all she needed.

Verse to GO!

1 Chronicles 29:14b (NLT)

Today’s Bible memory verse is 1 Chronicles 29:14b. Say the memory verse slowly.

“Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!”

1 Chronicles 29:14b

We will learn the first part of the verse today.

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

Everything we have … hold both arms wide open and look around.

Has come from You… hold both arms up and point to the sky.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

The poor widow knew she could only give what God gave to her first.

Look around the room. Children respond.

Everything you see was given to us by God. God created people and breathed life into them.

Look outside (if the room has windows). God gave us every tree, every animal, the sun, the moon, stars and sky. He gave us the rain, the clouds and the wind. God first gave to us and he keeps giving us everything we need and even more so we can give generously to others. Let’s say our verse again!

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 thanks God for generously giving to us.

For example: Dear God, thank You for giving us all we need and more. Help us not to be selfish, but to share with others generously. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Music Time

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 “Gold Nugget” under Resources, or under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “Gold Nugget.”

Encourage children to move with the music and sing along with the chorus. 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

Gold Nugget

Take Home Coloring Page

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

· Where is Gizmo taking the plate of cookies? He is taking them to the tea party.

· Did Gizmo bake the cookies? No, Miss Tina did.

· Did Miss Tina bake them for the party? No, she baked them to eat herself.

· Why did Miss Tina give them to Gizmo? To be generous and help him so he would have a snack to take to the party.

· Who gives to us first so we can give to others? God

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

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Returns Accepted” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Gold Rush!” from Lesson 1 

Play the game “Coin Drop” from Lesson 2 

Play the game “Canned Response” from Lesson 3