Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “Gold Nugget.”

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous four lessons about the poor widow who gave two small coins worth less than a penny. Though it was a tiny amount, Jesus said she gave more than anyone, even the wealthy people. At Quantum Labs, Gears just gave generously to a worthy cause but that doesn’t mean he is happy about it! Children continue to learn about generosity: To cheerfully give and share what God gives you. Today’s lesson focuses on giving with a happy heart.

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

Optional Opening Game

Pull one card of each type out of the pile: Happy, excited, sad, angry.

Hold up the Angry Card and Sad Card. It is not a good feeling to be angry, sad is it?

Hold up the Happy Card and the Excited Card. Raise both hands and jump up and down if you like to feel happy and excited. Children respond.

Yes, I think everyone would choose to be happy and excited, not angry or disappointed.

Shuffle the four cards back into the pile and then lay all of the cards face down (literally) on the table or floor in rows of four to six cards.

In this game, let’s find and take away all of the angry, sad and disappointed cards so all we see are happy and excited cards!

A player chooses one card and shows it to the other players.

The player repeats this with a second card.

When a Happy/Excited Card is shown to the class, everyone rejoices together (cheer, jump up and down and clap).

Then the card is turned face up on the table or board.

All Angry/Sad Cards chosen are shown to the class and then removed from the game.

Play until all cards have been turned over and only the Happy Cards remain.

Optional: When the Angry/Sad cards are removed, shout together “God loves a cheerful giver!”

Conclusion: That feels better to remove all the angry and sad faces doesn’t it!

What faces do you see now? Happy, excited, cheerful faces!

This is how God wants us to feel inside when we give!

Object to Go

Show the image. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

· Who is this in the picture? Rig.

· Does Rig look happy or sad? Happy.

· Let’s all stand and make happy faces together because God loves us and gives us everything we need! Children respond.

· It feels good to be happy. Can you name something that makes you happy? Children respond.

· In today’s video, Rig is happy about something He did—so happy that He gives someone a high five! Can you guess who Gizmo gives a high five to first; is it Gears, Miss Tina, Professor Fern or Protonatron? Children respond.

· Now, let’s visit Quantum Labs to find out the answer!

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

Play Video (Happy Giving)

Happy Giving

· Hold up the picture of Rig. Who was the first one to get a high five from Rig? Gizmo.

· Why were Gizmo and Rig happy? They gave toys to the children in the hospital.

· Were all the bots in the video happy? No, Gears was not.

· Why wasn’t Gears happy? He wanted to buy a Protonatron figure with his money. (Emerald Edition with light up display base).

· Why did Rig say we should be happy when we give? It is the true spirit of giving.

· Was Gears happy or sad at the end of the video? Happy.

· What did Gizmo say God wants you to be generous with? Hint: form a heart with your fingers. My heart.

Optional Object Lesson Discussion

Make one copy of the Heart Page.

Cut out the two hearts.

Glue one heart on the BACK of each paper plate.

Turn the plates over and put five coins “heads up” on the front of each plate.

On the “happy heart” plate, turn one coin “tails up” so you can easily identify it.

Put both plates on the table.

Gears, Gizmo and Rig all generously gave gifts to the children’s hospital.

But HOW they gave was not the same. Gizmo and Rig gave with cheerful, happy hearts. Gears gave with a sad heart and he wasn’t happy with Gizmo for asking him to give.

Show the children the two plates of money. Do not show the hearts on the back of the plates.

Let’s say two different people gave the same amount of money to someone who had a need.

Which gift do you think was a generous gift that God was pleased with? Children respond.

The gifts look the same, don’t they? We can’t really see a difference, but God can!

Slide the coins off the “sad heart” on to the table and then turn it over so children can see the heart.

Is this how God wants us to feel inside when we give? No!

Gizmo told us about a verse from the Bible that says God loves a cheerful giver. This is not a cheerful or happy heart!

Slide the coins off the “sad heart” on to the table and then turn it over so children can see the heart.

Oh, now that’s better, isn’t it? Is this how God wants us to feel inside when we give? Yes!

Even though the gifts were the same, they were actually different to God!

God doesn’t want you to be angry or sad when you give. He wants you to feel the same happiness and joy He feels when He gives generously gives to you!

God chose to give to you first because He loves you. He wants you to give cheerfully because your heart is filled with love and thankfulness for all He has given you. It feels good to share all that God generously gives!

Now, let’s give each other high fives because we have a generous God who loves us! Children respond.

Video Lesson

Daniel and Friends

The Widow’s Coins

In today’s video, many people brought their offerings to the Temple. Let’s watch the video now to see who Jesus said gave more than all the others!

Play Video (Bible story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

In the Bible story, Jesus watched as the rich people gave their large offerings in the Temple.

Jesus also saw the poor widow who brought her tiny offering to the Temple. She only had two small coins, worth less than one penny.

The disciples must have thought Jesus would be very happy with the offering the rich people gave. But when Jesus talked to them, which person did He praise? The poor widow.

Even though the poor widow gave so little, Jesus knew she gave the most generous of all the offerings given that day. Why? Because Jesus sees what the disciples and you and I can’t see. Jesus does not only see the outside of a person, He sees inside too! (Luke 16:15;1 Samuel 16:7).

A person’s heart is what is most important to God, not the outside that people can see.

Hold up the water bottle and the large cup.

Let’s pretend this water bottle is full of good things God gives to us, and let’s say this cup is a person.

Open the water bottle and hold the cup over the bowl. Pour water into the cup until it is full

Wow, God gave generously to this person!

Let’s see how generously this person gives.

Tip the cup enough to pour a very small amount into the bowl.

Place the towel under the cup and show the children how much water remains in the cup.

There is still a lot left in the cup, isn’t there?

Put the cup down and pick up the paper towel tube.

Now, pretend this funnel is a different person.

Hold the funnel over the bowl, then pour a little water from the bottle through the funnel into the bowl.

Do it two more times.

Look in the funnel and then show the inside of it to the children.

I don’t see any water left in the funnel do you? No!

Do you think how the poor widow gave was more like the funnel or the cup? The funnel!

Yes! Everything that went into it, came back out. Everything God gave to her, she gave back to God!

How were the rich people more like the cup? They were given a lot but gave back a little. They kept a lot more for themselves.

Yes, the rich people gave large offerings, but kept much more. The widow gave a tiny amount, but it was all she had. Jesus could see her generous and happy heart that loved to give!

The widow loved and trusted God with all her heart. She knew everything she had to give came from God. She trusted that He would keep giving her everything she needed.

Today’s Bible verse says: “Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!”

It pleases God when we have a happy heart to give what He generously gives to us!

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

Let’s practice the first part of the verse we learned the last time.

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.

You did a good job with the first part of the verse!

Now, let’s learn the second part of the verse.

And we give you … hold both hands with palms up and reach to the sky.

Only what You first gave us … lower hands slowly (as if receiving a gift coming down)

Repeat slowly two more times.

Good job! Now let’s say the whole verse together.

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

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

And we give you … hold both hands with palms up and reach to the sky.

Only what You first gave us … lower hands slowly (as if receiving a gift coming down)

Optional: Look around the room. Children respond.

Everything you see came from God. Everybody God created 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 gave us everything we need because He loves us.

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 children to give with a happy heart.

For example: Dear God, thank You for sending your Son Jesus to die for us and forgive our sins. Thank You for rising again so we can have new life with You! Help us to give generously with a happy heart because of all You give to us—every day! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Gold Nugget

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 “The 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:

· Why wouldn’t Gears give high fives to the other bots? He was sad/mad he couldn’t buy the toy he wanted because he gave away all his money.

· Did we give to God first or did God give to us first? God!

· Do you give a high five when you are happy or sad? Happy!

· How does God want us to feel when we give? Happy, cheerful.

· What does Gears give Gizmo and Rig at the end of the video? Gives them high fives.

Game

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Happiness is Giving” 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

Play the game “Returns Accepted” from Lesson 4