Children’s Worship 5.31.20
Dear Parents,
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we are reminded that God wants us to give generously as did the widow who gave the last of her money. God is generous to us and has given us many things like money, talents, abilities, and most of all salvation, so we can be a blessing to others.
Please let us know about how you and your family are enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Watch the video.
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship: Sing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity(s). Pray together.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)
The Lord speaks through numerous verses on tithing and offering in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the people requested what amount they were to give as a portion of the first fruits. The tithe, or tenth, was established as a percentage the people were to offer to the Lord. This tenth was to be the first 10 percent of all income—including harvest, cattle, the selling of property, and wages earned for each day’s work. There were three different “tenths” the people were to give—two were yearly and one was every three years. This tenth was then broken down and distributed among the priests and Levites, the treasury, and the poor. God commanded kindness and generosity in the treatment of the priests and Levites, for they would not inherit wealth from the acquiring and selling of land. As for those who were from foreign lands, or already inhabiting the land in which His people were to dwell, God directed His people to care for the strangers with kindness. To anyone who asked for help, the people were commanded by God to offer what was asked for or needed. If the people asking were refused, the Lord counted it as sin against those who declined to help.
Although a tithe, or tenth, is not mentioned in the New Testament, the offerings of first fruits and generosity continue. In Luke 21:1–4, Jesus talks about the heart of giving to the Lord when He compares the offerings of the wealthy and the widow who had little financially. To give generously is not a request from the Lord, but a command. For if God is the provider, then as His people we are freed to give generously to others, knowing that He is generous to us. Giving is a matter of the heart between God and His children. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Activity 1: STORY
Watch video #1: Introductory video
Watch video #2: Bible Story
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
Today in The Big God Story, Jesus was in the temple while people were giving their offerings. Jesus was pleased at the offering of the widow because even though she was poor, she gave everything she had. She gave generously to God. God is generous to us so that we too can be generous to others.
I wonder … How did the widow feel after she gave her offering of two coins?
I wonder … How has God been generous to me?
I wonder … What can I give to God?
These questions can easily extend into the rest of the week. Look for opportunities to bring conversations about how God Saves into your everyday life as a family.
Worship Song(s):
Here’s another song by Steve Green from his “Hide “Em in Your Heart, Vol.1) CD. (Just a note from Mrs. Sharon: If you can find it, it’s a great way for kids to memorize Scripture. And the songs are really fun. There is a DVD of it, also. You can borrow CDs for a while if you’d like.)
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
#1 Activity Sheet/Coin Rubbings
Directions: Find the hidden items in the picture, then color the picture. For more fun gather some different size coins and crayons and do some coin rubbings in the margin of the paper.
#2 Optional Game: Give It Away
Supplies
- Satchel or pouch (small)
- Coins (handful)
- Timer or game buzzer
Set Up: Place coins inside satchel or pouch.
God is generous and has given us so much! We can give too. We can use our money, our gifts, our time—everything in our lives to care for the people and things around us. God’s generosity spurs us toward generous giving. In this game, children will need to give away what they’ve received as fast as they can!
Gather children together and sit in a circle on the floor. Today in The Big God Story, we heard about what it means to be a generous giver—to share and give what we’ve been given with others. Now we’re going to play a game that’s like Hot Potato. You’ll try to give away what you’ve been given as quickly as possible. Once you receive the pouch of money, pass it along as fast as you can so it gets into someone else’s hands before the timer goes off.
To start the game, we’ll pass the pouch around the circle from person to person as quickly as possible. When you hear the timer or game buzzer, you must stop. Whoever has the coins in his hands when the buzzer sounds will be out for the rest of the round. (Or, just continue without letting anyone sit out.) We’ll continue until there’s only one person left. Encourage children who’ve been eliminated to cheer for the children who are remaining. Repeat the game as time allows.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
God has been generous to us so we can be generous to others. As a family, bless each other. Encourage your kids to speak blessing words over you or each other as you do the same for them.
(Person’s name) may you know and experience God’s love this week as you look for ways to give generously and love others, just as God has loved you.
