Children's Church Lesson: The Widow's Offering

Story

Say: What are some things that God wants us to do? (Give the children time to list various things).  One of the things that God wants us to do is to give to the church so God’s work can be done.  Do you have a lot of money that belongs to you that you can give to the church? (The answer for most children should be no).   Even if we don’t have a lot of money we can give we can still find ways to give to God.  Today we are going to read a story about a woman who did not have a lot of money but gave to God anyway. 

Read “The Widow’s Offering” in any Children's Bible.

Lesson

Say:  What did the rich man do as he was giving his money?  (Show off, draw attention to himself)  Why did he give his money in a showy way?   How much money did the old woman have and how much of that did she give?  Who did Jesus say gave more? (The woman)  How do you feel about giving everything you have? (give plenty of time for answers).

We are kind of like the lady aren’t we, we don’t have a lot of money to give.   Just like the woman we do have things we can give.  Do we have some money, even if it is not a lot (yes).  Did you know that there are other things we can give to God besides money?  What are some other things we can give to God (things we have that we don’t need anymore, things we are good at/talents, etc).  Even if we don’t have a lot of money we have things that we can give to the church so God’s work can be done.

Big Idea

Even if we don’t have a lot of money we have things that we can give to the church so God’s work can be done.

Memory Verse

Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do.  - Isaiah 32:8

Prayer

Say a short prayer thanking God for the things he has given us and asking him to help us be generous giving back to Him some of the things he has given us.  

Craft

Students will decorate piggy bank cubes (http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/cube-model.html) with stamps, stickers and crayons.  They will then cut them out and assemble them using glue sticks (or scotch tape). You will need to use an exacto-knife or box cutter to make coin slots ahead of time.  

Activity 

Have the children share some the things they can give for God.