The Widow’s Mite

You’ll Need: Bibles, “Scripture Coins” handouts, Scissors

Get Ready: Before the activity, print the “Scripture Coins” handout, and cut out a set of coins for each small group. Mix up the order before bundling each set together.

“Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:43-44)

Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:

• Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 12:43-44.
• Have volunteers read aloud the verse multiple times so that it becomes familiar to all the kids.
• Form three small groups, and give each group a set of “Scripture Coins.”
• Explain that when you say “go,” each team will try to put the coins in order according to the Bible memory verse.
• Once all the teams have the memory verse laid out, invite them all to read aloud the verse together.

SAY: Today we are going to learn that it isn’t the size of your gift that matters. We will see that the small gift from a widow was worth more than the large gifts of the wealthy.

You’ll Need: Bibles, Coins, 2 laundry baskets, Paper, Markers, Tape

Get Ready: Before class, make a sign that says “Cheerful Giver” with a smiley face and one that says “Uncheerful Giver” with a frowny face. Tape a sign to each of the laundry baskets and place them on the floor on either side of you as you share the lesson.

• Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 12:41-44.
• Read aloud the passage, and ask the following questions.

ASK:

• Is it easier to be like the widow or the wealthy in this lesson? Why?
• How can you give God your very best?

• Read the scenarios in the following list to kids.
• If they think the person is a cheerful giver, instruct them to toss a coin into the designated laundry basket.
• If what they hear sounds as if the person isn’t a cheerful giver, invite them to toss a coin into the other laundry basket.
• Don’t worry if the coins don’t land in the baskets; you can clean them all up at the end.
• Scenarios:
  • Molly hid her money last Sunday so she didn’t have to take it to church for the offering.
  • Bobby did extra chores so he could earn money to give to the church building fund.
  • Libby had been saving for a new doll, but she gave that money to missionaries at church instead.
  • Tamika pretended to be asleep during the offering so she didn’t have to put in any of her money.
  • Juan brought his piggy bank to church and put it at the altar during offering time.
  • Sam did odd jobs around the neighborhood to make money, and then he brought the money to church last Sunday.

Snack Surprise

You’ll Need: Opaque snack bags, Individually wrapped snacks

Get Ready: Pack a snack in each of the opaque bags so kids can’t see what’s inside.

Follow these steps for the “Snack Surprise” activity:

• Give each child a bag with a snack, and tell kids they’re not allowed to look inside.
• Explain that as you describe what might be inside the bags, kids will pass the bags around the circle. They won’t stop until you’ve finished telling them what might be in the bag.
• Use the following ideas, or create your own, and be sure to embellish why you would have chosen each item based on cost.
  • Broccoli from the garden
  • The finest chocolate money can buy from Europe
  • A piece of bread from the day-old bread store
  • Chips from the local convenience store
  • Homemade cookies
• After you’ve told kids what might be in the bag, have them stop passing the bags and guess what’s really inside.
• Discuss the following questions while kids enjoy their snacks.

ASK:

• Explain how you felt about the different possibilities of what might have been in the bag.
• Why do you think it’s important to have a cheerful heart when giving?

SAY: In today’s lesson, the widow gave very little in the amount of money, but she was a cheerful giver and gave all she had. Sometimes we think it’s about the amount or the size of the gift, but it’s really about the heart.

Offering Over and Under Game

You’ll Need: 2 sturdy paper plates, Coins

To play the “Offering Over and Under” game, have kids follow these steps:

• Form two teams, and invite the teams to line up.
• At the front of each team, place a handful of coins on the floor and on the plate.
• Explain that the first person in line will place a coin on the plate and then pass the plate over their head to the next person in line. That person has to pass the plate under their legs, and so on.
• If a coin falls off, it remains on the floor and the plate continues to pass to the back of the line.
• When the plate reaches the last person, he or she will carefully walk to the front with the plate, add another coin, and start the passing process again.
• Play until the person who started first in line is back to the front of the line.
• The team that has the most coins on its plate at the end is the winner.

SAY: If we were watching the offering in today’s Bible lesson take place, we would probably guess that the wealthy people were giving more, but Jesus is much wiser than us. He knows it isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but how we give that gift. You may be young and feel like you don’t have much to give, but today’s lesson shows that you can be a cheerful giver with what you have.

Giving Bank

You’ll Need: Mason jars with lids, Construction paper, Scissors, Markers, Tape

Get Ready: Before class, cut construction paper into thirds that are long enough to wrap around each mason jar.

Have kids follow these steps to make the “Giving Bank” craft:

• Give each child a mason jar and a strip of construction paper.
• Explain that as a class, you are going to collect for a special need in your community or church.
• Invite kids to decorate their construction paper strips with markers. They can write the Bible memory verse and their names somewhere on the paper.
• After the strips are decorated, help kids line the inside of their mason jars with the construction paper strips, and tape them in place. (Drawings should be visible on the outside of the mason jar.)
• Put the lids on the mason jars, and encourage kids to put dollars and coins in during the month while your class collects money.
• Don’t forget to set an end date and a goal, and be sure to remind the kids periodically when they are to bring their “Giving Banks” back to class.

ASK:

• What’s a need we can collect money for?
• What are other ways we can support a need when we don’t have the money to do so?

Giving Bank Prayers

You’ll Need: “Giving Bank” craft

• Invite children to sit in a circle.
• Begin by having kids hold their “Giving Bank” crafts in their hands.
• Ask kids to pass their banks to the left, and invite that person to pray silently that the owner of the bank will be a cheerful giver. (The child’s name should be on the bank.)
• Continue passing and praying until each bank makes it back to its owner.
• Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank You for the Bible and the example of the widow giving all she had. God, You are worthy of our all. Help us be cheerful givers. In Jesus’ name, amen.