Curriculum

Treasures in Heaven

Treasures in Heaven Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God wants what’s best for us, and Jesus told His followers to store up treasures in heaven. Things of this world will not last.

Scripture Summary

Jesus had just warned against worry; we are not to worry about food or what to wear. He preached and encouraged His followers to look at the ravens. They don’t labor, and God still feeds them. Jesus asked those listening to also consider the lilies of the field. Again without any laboring, the lilies are clothed in beauty. God is the one who provides.

God’s kingdom spans throughout the earth and heavens, and He wants to give us His kingdom. The way we handle our earthly possessions prepares us for the great riches of His kingdom. God doesn’t want us distracted or tempted by money; money should never be the goal. Though, obtaining wealth in order to bless others is all part of God’s plan.

Whatever we focus on or what occupies our time and energy will capture our hearts. If we work only to make money, we can become greedy. If we concern ourselves with others and their well-being, we can experience rich community.

Jesus often spoke of His leaving this world and returning one day. He shared that He would go and prepare a place, a kingdom, for His followers. There are a couple of interpretations of this prepared kingdom. Greeks often consider a heavenly kingdom, while the Jewish people (including Isaiah and John) expected it to be a restored kingdom here on earth.

Why Is This Important

Having an eternal perspective helps us recognize God as the provider, how important eternal riches are, and the importance of being ready for Jesus and His forever kingdom.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”

(1 Timothy 6:17-19)

God ultimately provides for all of our needs and so many of our wants. What we have is not ours to keep anyway, so we might as well have some fun while giving it away. I’ve collected some ideas from dear friends who have embraced generosity in big and small ways.

Whenever a friend receives a compliment on a bracelet or accessory, she promptly takes off the item and gives it to the admirer.

A friend anonymously purchased books that focus on the biblical approach to managing finances, one for each household of the entire church.

A wife mentioned that her husband keeps a grocery gift card in his wallet at all times ( refilling it as he’s able) to help pay the grocery bills of fellow shoppers.

Many moms are known to box up their children’s outgrown clothes to bless another family.

The practice of hospitality—whether with a simple or fancy meal—is a beautiful way to give to others.

A single mom and her daughter spent many Saturday mornings purchasing sandwich ingredients, making sandwiches, and delivering the food to the homeless.

Friends who own an Airbnb freely give weeks away as a respite for pastors and missionary families.

A young boy held a lemonade stand to help send his brother to camp one summer.

Make it grand, or keep it simple. The point is to be generous with what God has provided. Take a moment to consider how you’ll give it away today.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for providing everything I have. Please help me hold these things with open hands and generously give to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles, Construction paper, “My Treasure in Heaven” handouts, Child-safe scissors, Pens, Glue

Get Ready Before the activity, print the “My Treasure in Heaven” handout, one per child.

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)

Have kids learn the Bible memory verse by using this activity:

  • Have kids open their Bibles to Luke 12:33-34.
  • Read aloud the verses.
  • Give each child a sheet of construction paper and a “My Treasure in Heaven” handout.
  • Have kids each draw 10 to 15 “coins” on their construction paper and write short phrases from the Bible memory verse on each coin.
  • They’ll cut out the coins, flip them over so the words are facing down, and mix them up.
  • When you say “go,” have kids flip over their coins, one by one, putting them below the treasure box on the handout in the correct order of the Bible memory verse.
  • Once kids have assembled their verses, have them say the verses aloud several times.
  • For a challenge, they can flip over one or more coins so they’re facing down.
  • Have kids glue the coins to their handouts in the correct order of the Bible memory verse.

ASK:

  • What’s a “treasure in heaven” we talked about today that surprised you? Explain.

SAY: Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven. These are things like giving and caring for others, and spending time with God. They are things that really bring joy to our lives, such as caring for others and spending time with God.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, “Kinds of Treasures in Heaven” handouts, Scissors, Uninflated balloons

Get Ready: Make enough copies of the handout so that there’s at least one thing from the list per child. (You can also simply write other kinds of treasures in heaven on slips of paper.) Cut apart the handout. Roll up each slip of paper, then put one slip inside a balloon, inflate it, and tie it off. Repeat so every balloon has an example of a treasure in heaven in it.

Lead kids using these steps:

  • Have kids open their Bibles to Luke 12:32-40.
  • Read aloud Luke 12:32-34, inviting kids to say the verses along with you as you get to verses 33 and 34.
  • SAY: Let’s hunt for treasures in heaven.
  • Toss the balloons out into the room.
  • When you say “go,” invite kids to run to a balloon and pop it to retrieve the “treasure in heaven” inside.
  • Invite kids to read aloud the treasure they found.
  • Ask kids to share additional ways they think they could store up treasures in heaven.
  • Explain that Jesus had more to say after He shared about storing up treasures in heaven.
  • Read aloud Luke 12:35-40.

ASK:

  • What are these verses saying to you?
  • What do you think they have to do with storing up treasures in heaven?

SAY: When we spend time with Jesus and we do things to love and care for others, we’re storing up treasures in heaven. And when we do this, it helps us be ready for Jesus to come back so we can live in heaven forever as part of His family.

Snack

Jeweled Treasure Snack

You’ll Need: Napkins, Circle-shaped pretzels, Sunkist Fruit Gems

Follow these steps for the “Jeweled Treasure” snack:

  • Have kids clean their hands.
  • Remind kids they’re learning to store up their treasures in heaven.
  • Give each child a napkin, some pretzels, and some Fruit Gems.
  • Show kids how they can make these food items look like beautiful gemstone rings by pressing the Fruit Gems down onto the outer curve of the pretzel.
  • As they work, invite them to share ways they can build up treasures in heaven.
  • Enjoy!

SAY: Jesus says loving others is storing up treasures in heaven. Loving others is good because it makes us feel good, and it helps the other person have what they need, too.

Game

A Treasure Hunt

You’ll Need: Coins, Offering plate or something similar

Get Ready: Include coins that you’re willing to donate after the game. Hide the coins around the room. Place an offering plate in the center of the room.

SAY: Today we’re learning that what’s most important to us is what we treasure. And Jesus says to store up treasures in heaven, or make loving God and others the most important thing. Let’s play a game as we think about that.

Follow these steps for the game:

  • Tell kids they’re going on a treasure hunt.
  • Allow time for the kids to find all the coins, and have them bring them back to the offering plate one at a time before finding another.
  • Have kids add up how much they collected.
  • Explain that they’re going to get to store up treasures in heaven by donating the money to someone in need.
  • Invite kids to brainstorm and then decide together who they could donate the coins to.

SAY: Jesus says things like loving God and loving our neighbor are what we can focus on because that’s how we store up treasures in heaven.

Craft

Treasure Holder

You’ll Need: Paper plates, Stapler, Hole punch, Ribbon, Treasure candies, Craft supplies

To make the craft, have kids follow these steps:

  • Remind kids they’re learning to store up treasure in heaven.
  • Explain to kids that they’re going to make treasure holders.
  • Give each child two paper plates.
  • Have kids decorate the bottom of each plate.
  • Have them match the plates with bottom sides facing out. They’ll staple the plates together along the edges, leaving an area unstapled that’s big enough to allow their hands to reach in and out of the treasure holder.
  • Have them hole punch the plates near where the staples stop, thread ribbon through the holes, and tie it off to make a handle for their treasure holders.
  • Give kids each some treasure candies to put in their treasure holders.

SAY: Take home your treasure holders, and whenever someone does something that you think is storing up treasures in heaven, like being kind or helping out, give that person a treasure candy. Replace the candy with a slip of paper that has a sentence about what the person did, and have the person sign it. This will help you remember all the people who loved you well and can inspire you to store up treasures in heaven in all kinds of ways!

Prayer

Treasure Prayers

You’ll Need: Treasure Holders from the craft, Crosses

Lead kids to pray in this way:

  • Have kids form a circle.
  • Give kids each their Treasure Holder craft and a cross.
  • Explain that the cross can remind them of how Jesus died so they can live forever in heaven with God.
  • Have kids put the crosses in their Treasure Holders to remember that Jesus is the most important treasure in their lives.
  • Lead kids in a prayer, thanking Jesus for His sacrifice.
  • Invite kids to thank Jesus for other things they treasure about Him.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for giving us Jesus. Help us treasure Him always. Help us store up treasures in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.