Scripture: Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God is most concerned about what is on our hearts and minds.
- Students will learn God cares more about why we are giving and our attitudes toward giving than the actual amount given.
- Students will learn God does not like it when people give to show off to others.
- Students will learn how to count and compare money.
Guiding Question: Why does God care about our giving attitude? How can money be counted and compared?
Materials: Fake coins and bills
Procedure: Review the story of Widow’s Mite. Ask the students why they think God cares more about our heart than what it is we give to Him or to others? Explain that God wants us to have a caring attitude and humble mindset when we give. Our giving should never come from a place of wanting to put attention on ourselves. It should come from a heart that wants to serve God by giving to Him and serving others.
Explain that contributions of money from members at church are given and counted up each Sunday. Show students fake money and divide a “contribution” between students or pairs of students. Have the students identify and give the value of the coins and bills in their pile. To challenge students, have them count up the money in their pile.
Additional Questions: How can students divide money in a “budget” to go toward a “service project”?
Supplemental Activity: Give students an example service project and give them an example budget to work with. Have the students come up with how they would spend the money and not go over budget for the project.