Scripture

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Scripture Mark 12:38-44 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

Faith Builders 5-8th grade Lesson Sunday, November 8 The Widow’s Mite Lesson Focus: Generosity and Sacrifices to God

Lesson Outline: 

Opening Activity: What is Sacrifice?

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Community Building Activities o How Much is Enough? o Spark Plug Sentences

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Read the Scripture

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Scripture Breakdown

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Small Group Discussions

Opening Activity: What is Sacrifice?

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Copy the following quotes for the students to read and discuss together the meaning of sacrifice.

Small Group Closing Activity

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Closing Prayer

“In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.” (Henry Ward Beecher) “They never fail who die in a great cause.” (Lord Byron) “We can offer up much in the large, but to make sacrifices in little things is what we are seldom equal to.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Community Building Activity—How much is enough? Starting with the person in the group who is carrying the most money in their pocket this morning, go around the group, inviting each person to answer one of the following check-in questions: 1. What would be the one possession you own that would be the hardest thing for you to give away? 2. If you had ten billion dollars, how much of it would you be willing to share with people in need? 3. How much money would be “enough” for you…enough that you would be willing to give away anything else that you earned over that amount?

Community Building Activity: Spark Plug Sentences Rules of the Game-- You (the teacher) will throw out a statement to the group, knowing that these statements may stir up a little controversy. After giving the statement, anyone in the group can call for the tennis ball / mite / etc (whatever you want to bring) and give a response (“That’s nuts!” for example). You will toss the object to that person and let him or her give a response. Anyone else who wants to comment on that statement or the response can call for the sparkplug, and the plug can be tossed around the group until everyone has finished making comments about that statement. The process will then be repeated a few more times with other statements. Invite the group to ask questions to clarify the instructions. Use some of the following sparkplug statements: “Christians should always give money to everyone who asks them.” “People who joyfully give away their money always have enough to live on.” “God is angry with people who claim to belong to him, live in incredible luxury but give only a tiny fraction of their income to the poor.” “Teenagers can’t really make any significant difference in the problems of the world, since they have no money.” “The reason our class doesn’t give more is because no one has ever really challenged us to do it.”

Read Scripture Mark 12:38-44

Scripture Breakdown Watch this video with your class to get the gist of this week’s scripture. Feel free to share it with your class!

Small Group Discussions Split into small groups for discussion questions: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Do you think there is such thing as “too much” to give? What are some sacrifices you currently give to God? What do Jesus' words say to our "having a new iPhone every year" culture? Do you think it was okay for the poor widow to put her last coins in the treasury? Was she being irresponsible? Might she have been excused from the Temple tax? (It is often true that those with less give more. Low income congregations have more who tithe than affluent congregations.)

Small Group Closing Activity Actively explore what stands in the way of your offering to God all that you have. What possession are you most proud of or dependent upon? Are there “things” which stand between you and Jesus?

Closing Prayer