What does motivation mean? For young children, motivation often comes from extrinsic things, but we want to teach them to honor God as the center of what we do and how we do it. This lesson uses the story of the widow’s mite to explain what motivation is and how we can focus on it. We can give to and serve God in a lot of ways, but we want to do so out of sincere love for Him. We shouldn’t be concerned with getting credit as much as honoring the Lord and thanking Him for His many blessings.
This story reminds us that serving God isn’t just a chore or obligation, but blesses our lives and the lives of others. God has given us all that we have, material things as well as life itself. It should only be natural to give back to Him out of gratitude. It’s also important to remind children that God doesn’t just want our money; He wants all of us, and He desires us because He loves us. When we give Him our all, He will bless us in wonderful ways. He has given us all of who He is in His Son Jesus!
Sunday School Lesson on Mark 12 for Children: The Cheerful Giver
Passage: Mark 12:38-44
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Materials Needed: Desirable “motivation items”, coins, Construction paper, scissors, decorations, glue or tape, paper plates, cups or containers, string or pipe cleaners, markers, crayons, jars, varied forms of currency, Bible.
Lesson Opening: This lesson reminds us of the importance of giving back to God from the blessings He gives us. It also has to do with our motivation for doing things. Here are some activities to get kids thinking… (select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- How many pennies? Place several pennies (or varied coins) in a jar, and have students guess how many there are inside. Have a small prize for the closest guesses. Shake the jar to hear the coins jingle!
- Penny drop: Allow students to stand back from a small container and gently toss or drop coins from above to try landing them into the “offering plate.”
- Collect the offering: if the opportunity is appropriate, train older students to serve as ushers in church service or have a “kids’ Sunday” where younger people take over duties during worship!
- Coin relay: have students race back and forth across the room, carefully holding one coin at a time to deposit in a basket or box. Bonus variation: have students carry several coins, but if any drop, they must return to the start!
- What would you do it for? Talk about difficult or frightening feats that someone might be challenged to do (skydiving, swimming with sharks, etc). Ask students how much money (or what other things) it would take to be willing to do them.
- Money over the years…look at varied price tags and costs of items across decades. Discuss how monetary value of things might change, but God’s love and desire for us never do!
- What can I offer? Discuss special talents and abilities that students have. Brainstorm ways to use those things to serve as an offering back to God.
Bible Lesson: (Mark 12:38-44) Sunday School Lesson for Kids Explained for Children – The Widow’s Generosity
Explain to students that the focus story here involves loving and serving the Lord, and giving to Him in various ways. We can do this because we know He has given us all that we have.
Bible Lesson: The passage in this lesson is not very lengthy, but has some very important themes to review. It could be acted out with students taking on roles, or you could make it interactive as you discuss ancient practices. You might also choose merely to read the verses out loud or taking turns with students, explaining as you go.
And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” -Mark 12:38-40
Jesus warned against a group of puffed-up leaders. The scribes were scholars in the church who were entrusted with learning and teaching Scripture, but unfortunately did not provide a good example of humility or sincerity. Instead of helping people and honoring God, they wanted a reputation for themselves. They put on a big show with their prayers, using long eloquent words to show off how intelligent they were, but not genuinely connecting with the Lord. They wanted recognition and respect, but failed to focus on the most important things. Jesus doesn’t want us to act this way.
Ask: Have you ever known someone who bragged or showed off a lot? What’s it like to be around that kind of person?
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. -Mark 12:41-42
Jesus observed those who came to put money in the church offering. He noticed that the rich people put in a whole bunch of money, making a big show out of their supposed generosity. Jesus wasn’t just noticing how much they put in the box, though. He saw their attitude and observed how they gave. They had plenty, and gave a portion out of that. But then a widow came along. Widows in those days were usually quite poor, because the husband would have been the one taking care of them prior to death. This widow didn’t give a vast sum, just a couple of coins. It probably looked like a young child placing a dollar in the offering plate, next to an adult dropping in a $50. But Jesus was impressed.
Ask: Do you put offering in at church? If you were down to your last dollar, what do you think you would do with it?
And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
-Mark 12:42-44
Jesus said that the widow gave more than everyone else had. Of course, in terms of monetary value, this was not the case. But it was huge in God’s eyes, because she gave everything she had. She didn’t just put in a part of her paycheck, but all of her entire savings. She was giving with a sincere heart, for the right reasons. She wasn’t just trying to have other people notice her, but truly wanted to give to the Lord and trust in Him to take care of her. And Jesus commended her for it.
Jesus wants us to give sincerely and for the right reasons. We don’t have to give money to God. In fact, God doesn’t need our money, though the church could probably use it. God wants us to honor Him in what we do, which includes offering Him what we have. Sometimes this is money. But it can also be our time, talents, and daily interactions with others. We can make them all for Him. We can do this joyfully, knowing that God will provide what we need, and that He has already given us all that we have. Whether it’s praying or putting coins in the offering or helping a neighbor, we can please God by having the right spirit in what we do, and truly seeking to love Him with our whole lives. And when we don’t know what to do or how to do it, we can ask the Lord for help, knowing He is always there for us.
Close with a prayer thanking God for His many blessings, and asking for His help to use them wisely and serve Him.