LESSON 18 | Offering My Timestorage.cloversites.com/pinedalechristianchurch/documents/18... · PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations Modeling clay Family Page (one

Bible Basis: Haggai 1:1 – 15; Luke 2:41 – 52

Key Verse: Colossians 3:17: “Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Key Question: How do I best use my time to serve God and others?

Key Idea: I offer my time to help God’s plan.

Resource: Believe Storybook Bible , Chapter 18, “Offering My Time”

Master Supplies List ❑ Believe Storybook Bible ❑ PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations ❑ Modeling clay ❑ Family Page (one per child)

Optional SuppliesYou will need the following supplies based on which option(s) you choose in STEP 3 | Explore More:

❑ OPTION 1: Small, empty plastic drink bottles (two per child); duct tape; permanent markers; stickers; craft sand

❑ OPTION 4: Crayons or markers, Let’s Color! sheet (one per child) ❑ OPTION 6: Two puppets, tool bag, nails, hammer, other tools

LESSON 18 | Offering My Time

9780310826385_believe_curr_early_elem_11_30_4thpgs.indd 1 3/25/15 10:05 AM

January 15th, 2016

LESSON 18: Offering My Time | EARLY ELEMENTARY 2

STEP 1 | Come Together (10 min)

Supplies: Modeling clay

BUILDING PROJECT• GATHER the children.• SAY, Today you will work on a building project.• GIVE each child a portion of modeling clay, setting aside some for

yourself.• SAY, I want you to build anything you want for God.• CONTINUE, If you were building something for God, would you work

hard? (Yes)• SAY, If you were building something for God, would you give up and

quit? (No)• ALLOW the children to build with the clay for a few minutes while you

continue to explain how important it is to build something for God. Also build a small building yourself so you can tear it down later in the lesson.

• GIVE the children time to show what they built.

A REAL BUILDING FOR GOD• SAY, Today we are going to learn about how important it is to give our

time to God. We give God our time when we make choices that please him.

• EXPLAIN, Every day we are helping to build God’s great kingdom.• SAY, Sometimes buildings start to fall down as they get older, or they

get knocked down. What do you think will happen if I knock down part of my building?

• TEAR down a portion of the clay building you built.• SAY, Oh, no! This building is ruined! What should we do? Well, you

know what? God’s kingdom can never be ruined or destroyed. It will never fall over because God is in charge of it, and he is very strong and powerful. God’s kingdom will last forever!

• ASK, Did you know that God wants you to help build his great big kingdom?

• START putting the clay formation back together.• EXPLAIN, We build God’s kingdom when we love one another, when

we forgive people who hurt us, and when we are helpful and put other people first. There are so many ways to build God’s kingdom and to share his love with the world. Can you think of some more ways to show God’s love? (Take responses)



• SAY, In our story today, we will learn about a man who worked very hard and offered his time to build something beautiful for God.

REVIEW• SAY, Today we have learned that every day we are building our lives for

God. We can offer our time to God and do the best job possible.

KEY VERSE• REVIEW this week’s Key Verse. You may want to repeat the verse

slowly a few times until the children are able to say it from memory.• NOTE: You may also choose to review last week’s Key Verse together.

Colossians 3:17Do everything you say or do (very slowly say these words, pretending

to wash face, tie shoes, and walk in place as if heading off to school or work)

in the name of the Lord Jesus. (point to sky)

STEP 2 | Hear the Story (15 min)

Supplies: Believe Storybook Bible, PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations

INTRODUCTION• TELL the children that they will be learning more about offering their

time to God.• SAY, We already learned that every day we are building our lives for

God. If we want the life we build to please God, we must offer our time to God and make good choices.

• CONTINUE, We’ll also learn more about a man in the Bible named Haggai who had an important job of building something special for God. Haggai (HAG-eye) is a different name that you may not have ever heard, so let’s practice saying it together.

• REPEAT “Haggai” with the children several times.

READ CHAPTER 18• READ aloud chapter 18, “Offering My Time,” from the Believe Storybook

Bible.• SHOW the illustrations included with this curriculum on PowerPoint

slides or printable posters.



REVIEW HAGGAI• ASK, When the people returned to their city, what did they find? (They

found that the city had been destroyed)• ASK, What did the people begin to do? (They began to rebuild the

temple)• ASK, What happened after awhile? (They got tired and stopped; they

built their own houses)• ASK, What message did Haggai send to the people? (He told them God

wanted them to use their time wisely so they could build something wonderful for God)

REVIEW JESUS IN THE TEMPLE• ASK, When Jesus went missing as a boy, where did Mary and Joseph

find him? (They found him in the temple)• ASK, Why was Jesus there? (He wanted to be in his Father’s house;

maybe he wanted to hear about God, his Father)• ASK, Was Jesus using his time wisely? (Yes)• PRAY, God, help us to use our time wisely. Help us to make good

choices, to love people, and to do things that make you happy. Amen.

STEP 3 | Explore MoreChoose from these activity options, depending on your available time frame, to help the children explore the lesson further.

Option 1: Jesus Has Time for Me Hourglass (10 min)

Supplies: Small, empty plastic drink bottles (two per child); duct tape; per-manent markers; stickers; craft sand

Teacher Prep: It is best to collect the drink bottles ahead of time to ensure you have enough. Make sure you take any paper labels off the bottles before class. Any size plastic bottle will work for this activity, but 8-ounce water bottles (or similar) are ideal.

• SAY, Today we have learned about using our time wisely.• SAY, In ancient times before people had clocks, they would use some-

thing called an hourglass to help them tell how much time had passed. Today we are each going to make our own hourglass.

• GIVE each child two plastic bottles, stickers, and permanent markers.• INSTRUCT the children to decorate one bottle with the words “ Jesus



has time for me” and the other bottle with the words “Do I have time for Jesus?” They can also add stickers. If necessary, help the children write the words on their bottles.

• ASSIST the children with filling one bottle with sand about ¼ to ½ full.• INSTRUCT the children to attach the other bottle upside down onto

the opening of the bottle with sand so that when taped, the bottles can be flipped over like an hourglass.

• TAPE the bottles tightly to each other.• SAY, this is a visual picture of our time. This bottle can be a reminder

that time is valuable and that God desires for us to spend time with him. As you see how much time you spend doing other activities, remember that some of your time should be spent with God as well.

Option 2: Where Is Jesus? (Hot and Cold) Game (10 min)• SAY, Mary and Joseph had to search for Jesus when he was at the

temple. Today we will look for Jesus too.• CHOOSE two children to be “it.” The “it” children must close their eyes

while you write the word Jesus on a piece of paper and then hide that paper. All the other children will see where “ Jesus” is hidden.

• ALLOW the children being “it” to pretend to be Mary and Joseph, and begin searching together for “ Jesus” while the other children say “hot” or “cold” to indicate whether they are getting closer to the hiding place or farther away.

• CONTINUE choosing different children to be “it” for as long as time allows or until everyone has had a turn.

Option 3: Bible Memory Pass Along (15 min)• USE this simple game to help the children review their Key Verse.• REVIEW the entire verse several times with the children.

Colossians 3:17: “Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

• GATHER the children in a circle.• INSTRUCT one child to begin the verse by whispering the first word

of the verse into their neighbor’s ear. That child should then whisper that word plus the next word to the next child.

• ALLOW the children to continue the game until the last word of the verse has been spoken. Have the last child recite the whole verse aloud.

• CONTINUE the game until all children have a chance to recite the verse.



Option 4: Let’s Color! (10 min)

Supplies: Crayons or markers, Let’s Color! sheet (one per child)

Teacher Prep: Print and photocopy the Let’s Color! sheet (one per child).

• GIVE each child a Let’s Color! sheet.• PROVIDE a selection of crayons and/or markers for the children to share.• DISCUSS this week’s Key Idea as the children color.

Option 5: Praise and Worship (15 min)

“I’m in the Lord’s Army” by Patricia Martin© 1993 by Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI #1420705

“I Want to Be a Worker” by Isaiah BaltzellPublic domainCCLI #750610

Option 6: Act It Out (10 min)

All Good Work

Use two puppets to act out the following short skit. Gather a stack of tools as props to make the skit feel more realistic.

Setting: Garage

Characters

MariaDad

Props

Tool bagNailsHammerOther tools

Maria: Why are you getting your tools together, Daddy?

Dad: (as he is loading his tool bag) Because today I am going to fix the porch at the church.

Maria: Is that your new job?

Dad: No, I still have my job. I’m just doing this to help the church.



Maria: You won’t get any money for it?

Dad: No, it isn’t that kind of work.

Maria: Hmm . . . (pauses to think) You said that when you go to work you get paid.

Dad: That’s right. Some work you get paid for, and some work you just do because it pleases God.

Maria: How long will you be gone working at the church?

Dad: All day.

Maria: You will be gone all day working, but you won’t get any money?

Dad: That’s right. But I’m happy to do it. I’m offering God my time today to be a blessing to the church. What are you going to do today? Would you like to come with me and work at the church?

Maria: I don’t know how to build a porch. I wouldn’t be any help.

Dad: God is always pleased when we give him our time. It’s your heart that matters to him, not how good or bad you are at something.

Maria: What could I do?

Dad: You could hand the nails to me and help get the tools I need.

Maria: Would God care if I just did something little like that?

Dad: Absolutely! God is pleased whenever we offer our time to serve him.

Maria: Okay then. Let’s go!

STEP 4 | Going Home (5 min)

Supplies: Family Page (one per child)

Teacher Prep: Print and photocopy the Family Page (one per child).

• GIVE each child a copy of this week’s Family Page.• SAY, Give this page to your family when they pick you up. It will

remind you to tell your family what you learned today about offering your time to God.

• HAVE the children practice telling you the story of Jesus in the temple.• REVIEW this week’s Key Verse as well as today’s story and Key Idea

from the Believe Storybook Bible as you wait for the children to get picked up.

• MAKE sure each child remembers to take home any activity sheets or craft projects and the Family Page.


Lesson 18

Lesson 18

Lesson 18

Lesson 18

LESSON 18: Offering My Time | EARLY ELEMENTARY

Let’s Color! Name:

[Coloring page to come]



FAMILY PAGE | Lesson 18: Offering My Time

Bible Basis: Haggai 1:1 – 15; Luke 2:41 – 52

Key Verse: Colossians 3:17: “Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Key Question: How do I best use my time to serve God and others?

Key Idea: I offer my time to help God’s plan.

Resource: Believe Storybook Bible , Chapter 18, “Offering My Time”

How to Use This PageThis week, your family can either read the story from the Believe Storybook Bible or read the Bible Basis passages from your Bible to help your child remember the lesson. Use the Table Talk questions below to start a discussion around the dinner table, while driving in the car, or just about anywhere. The Living Faith activity is designed to remind your child of the Bible lesson through a drama or other engaging activity. The Extra Mile idea provides interactive ways for your child to connect with the story.

Table Talk 1. Why didn’t the people continue to build the city once they had

started? (They got tired) 2. Haggai (HAG-eye) encouraged the people to use their time wisely and

build the city. Do you think you use your time wisely? 3. What changes can you make so that you use your time wisely at

school and at home? (Think about how to love others, serve others) 4. Jesus spent time in the temple learning more about God. How can you

spend time each day learning more about God? (Read the Bible, pray, take walks and talk to God)



Living Faith

Option 1Reenacting Bible stories is a great way to help your child retain what they have learned in the lesson. The story of Jesus in the temple as a boy can be a fun story to act out with your child. Start by reviewing the Bible story together, and then combine a game of hide and seek with the reenactment. You and your child can take turns being Jesus or being Mary or Joseph searching for Jesus.

Option 2You and your child could create a Bible time plan together. Jesus spent time in the temple in order to learn more about God. Your child can learn more about God each day by following a Bible time plan. Make sure to explain to your child that a Bible time plan could include reading the Bible (or having it read to them), prayer time, and listening to praise and worship music.

Extra Mile• To help your child better offer their time to God, it is important to

teach time management skills. Establishing a schedule your child can be responsible for is a good step toward prioritizing chores and school-work. In this way, your child can learn how to schedule some time to offer to God. You can help your child do this by creating a schedule together and placing it somewhere highly visible so it can be reviewed daily. Use pictures or words to portray things your child does each day (such as brush teeth, set the table, make your bed, go to school, go to sleep), and be sure to add spots for reading the Bible, praying, and hav-ing family devotions.

• Learning to offer our time to God can begin with volunteer work. There are many local opportunities that provide ways for children to use their time to serve God and others. Make an effort once every month, or every few months, to participate in volunteer work as a fam-ily. Your church should have a list of organizations where your family could volunteer to help. The Internet is also a great tool for finding places in your area that could use some extra hands.

• During family prayer time this week, mention the importance of offer-ing our time to God and to others. Make a special effort to show your child that you take time out of your busy day to read your Bible and have devotions. The best way to teach your child how to offer their time to God is to lead by example.


Documents

LESSON 18 | Offering My Timestorage.cloversites.com/pinedalechristianchurch/documents/18... · PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations Modeling clay Family Page (one