Lesson Plans Grades 2-3

TO TITHE IS TO LOVE

2004

Lesson 1: “We Trust God” 

OBJECTIVES:

The students will be able to state when asked, 1) We trust God, creator of all, and 2) that God wants us to give back to Him part of what we have by bringing an offering to church. 

TIME: 10 minutes

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Shoebox, with poster art to paste on lid

Copies of Psalm 104 excerpts, provided.

Chalkboard and chalk or large paper and markers

FOR THE CATECHIST:

Every week the children will be asked to bring in an offering for your class box. Check to see if it is in each lesson plan, and if it isn’t, determine when you will collect the offering and write it in. Likewise, at the conclusion of each lesson, the doorknob hanger reminders are to be given out. Check to see if that is in each lesson plan, and if it isn’t, write it in.

This is the first of four lessons on tithing.  This lesson should be presented after your normal lesson for the day.  For that reason, no opening prayer is given in this guide and the materials listed here are only for this segment of your lesson. Words that appear in italics provide the intent of the writer, as if teaching this lesson. Answers appear in parentheses. Do not read aloud to the children from this lesson plan!

In the introduction of this lesson, you will be reinforcing the knowledge that God has created everything when you discuss Psalm 104, which the Church calls “A Poem of Creation.” Those children who attend Vespers, especially on feast days or vigils, will recognize this psalm which the Church designates to be read at those times. 

INTRODUCTION:

For a few minutes now, we are going to have a special lesson. We will have three other special lessons in the next three weeks. These special lessons are to help us remember that God has given us everything, and it is only right that we should give back to God in thanksgiving. I have a special box here. I would like you to bring something to give to God each week. Most of the time we bring money to give to God so that our church can be strong, and so that we can help those in need. If you get an allowance, you need to think about bringing some of the money to church. We will place it in our offering box, and then bring the box to church as our class’ offering.

CONTENT:

In the Bible, there is a book that has songs that people sing to God. It is called the Book of Psalms. Have any of you attended Vespers services? We sing a portion of Psalm 104. It is a poem of Creation. It describes all that God has created: the foundations of the earth, the heavens, “living things both small and great” waters of the earth, and landforms.

[You might have your class listen while you read the psalm or portions of it and/or follow along from a printed text. After each portion, ask the students to mention some of the things God has created, and/or how he provides for His creatures.]

Explain the word “bless” as having many meanings, and when used in reference to God, it means “thank.” God wants us to depend on Him, and be thankful.

 If God didn’t take provide for us, we would have nothing. God gives us everything, either directly, like an apple from a tree. Or He gives to us through others, like allowance, or birthday gifts. We trust God to provide for us. We trust God, and we are thankful. That’s what God wants; he wants us to trust Him. What does God want? [Write the word “trust” on the board.]

 God also wants us to say “thank you.” We say it, but we also show it. Do you know how we show we are thankful? We show God that we are thankful by give back part of what we have, every Sunday. We call this the “offering.” How many of you give an offering in church? God wants us to give an offering every Sunday and also during special collections. [Write the word “offering” on the board.]

RESPONSE:

Since you don’t earn money as an adult does, how might you give money? (By earning it through extra chores; by earning it as a group in church school; by giving some of your own gift money or your allowance.)

We also have the “Food for the Hungry” project. [Explain it if necessary.] Do any of you go to the store with your parents? What could you suggest that your parents buy for the project? If you have an allowance, try to bring some to the store and buy your own can or box for the drive.

CLOSING:

Let’s see if you can fill in the blanks  God created everything, and we need to _____ Him to take care of us. (Trust.) God wants us to be thankful, and to show it by bringing an __________ to church. (Offering.) To remind you to bring an offering, we will have a doorknob reminder each week. The Theotokos, the Mother of God, had to trust that God would take care of her. She is a good example, or exemplar of trust. Take this home and put it on your doorknob. Next week you can bring your offering for our special box.

Psalm 104

Excerpted

Verses 1-2

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,

Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

Verses 10-13

He sends the springs into the valleys;

They flow among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field;

The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

By them the birds of the heavens have their home;

They sing among the branches.

He waters the hills from His upper chambers;

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.

Verses 19-24

He appointed the moon for seasons;

The sun knows its going down.

You make darkness, and it is night,

In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.

The young lions roar after their prey,

And seek their food from God.

When the sun rises, they gather together

And lie down in their dens.

Man goes out to his work

And to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all.

The earth is full of Your possessions . . .

Verse 35

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord!

TO TITHE IS TO LOVE

2004

Lesson 2: “We Are Good Stewards”

OBJECTIVES:

 The students will be able to: 1) define “steward” as “caretaker,” 2) retell the Parable of the Talents as recorded in Matthew 25: 14-30; and 3) state when asked, that we are to be good stewards of what God has given us.

TIME: 10 Minutes

 MATERIALS NEEDED:

 New Testament Bible or sheets with the text of Matthew 25: 14-30 Placard with the word “Talent” Chalkboard and chalk or large paper and markers

FOR THE CATECHIST:

In this lesson, the children will hear what Christ teaches about taking care of what God gives us and using it to make it flourish and prosper. You will want to concentrate on the positive aspects of this parable and encourage your students to be glad for the special gifts or qualities they have been given and then to share these gifts or special abilities with others for the glory of God. And we must always give thanks to God for all He gives us.

INTRODUCTION:

Last week we learned that God is the creator of all. Everything we have comes from God. God wants us to trust Him, and to be thankful by offering something to the church. Who remembered to bring in an offering for our special box? Who remembered to bring food for the food drive?

CONTENT:

Today we are going to learn a new word, “steward.” God has made us “stewards” or “caretakers” of what he has given us. [Write “steward” and “caretaker” on the board.] Everything God created belongs to Him. We are the ones who take care of what He has given.

Tell the class that they will hear a parable of Jesus. It's called the Parable of the Talents. Before reading the parable of the Talents, explain that in this parable the word “talent”  means a large amount of money (equivalent in our money to $5,760,000) but it also came to mean a special gift, whether a gift of money or some special object. You might also explain that the man who goes away for a while is like a landlord who asked his workers to look after his property--the stewards whom he charged with that responsibility.

1. [Write responses on board.] Each man received a certain amount of talents. Who knows how many the first man received? The second? The third?

2. [Write responses on board.] What did each do with his talents? (The first traded them and made another five. The second made two more. The third dug a hole and buried it.)

3. The landlord was not happy with the third servant? Why? (He did nothing with the talent he was given. He was not a good steward.)

4. Each of us has been given special gifts from God [Point out one gift that each child has.] We are good stewards of our talents when we use them for good.

CLOSING:

St. Nicholas was a very good steward. He had a lot of money from his family, and he gave it to poor people to help them out. We are good stewards when we use our talents in church. We can open doors for people, or help tidy the church, or even just smile at people. We are also good stewards when we bring an offering of what we have to God. St. Nicholas is on our doorknob reminder for this week. Next week, remember to bring in an offering for our box, and maybe another can for the food drive!