Lesson Plans Grade MS
TO TITHE IS TO LOVE
2004
Lesson 1: “We Trust God”
OBJECTIVE:
The students will be able to state that thankfulness results when one realizes dependence on, and trust in, God.
TIME: 10 minutes
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Shoebox with poster art for lid
Material to make one or more posters for the parish, entitled: “We Trust God” (a piece of posterboard, or several depending on the size of your class, and individual sheets of paper so the students can work in pairs on their own piece which can be pasted to the posterboard to make a collage, glue sticks, magazines, markers, paint, etc.)
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!
The students will consider that they are nothing without God. All that is God created, and all belongs to God, even what they think belongs to them. What does God require of us? We are to offer back to God, first, our grateful hearts—we are to give thanks.
The posters can serve as reminder that God gives us all many blessings, including the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. For these gifts, we should be grateful.
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. We will learn why bringing an offering to church each week is so important. I have a special box here. I would like you to bring something to give to God each week. How many of you already contribute to the parish each week? We will place your offerings in the box.
CONTENT:
Our mini-lesson today is called “We Trust God.” Think for a minute about the word trust, or “to depend on.” Who are some of the people on whom we depend? [Make sure God is mentioned.] When we depend on someone, we are saying that we need them. Do we need God? [Allow responses.] Does everyone feel the way we do? Why or Why not?
When a person realizes that all they have, and all they are, depends on God, what attitudes do they begin to develop towards God? [Write responses on board. Make sure “thankful” is on the board.]
Our task today is to make a poster that will remind those in our parish that first, all we have belongs to God;, second,, that we trust God;, and third, that we should be thankful to God. We’ll work together to make poster called “We Trust God.”I have some magazines, pencils and paper for either pasting, or drawing pictures or writing words so that people will remember to be thankful to God.
What words or pictures can convey that all we have belongs to God? What can convey that we trust God? Finally, what will lead people to think of giving thanks to God? [Write responses on the board.] Use these words, or pictures, and create a paper that will be added to our collage. I would like someone to write out three phrases for the collage: “We Depend on God,” “We Trust God,” “We are Thankful to God.” Next week we will add more to these, so cover only half of the space.
CLOSING:
Our special program, To Tithe is To Love, begins today. To help you remember to bring an offering to church to place in our box, we have doorknob hangers that tell you about a saint who had one of four qualities that we all try to have so that we give freely and cheerfully to the church. Today’s quality is trust. 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 so that next week you can bring your offering for our special box.
TO TITHE IS TO LOVE
2004
Lesson 2: “We Are Good Stewards”
OBJECTIVE:
The students will be able to explain the word “stewardship” as using well what God has entrusted to us. They will note its three components, time, talent, and treasure.
TIME: 10 minutes
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Posters (continued from previous week), materials for continuing project
Chalkboard
FOR THE CATECHIST:
In this lesson students will focus on stewardship as returning to God a portion of their time, talent, and treasure Students will brainstorm ways they can use their particular talents in service to others. Talents are to be understood in the broadest sense—those involving one’s hands, heart, physical capabilities, musical, academic, and artistic traits.
INTRODUCTION:
Last week we learned that we are nothing without God. God loves us, and has given us so much.
God wants us to have “an attitude of gratitude.” What does “gratitude” mean? (Thankfulness). Let’s expand our thinking about what God desires, and deserves. Our keyword for today’s lesson is: stewardship. [Write stewardship on the board.]
CONTENT:
The word “steward” means “caretaker.” A steward is not the owner of what he or she works with, but rather, one to whom it has been entrusted. For example, an executive in a business has a great deal to do with whether the business earns money for its owners, or loses money. Yet, he is not the owner. Would the owner want an executive who improves the business, or just keeps it going? (Improves) Keeping that in mind, let me recall for you a story Jesus told.
The man in the story is a owner of a business with three stores. Knowing he has to be gone for a long time, he chooses three of his managers to take full charge of each of the stores during his absence. The first manager, or steward, is given charge of the largest store. When the owner returns, the first steward shows that he has doubled the profit of his store. The second steward, upon the owner’s return, likewise shows that he doubled the profit of the second store. The third steward, was given the smallest store. He shows the owner, upon his return, that he kept his store safe, by closing it during the owner’s trip.
The owner is very upset at the third steward. Why? [Allow responses.]
Now, Jesus told this story because each of us is a steward in God’s eyes. We are stewards of our time, our talents, and our treasure. What are we stewards of? (Our time, talents, and treasure.) Each of us has received many talents that can be used to bring good into the world, and to serve God. Do we own the talents we have received? Let’s think about some talents that can serve God. [Write on board: Talents involving one’s hands, heart, physical capabilities, musical, academic, and artistic traits.] Look at the categories I’ve written and let’s brainstorm. What talents in these categories can serve the church, or bring good into the world? [Allow responses. Have a student take notes on these for lesson 4.]
Using the responses we’ve come up with, let’s add to the posterboards. Today we need someone to write the words “We are Good Stewards” on a piece of paper to add to our posters. Let’s find magazines, or words to explain stewardship on our posters. The words “We Return to God” can also be used. Why are we “returning” and not “giving.”(Because all we have is from God, and belongs to God.)
[Allow time for additions to the posters, arrange for them to be hung in the parish.]
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.
TO TITHE IS TO LOVE
2004
Lesson 3: “We Obey God”
OBJECTIVE:
When asked, the students will be able to answer that tithing began with Abraham, and is one of God’s laws.
TIME: 10 minutes
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Bible marked at Genesis 14:17-20
Chalkboard and chalk or large paper and markers
FOR THE CATECHIST:
This lesson focuses essentially on treasure. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
It is important for students to understand that money in and of itself is not bad. Otherwise, the Church would not ask for it, nor need it. Then, when discussion begins about the specifics of tithing, your students will understand that money can be a joyful offering back to God Who gives all things.
INTRODUCTION:
[Before class, write on the board: “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”]
Last week we learned the three “T’s” of stewardship. What are they? (Time, talent, and treasure.) This week, we’ll find out more about the last “t.” Let’s take a look at the board. The quote is from Jesus. Is it true or false, and why? [Allow responses.]
CONTENT:
The concept of last week’s lesson, returning a portion of what we have been given to God, is found in the first few pages of the Bible. After the fall from Paradise, God wanted to create a people into which His Son would be born. He began by calling Abram out of Ur. He promised him that he would be the father of a people who would be more numerous than the stars. Although this sounded to good to be true, Abram and his people followed God on a journey. Abram was obedient to God.
In another story, Abraham was asked to bring his son Isaac up to the top of a mountain, and then to slay him. This was almost unbearable to think about, but Abraham was obedient. God stayed his hand before he could harm Isaac. Abraham is a model of obedience.
Last week we discussed stewardship. Returning a portion of what we have to God is stewardship. In particular, we will see that 1/10 or, a tithe, of all we earn and receive, is the starting point for stewardship. Now to the story in which the word, “tithe,” first appears.
During their journey, Abram and his people run into the inhabitants of a place called Chedorlaomer. Abraham’s family conquers the opposition, and brings the livestock and other riches back with them from the battle. A mysterious figure appears, Melchizedek, and Abraham recognizes him as a priest of God. Let’s listen to what happens.
[Have a student read Genesis 14:17-20.] What did the priest offer Abraham? (A blessing, bread, and wine) What did Abraham do in return? (Offered a tithe, or tenth of all he had.) So begins the understanding that the proper worship of God involves returning 1/10 of all we earn and receive.
There are many other references to tithing, and commandments to tithe in scripture. Tithing has been the way to show worship of God, since the time of Abraham. At the time of Jesus, it was understood and practiced.
Just as Abraham, Jacob, and all the people of God have tithed, so we are to continue. We are to determine 1/10 of all we receive and earn, keeping in mind that all belongs to God, we are just returning what is due Him. I challenge each of you to bring a tithe next week, for our box.
Do you remember the quote from Jesus we discussed earlier? When we tithe, we put our heart and treasure in the same place.
Let’s try doing the math. If I have a dollar, how much should I give when I tithe? [Demonstrate on the board if necessary, and let students do other examples.]
CLOSING:
Obedience is our key word this week. Abraham was obedient to God long before the passage on tithing. He was both obedient and trusting. He knew that God was God, and he was man. He knew that it was only right to return to God what God had given him. Abraham is our exemplar of obedience.
TO TITHE IS TO LOVE
2004
Lesson 4: “We Offer Ourselves as God’s Servants”
OBJECTIVE:
The students will be able to explain that God wants us not just to tithe, but to offer our whole life to His service.
TIME: 10 minutes
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Bible marked at Matthew 23:23 and Luke 10:27
FOR THE CATECHIST:
In this lesson the students think about how Jesus made the mandate to tithe into a greater mandate, namely to offer our whole lives to Christ. Using their remarks from the second lesson, they consider their talents in terms of what they can offer the church.
INTRODUCTION:
Did Jesus ever speak about tithing? [Allow responses.]
He did; not as “I command you to . . .” but rather, acknowledging that it was and is the practice to be followed. See if you can understand what I mean. [Have a student read Matthew 23:23]. Jesus is denouncing the Pharisees for only paying attention to the outward observance of the law without matching it with a right heart. Notice how he tells them to pay attention to the spiritual while not neglecting to tithe.
Most importantly, Jesus repeated the Greatest Commandment that was given to God’s people in the Old Testament. Do any of you know the Greatest Commandment? Let’s hear it in this passage.
[Have student read Luke 10:27]. Does God ask us for a tithe of our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength?
Rather, we are to understand in this passage, and others such as, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God ,” (Matthew 6:32-33) that God wants our total allegiance, and love God is to be not only our first priority, but the very life within us, through His Holy Spirit. God wants us to offer ourselves to Him. God wants us to be His hands, and His heart in the world. Together, as church, through the Holy Spirit, we are God’s hands and heart.
[Allow discussion as time permits, using the following as starters:] Two lessons ago we spoke about being good stewards of our time, talent, and treasure. How do people serve the church, our parish, with their particular talents, or time? Do you have to have a lot of money to offer yourself to God? How do you serve the Church?
So, does God want merely our tithe? (No, God wants us to offer ourselves to His service.) When we serve the Church, unselfishly, we are offering ourselves to God.
CLOSING:
Our exemplar for giving oneself to God is St. Thekla She heard St. Paul speak about Jesus, and decided to travel spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. This was very dangerous work for a woman in those days. She gave her whole life to serving Jesus Christ. She is our exemplar of giving oneself to God. This is the end of this mini-unit. I hope you have been enriched, and challenged by what you have learned. We will continue bringing our offering to class each week, to place in the box.