An object lesson about the offering time is a great way to teach children about cheerful giving. Read on for 10 Bible-based, kid-friendly object lessons about generosity and stewardship. Then use them in your children’s church or Sunday school programs.
Each week in our children’s ministry service, we pause before the offering time to teach a lesson about giving. We seek to give kids a foundation of generosity so they can experience a lifetime of the blessings and joys of giving.
Here are 10 object lessons we’ve used to teach kids about giving. Feel free to use these in your kidmin program.
Object Lesson on Giving: 10 Offering Messages
1. Object Lesson: Giving Is Greater Than Receiving
- Read Acts 20:35 aloud. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
- Show kids the words Giving and Receiving.
- Ask which the Bible says is greater…giving or receiving?
- Explain that it’s okay to receive things. It’s nice to get awards, birthday gifts, etc.
- Show kids this: GIVING > RECEIVING.
- But it’s even better to give to help others. It makes an eternal difference, and you’re like Jesus when you give. Jesus came to give instead of receive.
2. Object Lesson: Don’t Close Your Eyes
- Read Proverbs 28:27 aloud. “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.”
- Show a picture of kids in need.
- Explain that people nearby and around the world are in need…physically and spiritually.
- When we see this, we have two choices: We can give or close our eyes to their needs.
- Have kids close their eyes to the picture of the kids in need a few seconds. Then have them open their eyes back up.
- Encourage kids to not close their eyes to those in need. Instead, they should look and respond by giving an offering to help others physically and spiritually.
- When you do this, God promises to provide for your needs.
3. Object Lesson: Overflowing
- Read Luke 6:38 aloud. “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.”
- Hold up an empty clear cup.
- Have another clear cup that’s half-full of water.
- Pour some water from the half-full cup into the empty cup.
- Bring out a clear pitcher of water.
- Use the pitcher to overflow the cup you poured water from.
- While doing this, explain that when we give, God promises to fill us back up to overflowing. You can’t outgive God!
4. Object Lesson: World’s Tallest Tree
- Show a picture of General Sherman, the world’s tallest tree. Located in Sequoia National Park, it’s 102 feet around and 275 feet tall.
- This tree started as a simple seed planted in the ground years ago. (Hold up a small seed to show kids.)
- When you give an offering, it’s like planting a seed. It will grow into big things and make a big impact in people’s lives.
5. Object Lesson: In God We Trust
- Hold up a dollar bill. Ask kids if they’ve ever noticed that money says “In God We Trust.”
- This is a great reminder that when we give our offering, we can trust God to take care of us. God always provides for our needs.
