Intermediate Level, Block 10—Spread and Propagation
Week 93
Giving
Point to Emphasize: We can be those who give for the needs of others.
Reference Reading: Acts 4:33-37; Life-Study of Acts, Message 17
Memory Verse: …But the righteous man gives and does not hold back. (Proverbs 21:26b)
Story Sample
There were many changes that took place after the good news concerning Jesus began to spread. Those who believed in Jesus now gathered together in homes. Their thoughts about their possessions also changed. They began to care for the needs of one another spontaneously. Believing in Jesus had changed them. They were willing to sell what they had to take care of the needs of the whole group. They would bring their possessions to the apostles, who were the 12 disciples of Jesus. Then the apostles would distribute it according to those who had need.
For example, there was a man named Joseph, whose family name was Barnabas. The name Barnabas was translated into the “Son of encouragement”. He owned a field of land. He sold this field and brought the money from the sale to the apostles. He gave the money to help others, so that no one would be in need. Isn’t that wonderful? His act of giving was a real encouragement to all.
When I was in school, one of my friends would sometimes come without her lunch. She would say she had forgotten to bring it. But we knew that her family did not have very much money, and sometimes they just didn’t have enough food to send with her to school. So everyone at the lunch table would give her something from their lunch boxes, so that she would not have to go without lunch. She was always so encouraged that we would do that for her. [Storyteller, tell how you gave or shared something you had with someone else.]
There is also another story about two boys who were in second and fourth grade. They would ask their mom for extra food for their lunch every day. Their mom would say, “Wow, you boys must be really hungry!” Later she found out that the boys were taking the extra food and giving it to someone who could not afford lunch. Because the boys saw a need and took action, they prompted their parents to talk with the principal. From that time on, this boy was provided a lunch every day for the rest of the year.
Here’s another example of giving. One year there was a need to buy a bigger place to hold meetings for thousands of people. It was going to cost a lot of money, and no one had enough money to buy the property. But all gave just what they could. Some gave up their vacation money, and some sold tamales. And there were many other stories of ways people contributed. Do you know what happened? There was more than enough money to buy the property. Because of the larger capacity of the new place, so many more people were able to come together to meet. It was an encouragement to all who gave.
In the Old Testament, there was a law about giving. Everyone was required to give 10% of what they received back to the Lord. Although it is no longer a law, it is still a very good principle. We should all have a habit of giving a portion of what we have back to God. If we don’t have money to give, we can give our time, perhaps by going to help clean the meeting hall, or visiting someone who is sick, or giving toys we no longer use to someone who doesn’t have any. It is good to give whatever we have. [Storyteller, lead the children to discuss their own giving.]