Series 4 – Giving • Lesson 1Give God Cheerfully
Key Verses: 2 Corinthians 9:7 • Mark 14:1–9
Session: ~60 Mins
Trek Mission: What Trekkers Will Discover
Along this trail expedition, young trekkers will discover that:
1. Worship Time
Begin with heartfelt worship, active motions, and singing aloud to Jesus! Encourage children to follow actions, clap along to the beat, dance with joy, or simply praise Jesus from their hearts.
2. Intro Game: The Prized Possession
Materials Needed
- A small precious item (such as a family heirloom, a cherished keepsake, or a special toy).
Introduction: Show the kids the precious item. Share a brief personal story about why this item is valuable to you, emphasizing the sentimental memories or special love attached to it (for example, a special ring passed down from a grandmother).
Discussion Questions: Ask the children to think about their own most prized possession and share:
- What makes your favorite item so special to you?
- Would you ever consider giving it away or letting someone else have it?
- How would you feel if someone you deeply loved asked for this item as a gift?
Transition to the Lesson: Ask the kids: “If someone asked for your most prized possession as a gift, could you give it with a happy heart?” Continue: “To give is good! To give cheerfully is even better! Giving cheerfully means to give readily, willingly, and happily (rather than being forced to give or giving grudgingly). Mary’s story from the Bible teaches us about cheerful giving too. Let’s dive into the story to know more!”
3. Story Time: Mary’s Gift
Once upon a time, Jesus traveled to a special city called Bethany. In Bethany lived a man named Lazarus, who Jesus had brought back to life! Lazarus lived there with his two sisters, Mary and Martha.
One evening, a big celebration dinner was held in honor of Jesus. Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus, while Martha busily served the delicious food. But Mary did something surprising and wonderful.
She took a bottle of very expensive, fragrant perfume and poured it over Jesus’ feet. Then, she gently wiped His feet with her hair. The entire house filled with the sweet, beautiful smell of the perfume!
One of Jesus’ friends, Judas, didn’t like what Mary did. He grumbled, “What a waste! This expensive perfume could have been sold, and we could have given the money to the poor!” But the truth was, Judas wasn’t really thinking about helping the poor. He secretly liked to keep money for himself.
Jesus knew what was inside everyone’s heart, so He spoke up in Mary’s defense. He told Judas, “Leave her alone. She has saved this perfume for a special time.” Jesus knew that soon He would give His life for everyone on the cross. Mary’s act showed her deep, genuine love for Him, giving her very best to honor Him.
Jesus gives us the most amazing gift of all—eternal life! It’s a priceless gift we can never buy, but it cost Jesus everything. So, what can we give Jesus to show our love? Not fancy jewelry or toys—He wants something much more special: He wants our whole heart and life, because that is the best gift we can give to someone we love.
- Give because you love God.
- Give with a happy, cheerful heart.
4. Memory Verse Time
🙌 Simple Hand Motions to Aid Memorization
5. Craftivity: Cheerful Cards
Materials Needed
- Craft paper for each child (half a sheet of paper is perfect).
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Explain the Purpose: Gather the children and explain that they will make and give cheerful compliment cards to a friend sitting near them (or pick chits to pair up). The challenge is to make and deliver these cards with genuine, cheerful hearts. Remind them that whenever we give love to others, it is like giving to God Himself!
- Fold and Decorate: Give each child craft paper and help them fold it in half to make a greeting card. Encourage them to decorate the cover with bright colors, hearts, and cheerful drawings.
- Write Compliments: Inside the card, have the children write or draw a heartfelt compliment (e.g., “You are kind!”, “You are a great helper!”, “Your smile brightens my day!”).
- Exchange with Joy: Have every child exchange their card with their friend, ensuring every child receives a card.
- Reflect and Celebrate: Conclude by asking how it felt to give and receive cheerful compliments. Discuss how giving cheerfully blesses both the giver and the receiver!
6. Takeaway: Cheerful Giver Badge
Materials Needed
- Printouts of S4L1Beginners – Cheerful Giver Badge.pdf
- Child-safe pins or double-sided tape
- Coloring markers or crayons
Instructions: Cut out the heart badges from the printable sheet. Help the children color and personalize their badges, then attach tape or a safety pin to the back so they can wear their Cheerful Giver Badge home as a reminder to live generously all week!
7. Prayer Time
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for the story of Mary that teaches us about cheerful giving. Help us to love You with all our hearts and to give our very best to You and to others. Everything we have is a gift from You. May our giving be filled with joy and love, just like Mary’s. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.”
8. Workshop Summary
- Give because you love God.
- Give with a happy, cheerful heart.
- When we give to others in love, it is like giving directly to God Himself!
1. Worship Time
Begin with powerful praise, active rhythm, and singing aloud to Jesus. Help older trekkers connect their hearts to God, engage in lively worship, and prepare their minds to explore the biblical call to generosity.
2. Intro Game: The Prized Possession
Materials Needed
- A small precious object (family heirloom, cherished collector item, or high-value personal keepsake).
Introduction: Display the prized item to the students. Share the story of why this item is irreplaceable to you—highlighting both its sentimental worth and its tangible value.
Discussion Questions: Encourage students to examine what they treasure most:
- What is your single most prized possession, and why does it mean so much to you?
- Under what circumstances would you ever part with it or give it away?
- How would you react if someone you loved asked for it as a gift?
Transition to the Lesson: Ask: “If someone asked for your most prized possession as a gift, would you be able to give it with a genuinely cheerful heart?” Explain: “To give is good; to give cheerfully is transformative! Giving cheerfully means giving readily, willingly, and happily—never under compulsion or resentment. Mary’s story from the Gospel reveals the true depth of worshipful, cheerful giving.”
3. Story Time: Mary’s Gift of Worship
Shortly before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. A special dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus, while Martha served the guests. Then Mary entered with an alabaster flask containing a pound of extremely expensive ointment of pure nard.
Breaking the flask, Mary poured the precious perfume over Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. The whole house was filled with the rich, magnificent fragrance!
Judas Iscariot protested indignantly: “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (A denarius was a full day’s wage—meaning this perfume was worth an entire year of hard labor!) But Judas did not care about the poor; he kept the money bag and stole from it.
Jesus intervened decisively: “Leave her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.” Jesus recognized Mary’s extravagant sacrifice as an act of pure worship and prophetically aligned with His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. Mary held nothing back from Jesus.
4. The Cross Connection: The Ultimate Gift of Love
The greatest act of giving in all eternity occurred when God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus sacrificed His very life so that we could be forgiven, redeemed, and given eternal life with God. That is the ultimate gift! When we truly comprehend the staggering depth of what God has given us, giving back to God and to others ceases to be an obligation—it becomes a joyful privilege and a vibrant act of worship!
5. Memory Verse Time
6. Interactive Game: Name, Place, Animal, Thing (“Good Gifts” Edition)
Materials Needed
- Writing paper and pens/markers for each participant or team.
- Timer (2–3 minutes per round).
Game Rules:
- Setup: Divide the group into teams or have students compete individually. Provide paper and pens.
- Round Mechanics: Each round focuses on a randomly chosen letter of the alphabet. Within 2–3 minutes, participants must write a Name, Place, Animal, and Thing starting with that letter which they consider to be “Good Gifts from God”!
- Example (Letter “B”):
- Name: Benjamin (a good gift because Benjamin is a faithful friend who encourages me).
- Place: Beach (a good gift created by God for rest, wonder, and refreshment).
- Animal: Bunny (a good gift as a gentle, cuddly creature).
- Thing: Bible / Book (a good gift that guides my steps and teaches me truth).
- Scoring & Reflection: After each round, discuss how every single letter reveals dozens of blessings from our Creator. Emphasize James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
GIVE because you love God: Just as God displayed His love by giving His Son, our giving expresses our love back to Him.
GIVE to honor God: Everything we possess belongs to Him. Giving back honors His sovereignty and grace.
7. Craftivity: Cheerful Compliment Cards
Materials Needed
- Quality craft paper or cardstock.
- Calligraphy pens, colored markers, or pencils.
Instructions: Have students create personalized, aesthetic compliment cards for peers or mentors. Challenge them to articulate specific character qualities, talents, or acts of kindness they admire in the other person. Remind students that speaking life and affirming others is an essential way to give our time, attention, and love cheerfully!
8. Prayer Time
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for the inspiring story of Mary that teaches us about cheerful, unreserved giving. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to give our very best to You and to others. May our giving be filled with joy and pure devotion. We thank You above all for the greatest gift of Your Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Just as Jesus gave His life to save us, may we dedicate our lives in cheerful service to You. In Jesus’ holy name, we pray. Amen.”
9. Recap & Key Takeaways
- Giving cheerfully means to give readily, willingly, and happily—never reluctantly.
- Giving is an authentic act of worship.
- Giving becomes deeply joyful when we GIVE because we love God and GIVE to honor Him.
Printables & Slide Deck Vault
Download the complete official teaching materials, bilingual guides (English & Hindi), badges, and presentation slides for this workshop below:
📑 Presentation Slide Deck
Complete 9-slide visual presentation featuring Mary’s gift, memory verses, and cheerful giver recaps.
📘 Beginners Teacher Guide (ENG)
4-page English guide with Prized Possession game, story script, hand motions, and card craftivity.
📙 Beginners Teacher Guide (HIN)
कनिष्ठ शिक्षक गाइड – संपूर्ण हिंदी पाठ योजना, खेल, और कहानी (परमेश्वर को हर्षपूर्वक दें)।
🎖️ Cheerful Giver Badge Sheet
Printable heart badges for kids to color, wear, and take home as a cheerful giver token.
📗 Intermediate Teacher Guide (ENG)
4-page English guide for older trekkers with The Cross Connection, Name-Place-Animal game, and reflections.
📕 Intermediate Teacher Guide (HIN)
माध्यमिक एवं वरिष्ठ शिक्षक गाइड – संपूर्ण हिंदी पाठ योजना, क्रूस का सम्बंध, और शिक्षाएं।
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