THE TREASURE
READ IT: Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34 NIV
HEAR IT: My Collection
What do you collect? Snow globes, key chains, tiny drums, sharpened pencils, or mushy used-up chewing gum? Okay, hopefully not chewing gum. Whatever it is, I’m sure you are proud of your collection. It’s okay to gather these unique artifacts and put them on display in your room. Everyone does it. Ask your mother, she probably has a collection of her own. Miniature spoons, ringing bells, copper coins, or grimy, sandy, broken sea shells. The problem comes when we start putting these or other things in front of God. Our collections, friends, sports, and popularity should never take the place of God. God is our true treasure. A treasure worthy of sharing with everyone we meet. Open up the treasure chest and shovel out God’s love to everyone you meet. Show off God- the True Treasure!
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group)
STUDY IT: Give God the Gold Medal
Have you ever met someone obsessed with a hobby? Let’s say there’s a girl down the street that loves soccer. She talks to her friends about soccer, talks to teachers about soccer, and even talks in her sleep about soccer. She wears soccer shorts, soccer shirts, soccer hair accessories, and even soccer underclothes. Soccer is on her brain twenty-four hours a day. The Bible tells us about a man who was obsessed with money, not soccer. But in the same ways, he thought about money, showed off his money, and made money a huge part of his life. He talked to Jesus one afternoon and wanted to know how he could spend eternal life in heaven. Jesus answered, “Sell everything you have, give the money to the poor, and follow me. Then you will have your treasure in heaven.” Sadly, the man turned and walked away. You see, he did not want to give up his earthly treasures. They were too important to him. What? Our money and gold is nothing compared to the riches in heaven. If the streets and sidewalks are made of gold in heaven, imagine what the houses will look like. Turn over your treasures to God, whether it’s soccer, dancing, running, or computer games? You see, God wants to have first place in our lives. Give the gold medal to God!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in Matthew 19.
TRY IT: Treasure Tears
Items needed:
Pennies, eye dropper, water, and paper towels
Directions:
1. Place a penny on top of a paper towel.
2. Guess how many water droplets can fit on the surface of a penny. Write down your prediction.
3. Count as you add water droplets to the penny’s surface. See how many droplets fit on the penny before the water overflows and the paper towel gets wet.
4. Try this again to see if you can fit more droplets on the penny.
Discussion Question:
These drops of water are not really tears, but sometimes we cry over our treasures. When would our treasures cause us to cry? What should we treasure instead of money or objects?
LIVE IT: Love that Blankie
When you were little, you might have had a special stuffed animal or blanket that never left your side. You carried it everywhere you went. Up the hall, down the hall, inside the crib, outside in the yard; you had it with you everywhere. Not that you’re older, maybe you have a favorite toy, video game, or electronic device that is always in your pocket or purse. When you grow even older, you’ll still have something dear to you that gets carried around. Ask your parents, they probably have a photograph, a phone, or a trinket that goes with them just about everywhere. This week’s verse reminds us that God needs to be our most valuable treasure. It’s okay to have our blankies, our games, or oh-so-special-somethings, as long as God remains first in our lives. Recite this verse when you feel like something is becoming too big in your life. Let God take over and put everything back in the right place.
SHARE IT: Treasure Filler
Start your own “treasure chest” to give away. Grab a jar start filling it with change. Add the coins you have left in your pocket, the ones you find in the sofa cushions, and even some crumpled dollar bills that you might have just lying around. Ask the entire family to contribute. When the jar is filled to the brim, pray and ask God who needs this “treasure” the most. As a family, deliver the jar along with a handwritten note to that special somebody.
READ IT: Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34 NIV
HEAR IT: My Collection
What do you collect? Snow globes, key chains, tiny drums, sharpened pencils, or mushy used-up chewing gum? Okay, hopefully not chewing gum. Whatever it is, I’m sure you are proud of your collection. It’s okay to gather these unique artifacts and put them on display in your room. Everyone does it. Ask your mother, she probably has a collection of her own. Miniature spoons, ringing bells, copper coins, or grimy, sandy, broken sea shells. The problem comes when we start putting these or other things in front of God. Our collections, friends, sports, and popularity should never take the place of God. God is our true treasure. A treasure worthy of sharing with everyone we meet. Open up the treasure chest and shovel out God’s love to everyone you meet. Show off God- the True Treasure!
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group)
STUDY IT: Give God the Gold Medal
Have you ever met someone obsessed with a hobby? Let’s say there’s a girl down the street that loves soccer. She talks to her friends about soccer, talks to teachers about soccer, and even talks in her sleep about soccer. She wears soccer shorts, soccer shirts, soccer hair accessories, and even soccer underclothes. Soccer is on her brain twenty-four hours a day. The Bible tells us about a man who was obsessed with money, not soccer. But in the same ways, he thought about money, showed off his money, and made money a huge part of his life. He talked to Jesus one afternoon and wanted to know how he could spend eternal life in heaven. Jesus answered, “Sell everything you have, give the money to the poor, and follow me. Then you will have your treasure in heaven.” Sadly, the man turned and walked away. You see, he did not want to give up his earthly treasures. They were too important to him. What? Our money and gold is nothing compared to the riches in heaven. If the streets and sidewalks are made of gold in heaven, imagine what the houses will look like. Turn over your treasures to God, whether it’s soccer, dancing, running, or computer games? You see, God wants to have first place in our lives. Give the gold medal to God!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in Matthew 19.
TRY IT: Treasure Tears
Items needed:
Pennies, eye dropper, water, and paper towels
Directions:
1. Place a penny on top of a paper towel.
2. Guess how many water droplets can fit on the surface of a penny. Write down your prediction.
3. Count as you add water droplets to the penny’s surface. See how many droplets fit on the penny before the water overflows and the paper towel gets wet.
4. Try this again to see if you can fit more droplets on the penny.
Discussion Question:
These drops of water are not really tears, but sometimes we cry over our treasures. When would our treasures cause us to cry? What should we treasure instead of money or objects?
LIVE IT: Love that Blankie
When you were little, you might have had a special stuffed animal or blanket that never left your side. You carried it everywhere you went. Up the hall, down the hall, inside the crib, outside in the yard; you had it with you everywhere. Not that you’re older, maybe you have a favorite toy, video game, or electronic device that is always in your pocket or purse. When you grow even older, you’ll still have something dear to you that gets carried around. Ask your parents, they probably have a photograph, a phone, or a trinket that goes with them just about everywhere. This week’s verse reminds us that God needs to be our most valuable treasure. It’s okay to have our blankies, our games, or oh-so-special-somethings, as long as God remains first in our lives. Recite this verse when you feel like something is becoming too big in your life. Let God take over and put everything back in the right place.
SHARE IT: Treasure Filler
Start your own “treasure chest” to give away. Grab a jar start filling it with change. Add the coins you have left in your pocket, the ones you find in the sofa cushions, and even some crumpled dollar bills that you might have just lying around. Ask the entire family to contribute. When the jar is filled to the brim, pray and ask God who needs this “treasure” the most. As a family, deliver the jar along with a handwritten note to that special somebody.