Offer It Up!

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Middle School

Lesson 4
Summer 2022
By: RLD Editorial Team
June 26, 2022

Lesson Focus:

We have much to offer others.

Bible Basis:

2 Corinthians 8:1-12

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

List of families/individuals with known needs in your church
Index cards
Pens/pencils
Whiteboard and marker (or screenshared document)
Optional: Internet access

Summary & Links:

After they watch a video about outreach for homeless youth, students will think about what they can offer others as they consider God’s desire for them to have generous and giving hearts.

Memory Verse:

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
—2 Corinthians 8:12

Step 1:

After they watch a video about outreach for homeless youth, students will think about what they can offer others as they consider God’s desire for them to have generous and giving hearts.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

As your class begins, engage your students in a discussion about needs and wants:

How would you describe the difference between needs and wants? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
What are some things you need every day? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
What are some examples of basic human needs? (Accept all reasonable responses.)

Regardless of who we are, we all have some needs in common, including the needs for food, water, and shelter. Sadly, though, many people do not have access to resources for these basic needs. A 2017 study estimated that 1 in 10 young people experience homelessness.

Share the following video with your students [2:56]:
The Homeless Shelter for Young People, By Young People

What did the people running Y2Y Harvard Square offer others? (Although the obvious answer might be shelter, other students may mention encouragement, kindness, legal aid, mental health services, and more.)

Although opening and running shelter takes a lot of time, money, and dedication, giving of ourselves is something all of us can do. Let’s learn more.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Step 4:

Materials Needed:

List of families/individuals with known needs in your church
Index cards
Pens/pencils
Whiteboard and marker (or screenshared document)
Optional: Internet access

Before class, check with your church’s benevolence committee for the names of individuals or families with known needs right now. As your students are working on their Step 3 activities, write down today’s memory verse, 2 Corinthians 8:12, on the whiteboard (or screenshared document). Students will copy this verse down on their index cards later. (If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring pens/pencils and index cards to class.)

In today’s lesson, we looked at 2 Corinthians 8:1-12, where the Macedonian churches were living by grace. We learned that these churches were going through a difficult time financially yet found it possible to give generously. Paul used these Macedonian churches as an example for the Corinthian churches to follow.

Giving generously in hard times is not usually a go-to reaction. It seems easier and wiser, at times, to hold on to our money and save it for a rainy day. The Macedonian churches and the apostle Paul would disagree. The Corinthian churches were urged to give generously because they had much to offer others. We do, too.

Hand each student an index card and a pen/pencil (or invite them to have those items ready at home). Encourage each student to write down one person or family who has a need. If students are stuck, provide them with the names of individuals or families with known needs that your church is helping right now. After students have done this, encourage them to copy down today’s memory verse on the backside of their index card

Today’s memory verse emphasizes that willingness is the first thing we have to offer. If we are willing to help others, then resources will come. What a great reminder as we live out our faith and trust God in our giving!

Allow students to brainstorm what they can offer to the individual or family they wrote down on their index card. Ideas might include free babysitting, house or yard work, washing a car, buying groceries, etc. You may want to see what ministries your church is already involved in for these individuals and allow your students to plug into those projects in future weeks. The key is following through. Be sure to connect with your students periodically to encourage them to reach out to these needy ones. Summer is a wonderful time for service projects and their impact on your group and community—eternal!

Close in group prayer allowing your students an opportunity to bless the person/family they selected.

Spread the word

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