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4th & 5th Curriculum

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LIFE POINT:

People can choose to do what is right even when it is hard.

LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING:

People are responsible for their choices and any consequences for their actions.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23

BIBLE VERSE:

“Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:34

FOR THE WEEK OF:

July 26

LEADER BIBLE STUDY

CONTEXT AND COMMENTARY FOR PERSONAL STUDY AND PREPARATION

(For age-appropriate language, use the Bible story on the following pages.)

Which of the following do you protect most fiercely: your time, your talent, or your treasure? Some people protect their time, perhaps because they have so little of it. Others protect their talent, fearful that if they are generous with using it to serve others, they might be taken advantage of. For many people, they most closely guard their treasure — their financial resources.

The rich young ruler clearly fell into the latter category. When Jesus asked him to give his financial resources away, he could not or would not do it. Notice when Jesus questioned him about keeping the Commandments, He did not quote all ten — He chose to mention only those that specifically address a person’s relationship with others. In response, the man claimed to have consistently treated others in a way that honored God and kept His commands. Jesus then gave him a challenge.

You may have read this challenge as a test of the man’s willingness to obey sacrificially, and that is undoubtedly part of it. But remember that Jesus had just asked the man if he had kept the Commandments regarding how he treated others. Is it possible that Jesus’ challenge further revealed the man’s deep-rooted selfishness? After all, by walking away, the man chose to keep himself comfortable — surrounded by his money and possessions — rather than financially helping others who really needed it.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see in which areas of your life you fiercely protect your time, talent, or treasure. Ask Him to show you when that protectiveness veers into selfishness and an unwillingness to serve or help others. Ask God to change your heart so that you hold nothing back in obedience to Him.

💬 TELL THE STORY

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

Play “Would You Rather.” Tell kids you will give them two choices and they’ll run to one side of the room or the other to show which they’d rather do. Say, “In our story today, a man had to make a choice about whether he would follow God by giving up all the things he owned.” Ask questions like: “Would you rather have spaghetti for hair or maple syrup for sweat?” “Would you rather sneeze glitter or burp bubbles?” “Would you rather explore the deep ocean or outer space?” “Would you rather help cook dinner or wash all the dishes?”

1. GETTING TO THE POINT

Invite the preteens to share a time when they had to make a difficult or important choice.
Encourage the group to listen respectfully while the preteen shares, and ask appropriate questions when needed.
Close by praying for each preteen by name, asking God to guide them in making wise choices.

2. LOOK IN THE BOOK

State that today’s Bible story is found in two books of the Bible — Mark and Luke.
Request all boys to locate Mark 10:17–22 and all girls to locate Luke 18:18–23.
Instruct each group to read its passage silently, then as you read each passage aloud, ask them to raise their hands if they hear any differences between the two.
Invite either group to answer: “How is the man described in the passage you read?” (Some versions will give descriptors such as rich, young, ruler.)
Distribute a color sheet of paper to every preteen. Instruct them to get into groups of five, with each group having one paper of every color. If you have an odd number, distribute the missing colors so that every group has all five.
Distribute markers and explain that groups should choose one of the Bible story passages and divide it into five sections. Each group member should read one section and make a cartoon illustration on her paper of what she read.
Watch for when most groups are done or when time is almost up and call for attention.
Invite each group to display its pictures on the clothesline. Offer encouragement as the pictures are shared.

3. REVIEW CHALLENGE

Remove the pictures from the clothesline, turn them facedown on a table, and shuffle them. Invite teams to race to locate their team’s sheets and assemble them back in the correct order of the Bible story.
Point out that in the Bible story, Jesus reminded the young man about the commandments he had kept all his life. Then Jesus told him he needed to sell all of his possessions. Selling possessions is not the way to eternal life. Jesus was teaching the man that keeping the law while also loving possessions more than people did not coincide with faith in Christ.
Use “Sharing the Gospel with Kids” to share with preteens how they can make a decision to follow Jesus. Follow your church’s protocol for salvation conversations with kids.
Ask each group a review question until preteens answer all questions correctly.

4. UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE

Invite a volunteer who has attended each session to recite the unit verse and share what the verse is about.
Display the “Unit 2 Verse” and lead everyone to read it aloud.
Use a marker to circle all the nouns and action words in the verse. Form as many groups as you have words circled, give each group markers and a half sheet of poster board, and assign each group a circled word to illustrate.
Reassemble and allow each group to share its poster. Recite the verse together, using the illustrations to help preteens remember the words.

5. APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY

In one minute or less, share the story of when you trusted in Jesus as your Savior. Invite preteens to share the name of someone they know who has made the decision to follow and obey Jesus.
Mention that Jesus was not saying it was wrong to have possessions. Instead, He was pointing out to the man that he lacked one thing — a love for the Lord, which is the reason and motivation for wanting to obey and keep the commandments.
Pray for each preteen by name and ask God to help him or her to know and follow Jesus as Savior. Dismiss preteens to Live It Out groups.

💡

BIBLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Place a variety of items from your home or classroom on the table. Research their prices, but don’t tell anyone. Ask preteens to guess the price of each item. Work in teams to see who can get closest without going over the price. Say, “These items have value, but nothing is more valuable than God!”

DAY OFF

Give kids paper and markers. Ask, “If you had a whole day off at home when you could do whatever you wanted, what would you do?” Tell them to draw it. Then ask, “If God asked you to give up all the things you drew and wrote down, would you be willing to give it up to follow God?”

COIN HUNT

Say, “In our Bible story, there was a leader who was very rich. Jesus asked him to give away all his treasure. We are going to play a game about treasure.” Ask preteens to face the wall and close their eyes. Hide many coins all around the room. When you say “Go!” preteens search for coins. Play a few rounds. Say, “Was it easy or hard to find the coins? What would it feel like to give up all your coins if God asked you to? How can we give God our best?”

CRAB WALK RELAY

Say, “In our story, the man came and knelt down before Jesus. He wanted to know how to follow God. We are going to play a game where we get on the ground.” Divide kids into two teams. Line teams up on the same side of the room. On their turn, each preteen will crab walk down to one side of the room and back. When one player returns, the next can go. Play until everyone goes. If turns are uneven, make one player go twice.

PLAY-DOH CREATIONS

Instruct preteens to make valuable possessions out of Play-Doh. Give suggestions like gaming systems, phones, jewelry, makeup, sporting equipment, fidget toys, etc. Have preteens show the class what they think is valuable. Say, “In our story, Jesus asked a man to give up all his valuables. Would you be willing to give up your creation to follow Jesus?” Have kids trade sculptures with someone else and smash the creation the other person made. Say, “Following Jesus is more valuable than anything else.”

4th & 5th Curriculum

THE YOUNG RULER’S QUESTION

BIBLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES