📖

Two Very Different Gifts

Two Brothers, Two Choices

Day 17of 180
Week 4of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that God looks at our heart, not just our actions

2

Learn the story of Cain and Abel's offerings

3

Recognize the importance of giving with a cheerful heart

Genesis 4:3-5

In process of time, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, but he didn't respect Cain and his offering.

Genesis 4:3-5 (WEB)

Demonstrates how God values the heart behind the gift, not just the gift itself

📦 Materials Needed

  • Two different colored blocks
  • Offering plate or basket
  • Heart cutouts
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide
  • World English Bible

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

BibleMouse friends, today we're learning about two brothers and their special gifts to God!

💭 Review Question: What do you remember about Cain and Abel from yesterday?
2Teaching (8 min)

God cares more about WHY we give than WHAT we give. Cain brought fruits, Abel brought his best sheep.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Cain was a farmer
  • Abel was a shepherd
  • Both brought gifts to God
  • God looked at their hearts
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do you think God wants us to give?
  • What makes a gift special?
3Activity: Heart of Giving Game (10 min)
interactive

Use heart cutouts to demonstrate giving with different attitudes

📝 Instructions:
  1. Place two blocks in offering basket
  2. One block represents a happy heart
  3. One block represents a grumpy heart
  4. Talk about which gift God would like
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent demonstrates, child watches

Challenge: Child explains difference between gifts

4Closing (3 min)

Remember, God loves a cheerful giver!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did Cain and Abel bring to God?
  • What matters most to God?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us give with happy hearts that love You.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about what happened when Cain got angry

1 John 4:7

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

1 John 4:7 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Heart Hop: Cut out paper hearts, write memory verse words on them. Spread hearts on floor. Child hops from heart to heart, saying each word while hopping

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson introduces the concept of heart motivation in giving

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, age-appropriate language
  • Demonstrate giving with enthusiasm
  • Connect lesson to child's own experiences
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might focus on the physical gift, not the heart behind it

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's understanding of giving cheerfully

Extension Activities

  • Create a 'giving jar' to collect coins for church or charity
  • Draw pictures of gifts given with different attitudes

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 18Back to Bible