Title: Using our Gifts- Stewardship Lesson
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11
Target Age Group: 3rd-5th grade
Main Point: God (point upwards) gives us gifts (make a shape of a gift box by your chest) so that we may serve others (point to your neighbor) and glorify Him (point upwards).
Supplies: Bibles, Index card for each child
Lesson Opening: Talking and Listening to God
Ask: How can we talk to God?
Ask: When you have a conversation with a friend, are you the only one who says anything? Does your friend also do some of the talking? If you never listened to your friend, would you ever learn more about them? Would they ever be able to tell you anything?
Say: When we talk to someone else we speak but we also listen. It is just the same when we pray. Of course, we talk to God, but we also must be ready to listen for Him to speak to us. Our God is a God who answers us when we pray! That means it’s important to take time to be still before God and listen for Him to speak.
Say: Our lesson today is all about listening to God so we can know what He wants us to do. It doesn’t do us much good to pray, “God show me Your will for my life” then never take the time to listen to Him!
Pray that God would open our hearts to His Word and that we would take time to listen to Him and hear from Him this week!
Tell the Story
Ask: What is something you are good at?
Say: Everyone is good at something. Some people are amazing artists, others are super good at math, and others are wonderful friends. God has given gifts and talents to every single person He created.
Ask: Why do you think God gives us gifts?
Say: The answer to that question is our main point for today. God gives us gifts so we can serve others and glorify Him.
Say: God’s Word has a lot to say about how to use the gifts God has given us. Let’s hear from the book of 1 Peter 4:10-11. As I read the passage, listen for the ways that we’re told to use our gifts and why God gives us gifts in the first place!
Read 1 Peter 4:10-11
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Say: God gives us gifts so we can serve others and glorify Him.
Say: Imagine that God has created someone to be a good encourager. How do you think that person might be able to use their gift of encouragement to serve others and glorify God?
Ask: What would happen if the person who was good at encouraging others never used their gift? Would God be glorified? Would they be able to serve others well? No!
Say: God doesn’t want us to hoard our gifts, or use them for our own glory and gain. Instead, God gives us gifts to use for His Kingdom.
Say: When someone trusts in Jesus and follows Him, God invites them to be part of His kingdom. God’s Kingdom isn’t just someplace we go when we die. God’s Kingdom is here and now! We can be part of God’s Kingdom by loving God, serving others, getting to know God through reading His Word and through prayer, and by telling others the good news about Jesus!
Say: Let’s pray together and thank God for the opportunity to use our gifts to serve others and glorify Him!
Pray
Review Questions
- What was the main point from our lesson? (God gives us gifts so we can serve others and glorify Him.)
- What book of the Bible was our passage from this week? (1 Peter.)
- What were two spiritual gifts that the passage mentioned? (Speaking, serving.)
- Why does God give us gifts?
- Why does God want us to use our gifts to glorify Him?
- What are ways we can practice generosity this week?
Learning Activity 1: Finding Joy in Giving
- Ask the kids to think about a time when giving brought them joy. Have them write a few sentences or draw a picture of what they gave, and describe how they felt. Encourage them to share their answers with the class.
Learning Activity 2: How Can We Use Our Gifts?
Supplies: Index card for each child
- Pass out an index card to each child and have them write down something they are good at. Lay all the cards face down on a table.
- Choose one card at a time and talk as a class about how that ability or talent could be used for God’s glory.
Bible Skills/Small Group Discussion
Supplies: Bibles for each child
- Divide the class into smaller groups, each teacher leading one group. Pass out Bible to the kids.
- Help the kids looks up 1 Peter 4:10-11 and choose one child to read the verse out loud.
- Ask: What do these verses say about how we should use our gifts?
- Ask: What gifts have you been given? How can you use those gifts to bring glory to God?
- Ask: What should the outcome be of us using our gifts for God? (God will be glorified.