Grapple Unit: Why in the World?

Grapple Unit: Why in the World?

Grapple Question3: Why Isn’t There Enough to Go Around?

Key Faith Foundation:Sharing With Others

Key Scriptures:2 Samuel 12:1-9; Acts 4:32-37; 2 Corinthians 8:10-15; 9:7-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Bible basis for teachers

2 Samuel 12:1-9; Acts 4:32-37; 2 Corinthians 8:10-15; 9:7-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Grapple Question 3:Why Isn’t There Enough to Go Around?

Key Faith Foundation:Sharing With Others

Because most of us have so much, it’s hard to imagine not having what we need to survive. That isn’t true, however, for thousands of people around the world. We can’t control all the resources, but each of us can do our part to bring about a greater balance. Use this lesson to help kids understand that all of us have something to share with those who have less.

In 2 Samuel 12:1-9, the rich man took the poor man’s sheep; though he had more than enough, he greedily wanted more. Likewise, some of us want more, despite all our God-given blessings. Use these verses to remind kids that lack of riches is a matter of perspective.

According to 2 Corinthians 8:10-15, we’re called to give so there can be some equality. Use these verses to help kids understand that it’s okay if some people have more than others. In fact, God blesses some people with more so they can help others out. Help kids think of ways they can personally make things more equal.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, Paul uses his life as an example of how people can work to provide for themselves. Use these verses to help kids think about times that sharing with others might hurt others more than help them. For example, sharing answers might help a friend pass a test, but ultimately that friend won’t learn anything. Remind kids they don’t need to share when someone asks them to do wrong or do something they know will hurt the other person in the long run.

In Acts 4:32-37, the early church shared everything it had—even selling land and possessions to help people in need. Use this Bible passage to encourage kids to think of ways they can share what they have with people around them.

Second Corinthians 9:7-11 says God will bless those who give generously. Remind kids that when we give generously and with a good attitude, it’s a win-win situation: Other people get what they need, and God provides for our needs. Encourage kids to think of things they can give cheerfully to do their part to share with others.

understanding preteens

Kids this age are bombarded with messages of materialism, so they often feel like “have nots.” Use this lesson to help young people realize how much they have and how they can be generous with others who have less.

the lesson at a glance
Lesson Sequence / What Kids Will Do / Supplies
1 / grapple community
(5 minutes) / Build relationships. /

DVD player
Christian music
music player
snacks

2 / grapple games
(10-15 minutes) / Choose two games to play. /

chairs
blankets
tape or chalk
copy of the “Famous Phrases” handout (found on the GrappleDVD and at the end of this lesson)
scissors
a container

3 / grapple time
(10 minutes) / Play a game called Musical Grab Bag, and discuss not having enough. /

DVD player
Grapple DVD
grocery bag containing several clothing items such as silly or outdated shoes, shirt, hat, gloves, and so on

4 / grapple team time
(15 minutes) / Discover what the Bible says about possessions and giving. /

Bibles
pencils
copy of the Grapple Team Guide for each person

5 / grapple team reports
(10 minutes) / Report what they learned from the Bible passage they studied. /

paper

6 / grapple prayer
(5 minutes) / Choose a prayer option.
7 / grapple dare / Hear the dare for the week.
1 / grapple community

Play Christian music as kids enjoy snacks and friendship. Give kids this discussion starter as they eat. Say: Find out who in our group went the longest time between meals last week. Play one of the three-minute countdowns (included on your Grapple DVD) to let kids know how much time remains.

2 / grapple games

Say: We’re going to play a game, but you’ll get to choose. Would you rather play Blanket Slide (see Games Guide), where you have to pull one another through an obstacle course? Or would you like to play Push Me…Pull Me (see Games Guide), which involves playing Tag while connected? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game.

Say: Now we’ll play another game. Would you rather play Olympics (see Games Guide), where we have fun competitions? Or would you like to play Say What? (see Games Guide), which involves quickly saying what comes to mind? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game.

3 / grapple time

Get Ready: Prepare a grocery bag containing several clothing items such as shoes, shirt, hat, gloves, and so on. The items can be silly, outdated, and of either gender. Make sure you don’t have enough clothes for every person. Cue the Grapple DVD to a countdown.

Have kids sit in a circle on the floor, and lead the entire group in the following:

Let’s begin our Grapple session today by playing a game called Musical Grab Bag. I’ll play a countdown as we quickly pass the bag around the circle. When I pause the countdown, whoever is holding the bag must take out the first thing he or she touches—and put it on.

Play until all the items are gone.

Tell All:Why was or wasn’t it important to you to get something from the grab bag?

Not all of you really cared whether there were or weren’t enough grab bag clothes to go around. In fact, some of you may have felt relieved when the silly clothes ran out! However, there are times when not having enough to go around can be a huge problem.

In Pairs:If the grocery sack contained things you needed to survive and there wasn’t enough to go around, what would you have done? What do you do when you see or hear about people who don’t have enough food, clothes, or other important things to survive?

Because most of us have so much, it’s hard to imagine what it would be like to not have enough food, clothes, or the money to buy what we need to survive. That’s not true, however, for thousands of kids around the world. Many people don’t have the food, clothing, and other important things they need. One huge question we want to grapple with is “Why isn’t there enough to go around?” Let’s work together to find out what God’s Word has to say about it.

4 / grapple team time

Break into Grapple Teams. Encourage Grapple Team leaders to check in with kids about their week. Grapple Team leaders will facilitate discussion, using the Grapple Team Guide at the end of this lesson.

5 / grapple team reports

At the end of Grapple Team Time, have kids work with their team to choose one of the options below to report what they discovered.

Option 1:Grin Reports
God loves a cheerful giver. Share what you’ve learned with a smile on your face. Don’t stop grinning until you’ve finished reporting.

Option 2:Paper Mime
Demonstrate the giving principles you learned today by sharing a single sheet of paper with the group, without speaking.

Match Grapple Teams that chose Option 1 with Grapple Teams that chose Option 2. Have teams present their reports. (Do this one team at a time if you have only two Grapple Teams.)

6 / grapple prayer

Read the Grapple Prayer options. Have the group choose one prayer option that everyone will do. Allow kids time to pray about what they discovered. Then close in prayer.

Option 1:Open-Handed Prayers
Place your hands in front of you with palms up, as you ask God’s help in sharing what you have with others.

Option 2:Growly Prayers
Imagine the feeling you get when your stomach is growling and you can’t wait to eat lunch. Now pray for those in our world who feel that way all the time, and ask for God to show how you can help.

7 / grapple dare

Say: Some people have a lot. Others have little. Some have nothing. We can’t control how that happens, but each of us can do our part to bring about a greater balance. All of us have something to share with those who have less, and if everyone did their part, there’d be enough to go around. I dare you to think of something you can do or give this week that would help a person in need. You might donate some clothes, for example, or give some time to help out at a food bank. And always remember to do it cheerfully.

(Find the Parent Page for this lesson on the enhanced DVD. Have each child give a copy to his or her parents. Alternatively, send the file to parents via email.)

grapple team guide

3. Why Isn’t There Enough to Go Around?

In your Grapple Team, use this guide to grapple with today’s question.

Using a single sheet of paper for your entire team, tear off a portion for yourself, and pass the remainder to the next person. (It’s okay if not everyone ends up with a piece of paper.) Then tear your section of paper into smaller pieces, and write one of your favorite possessions on each piece (such as your Xbox 360 or your cellphone). If you don’t have a piece of paper, sit quietly while others finish up.

If you didn’t get as large of a piece of paper (or any at all), tell your team members how that made you feel. How is that like or unlike how people around the world might feel when they look at all the things we have?

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-9.

The rich man took the poor man’s sheep—how is that like or unlike what happens in our world today? How have you seen greed show up among people who already have more than they need? Based on these verses, why do you think there isn’t enough to go around?

Read 2 Corinthians 8:10-15.

What do these verses say about some people having more than others? What can you do personally to make things more equal in our world today?

Imagine that your pieces of paper represent the things you have. How would you apply these verses using your “paper possessions”? Redistribute paper pieces among your team to illustrate the giving principle found in this Bible passage.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12.

Think of a time when sharing with others might hurt them rather than help them. Talk about what that might look like and what you could do in that situation.

Read Acts 4:32-37.

In Pairs:Why was there enough to go around in the early church? How does reading that affect your thoughts about generosity and giving? What can you share now with the people in our church?

Apply the methods used by the early church as you take up a “paper possessions” offering.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-11.

What did you discover about the way God feels toward people who share generously? According to these verses, in what ways is giving a win-win situation? Why can you feel cheerful about giving, and what can you cheerfully give this week?

Finish the following sentence using ideas you’ve learned from Scripture today: There would be enough to go around if…

grapple team reports

With your team, choose one of the options below to report what you discovered.

Option 1:Grin Reports
God loves a cheerful giver. Share what you’ve learned with a smile on your face. Don’t stop grinning until you’ve finished reporting..

Option 2:Paper Mime
Demonstrate the giving principles you learned today by sharing a single sheet of paper with the group, without speaking.

Famous Phrases

• I can resist everything except temptation. (Oscar Wilde)

•The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)

•I started out with nothing. I still have most of it. (Michael Davis)

•Never love anything that can’t love you back. (Bruce Williams)

•Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use. (Wendell Johnson)

•Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away. (Anonymous)

•If everything’s under control, you’re going too slow. (Mario Andretti)

•All good things must come to an end. (English proverb)

•What you didn’t hope for happens more often than what you hoped for. (Latin proverb)

•Keep smiling; it makes people wonder what you’re up to. (Anonymous)

•Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that he will. (Ben Stein)

•Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one. (Latin proverb)

•The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well. (Alfred Adler)

•In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. (Mother Teresa)

•Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. (Margaret Mead)

•I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. (2 Timothy 4:7)

•Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. (Anonymous)

•Nothing moves faster than gossip. (Latin proverb)

•They say hard work never hurt anybody, but I figure, why take the chance? (Ronald Reagan)