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WELCOME TO WEEK 1
What is your favorite thing to do or have? What is your favorite toy? Would you be willing to give it up and not receive a replacement in return? We all have things we enjoy and even treasure, but we have to ask ourselves if we treasure those things more than we value Jesus. Wee want to show Jesus that we love Him more than anything.
BIBLE STORY
Sometimes it can be hard to choose between two things that we love. It’s hard to give up something that is important to us, but one thing usually beats the other. Let’s plan a game of Would you rather, you choose which of the two things you would rather do or have
Would you rather…
Eat an ice cream cone OR a bowl of broccoli
Take a walk in the park. OR a boat ride
Watch a movie. OR make your own movie
Go on a picnic. OR. eat in a skyscraper
Have a lollipop. OR a popsicle
Eat a burrito OR. a taco
Have a pancake OR a waffle
Go on vacation. OR. to a water park
It’s easy to compare the things we like and with things we might not like as much. When may love ice cream more than broccoli, but we know broccoli is better for us than ice cream. We can love Jesus more than anything and He is good for us! There are a lot of things we enjoy all around us like our toys, candy, our family, and the beach, but we can love Jesus more than any of those things. This week we will read a story about a woman who showed her love for Jesus in a very big way. Everyone who witnessed what she did also knew how much she loved him by her actions.
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: John 12:1-8
What city was Jesus in? (Bethany)
What had previously happened in Bethany? ( Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead)
Why was Jesus at this dinner? (It was a dinner in Jesus’ honor)
While he was sitting at the table, what did Mary do? (Used expensive perfume to wash his feet and then wiped it with her hair)
What filled the house? (The fragrance of the perfume)
How did the disciple Judas think the money from the perfume should have been spent? (Sold and spent on the poor)
How much was the perfume worth? (1 year’s wage)
What did Judas really want to do with the money? (Use the money for himself)
How did Jesus reply to what Judas said? (To leave Mary alone, it was intended for her to save this oil for the day of his burial, the poor would always be among them.)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Have several gifts or prizes wrapped in wrapping paper or placed in gift bags. Present 2 gifts at a time, and then ask them to share one of the gifts with someone in the room or decide on a friend they can share them with later. Be sure to choose gifts that are both good and hard to choose between. Was it easy or hard to share one of your presents with someone else? Mary gave her best to Jesus because she loved him. We can give our best to God and give back to God the gifts he has given to us.
Materials: prizes wrapped in wrapping paper or gift bags
Alternate
Make a bowl to replicate what Mary may have used to hold the oil for anointing Jesus’ feet. Take a large piece of clay or Play Dough and roll it out into a long thin rope to coil into the shape of a bowl.
Materials: play dough
Independent activity:
Create a collage. On the center of your paper, write Jesus name in large letters. Using different colored markers and font, write other things you love or enjoy all around the paper. We say we love Jesus the most, but sometimes it gets crowded with other things we enjoy and spend time doing more than spending time with God. We can remember to not let other things get in the way or crowd out our love for Jesus.
Materials: White sheet of paper, pencil, markers
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: Printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Philippians 3:7-9
The author of Philippians states that everything he once thought was a gain to himself, he now considers it a loss to Christ. Not because those things no longer hold value, but because they hold a much lesser value than the value of knowing Jesus Christ. In comparison to Christ, those things are no longer important but are instead considered filth. When we know the love of Jesus and understand the depth of his love for us, we will consider everything else lesser in comparison. The things we used to consider of value will never satisfy in the way on Jesus can satisfy us.
What are some things you consider to be valuable?
What are some things you think are important to have or achieve?
Do you believe those things give you more than what Jesus can offer?
How did Mary show she did not value anything else over Jesus?
Why was her gift of perfume such a significant offering?
Practical Application at Home
It can be easy to allow other things in our lives to become more valuable to us than God. Our actions describe what we consider to be the most valuable. The things we spend most of our time on, where we spend most of our money, and what we turn to when we need comfort show what we put value or trust in. When we are willing to sacrifice what we consider to be valuable for God, we show that we love him more than anything else. When Mary used the expensive oil for Jesus’ feet, she did it out of love not obligation because she knew Jesus could provide for her every need. What He had to offer was more valuable than any earthly money, time, or life.
Think about your favorite thing and what you believe it has to offer you. Make a list of all the reasons you enjoy your favorite thing and then make a list of the things God says He has to offer you. Determine which one you believe to be more valuable and what you believe will offer lasting satisfaction.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
When we give our time serving others, we are showing Jesus that we love him more than anything else. We can spend time being the hands and feet of Jesus, rather than playing our video games or doing other things that are just for us. Spend time this week looking for ways to serve others.