"The right priority"
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: It is sometimes very difficult to get
children to put the right priority on things in their lives. Their
tendency, and our own, is to place a very high value on material
things and let spiritual things be relegated to very low
priorities. This story of Mary and her extravagant use of the
perfume should remind us that God should always be first on our
priority list.
*Ask each child to make a list of all the things that are
important in his or her life. When they get done, ask them to
prioritize the list, i.e., place a 1 by the most important, 2 by
the second most important, and so on. When everyone has done the
prioritizing, ask some to share their lists. Discuss the results
and see if they will agree that God should have the number 1 place
on the list. If you are working with a very young group, list the
items on a blackboard as they give them to you and then do the
prioritizing as a group.
*Bring pictures of the things children think are important in
life, such as bicycles, theme parks, junk food, and so forth. Also
bring pictures of Jesus, parents, church, the Bible, and so forth.
Have the children, individually or in groups, prioritize the items
in order of the importance in their lives by placing the pictures
in order. Discussion of the results can center on how we tend to
place more importance on the things of the world instead of on the
truly important items. Relate the story of Mary and the perfume to
show that Mary had her priorities straight.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the story of Mary and the perfume as it is printed in
John's Gospel. Divide the children in two groups. One group will
make a list of reasons why Mary did the right thing and the other
will make a list of the reasons she should not have done it. When
they are done, compare the lists and see if the entire group will
conclude that it was a good thing to do. (You are trying to show
the children that their priority should be on the things of God
and not on the things of the world.)
children to put the right priority on things in their lives. Their
tendency, and our own, is to place a very high value on material
things and let spiritual things be relegated to very low
priorities. This story of Mary and her extravagant use of the
perfume should remind us that God should always be first on our
priority list.
*Ask each child to make a list of all the things that are
important in his or her life. When they get done, ask them to
prioritize the list, i.e., place a 1 by the most important, 2 by
the second most important, and so on. When everyone has done the
prioritizing, ask some to share their lists. Discuss the results
and see if they will agree that God should have the number 1 place
on the list. If you are working with a very young group, list the
items on a blackboard as they give them to you and then do the
prioritizing as a group.
*Bring pictures of the things children think are important in
life, such as bicycles, theme parks, junk food, and so forth. Also
bring pictures of Jesus, parents, church, the Bible, and so forth.
Have the children, individually or in groups, prioritize the items
in order of the importance in their lives by placing the pictures
in order. Discussion of the results can center on how we tend to
place more importance on the things of the world instead of on the
truly important items. Relate the story of Mary and the perfume to
show that Mary had her priorities straight.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the story of Mary and the perfume as it is printed in
John's Gospel. Divide the children in two groups. One group will
make a list of reasons why Mary did the right thing and the other
will make a list of the reasons she should not have done it. When
they are done, compare the lists and see if the entire group will
conclude that it was a good thing to do. (You are trying to show
the children that their priority should be on the things of God
and not on the things of the world.)
