Unit: Money, Money, Money

Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler

Life Point: God wants people to love Jesus – Not their possessions

Life Verse: “Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have.” Hebrews 13:5

Weekly Bible Verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

Bible Passage: Mark 10:17-27

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

* * *

Craft: Real Treasure
Children will create a pot of gold with the real treasure in their lives. You will need to have them cut out a black pot and then coins. On the coins they will write the things that really matter over the material things. You can put the life verse at the top of the picture as well.
Click here for more info

Craft: Story of the Rich Young Ruler
The instructions for this craft are at the bottom of the page. This would be fun for 2nd grade and up.
Click here for more info

Game: Who, What, Where, When, Why
Bean Bag Toss Game:
Cut shapes out of a box and label them ―Who,‖ ―What,‖ ―When,‖ ―Where,‖ and ―Why.‖ Set box with cut-out shapes on top, 3 to 5 feet from throw line. Give each child two tries to get the bean bag through a shape. The child draws a question written on a corresponding shape. If the child does not know the answer, he or she may ask another child for help.

Use the following questions:
1. Who asked Jesus a question? (Vr. 17 – a rich young ruler.)
2. Who did Jesus say is good‖? (Vr. 18 – only God.)
3. Who did Jesus tell the rich, young ruler to give to? (Vr. 21 – to the poor.)
4. What did the ruler ask Jesus? (Vr. 17 – what must I do to inherit eternal life?)
5. What did Jesus ask the rich, young ruler to sell? (Vr. 21 – all his possessions.)
6. What did Jesus say was easier for a camel to go through? (Vr 25 – eye of a needle.)
7. When did the rich, young ruler keep all the commandments? (Vr. 20 – since he was young.)
8. When did Jesus say the rich, young ruler would have treasure in heaven? (Vr. 21 – when he sold all his possessions and gave all the money to the poor.)
9. When did the ruler become very sad? (Vr. 22 – when Jesus told him to give all his money to the poor.)
10. Where do you find the commandments Jesus quoted in Vr. 19? (Exodus 20)
11. Where did Jesus say the rich, young ruler would have treasure? (Vr. 21-  in heaven.)
12. Where is it hard for a rich man to enter? (Vr. 25 – kingdom of God.)
13. Why did the rich, young ruler ask Jesus a question? (Vr. 17 – he wanted to know how to get eternal life.)
14. Why did the rich, young ruler become very sad when Jesus told him to sell everything? (Vr. 22 – he had many possessions.)
15. Why do you think Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? (Because you are depending on your material wealth instead of God.)

Or, use the following review questions in a game of your choice:
1. One day a young man ran to Jesus, knelt before Him and asked him a question. What was that question? (―What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?)
2. How did this young man think a person got to heaven? (By doing good works, like keeping the commandments.)
3. Had the rich young man kept all of God’s commandments perfectly? Which one had the man not kept? (―Do not covet and also, ―Do not have any idols. The man obviously idolized his money.)
4. What is the only way to receive eternal life? (By believing in what Jesus did for us all on the cross.)
5. What did Jesus tell this young man to do? (―Sell everything he had and then give the money to the poor.)
6. What did Jesus mean by telling the rich young man to sell everything and give all the money away to the poor? (To get rid of his love of money and his trust in riches because it was blocking him being able to receive all that God has for him.)
7. Does Jesus expect you or your parents to sell everything and give all the money away to the poor? (No, but He wants us to be willing to do anything God asked, even that.)
8. Why do you think it’s hard for rich people to get into heaven? (They depend on their money and not on God’s provision.)
9. Is it wrong to have money? Why or why not? (No, it’s not wrong to have money; it’s wrong to put money first.)
10. Why do you think Jesus used the image of a camel going through the eye of a needle to illustrate his point? (Because it’s nearly impossible for someone who is banking on his riches to receive eternal life from God.)
11. What other kinds of things could make it hard for us to reach heaven? (Good looks, power, prestige, connections, knowledge, possessions…)
12. What is the most important thing in life? (Our relationship with Jesus.)
Click here for more info