Welcome to our virtues page! Each month we will be studying a different virtue that addresses some aspect of living out a relationship with God. We hope that as parents you will visit here often to learn along with your child who comes to TI! We keep the last three months' virtues up here with resources for you as a parent. To view our calender for the upcoming year's virtues, click here.

DECEMBER VIRTUE - Generosity

UPDATED: Tuesday, 11.25.08

"making someone’s day by giving something away."

Memory Verse for December:

"Be rich in good deeds … be generous and willing to share." - 1 Timothy 6:18, NIV

Christmas Wrap

What are you wrapped up in this season? It is so, so easy to get caught up in the wrappings and trappings, the give and get, of Christmas, to be distracted from what's real. James 1:17 (NIV) says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." So we know that God is the Giver of all good things. And we know that, since He wants us to be like Him (Ephesians 5:1), He wants us to be givers.

But we also know that God's generosity has a purpose. God gives generously to us so that we may be generous toward others: "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and ... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians 9:11, NIV). See the connection between gratitude (what we talked about last month) and generosity? When we recognize God's generosity to us, it yields gratitude in us, which in turn feeds our generosity toward others. But generosity is not just about money. It's about all our stuff, including our time and energy. And it's also about our attitudes about our stuff.

So this month we'll focus on generosity--making someone's day by giving something away. We'll talk about not letting things become more important than people, showing others how valuable they are when we give, and not letting stuff get in the way of serving others and loving Jesus. And, of course, how God gave us the greatest gift when He gave us Jesus. So, let's get wrapped up in what this season is REALLY all about: "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8, NIV).

Each week we will focus on what we call the “virtue cycle” by explaining the following in numbered sentences: (1) What the virtue reveals about the nature of God. (2) How God instills that virtue in us, making us more like Him. (3) How God can use that virtue in us to influence and impact our families, friends, and neighbors. In its essence, a virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us.

As others notice the virtue being lived out in our lives, we have more opportunities to tell them about Jesus. As they come to trust Jesus, they’ll influence others as well. Hence the cycle effect!


SMALL GROUP LEADER RESOURCES:

Week One K-1 2-3 4-5

What a great time to talk about generosity. People all around you are wrapped up in the holiday season—the gifts, the tinsel, the lights, the mall traffic. This time of year kids may get the impression that it’s all about them. The challenge will be to convince them to think instead about being generous to others. So we’re talking about (1) generosity this month, which is making someone’s day by giving something away. (2) God is generous to us in so many ways. He loves us, provides for us, forgives us, gives us direction—the list goes on and on. No one can be more generous than God. (3) God wants each of us to show generosity as well. He wants us to be generous to others, both for their benefit and for ours. When we are generous with others, it benefits them. But it also benefits us by making us less self-reliant and more reliant on God. Generosity reminds us that people are always more important than things. So this week encourage kids to be generous, even if they start small. The first step is for them to become aware of the needs around them, to simply notice when there is a need. (4) The more they notice others’ needs, the less they will notice their own desires. Then giving will become a privilege, not a chore.

Week Two K-1 2-3 4-5

Heads up: Today’s lesson includes an explanation of God’s plan to save us by sending His Son. Make sure you spend time thinking about and praying for the kids who will walk through your doors today as you prepare for this lesson. Ask God to help you be sensitive to His leading, to choose your words carefully, and to prepare the kids’ hearts for this most important message. Use simple, concrete terms that kids can understand, but let the Holy Spirit do the leading.
There’s a cliché that says, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Well, He really is. Without Jesus, there really is no reason for us to celebrate this holiday. And what better way to celebrate than by giving gifts—being generous? (1) Generosity is making someone’s day by giving something away. (2) Christmas is coming up, which gives you the perfect opportunity to help kids understand that God showed generosity big-time when He gave us Jesus. He didn’t just make our day, though. He made our life—eternally! God loved and gave; we believe and receive. This week offers a perfect opportunity to explain to kids the greatest gift of all: salvation. (3) Help kids understand that God not only wants us to receive His gift, but to be generous with it as well. (4) When we have accepted God’s generous gift of salvation, then we get to share that good news with others. When we tell others about Jesus, they too can know the love of a heavenly Father.

Week Three K-1 2-3 4-5

(1) Generosity is making someone’s day by giving something away. Many people don’t think they can be generous because they don’t think they have a lot to give. But generosity is more than giving money or presents. (2) God gives us so much. He gives us time, talent, and energy to use as we see fit. (3) What if we saw fit to use what God has given us to give to others? Like the wise men, who traveled miles and risked their lives to honor Jesus, we have so much more to give than just money. (4) And the thing is, kids do too. Help them see that they don’t have to have a lot of money to be generous; generosity can start with the giving of their time, talents, and energy. A spirit of giving instilled in them this young will be a huge impact on the world around them. Because when you give (no matter what you give) it shows others how valuable they are—to you and to God.

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