Cold Cash – Matthew 6:19-21

Objective:

Using our desires for cold cash to represent God’s desire for our hearts.

Scripture:

Matthew 6:19-21 (Where your treasure is, so your heart is also).
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Materials Needed:

• 2 Big pots (big enough for feet to fit into, and to hold a lot of water)
• Water
• A big bag of ice (about 17 lbs is good)
• $10 in dimes
• $10 in quarters
• Towel (for the students to dry their feet on)
• Bibles

Preparation:

• Fill one pot with lukewarm water (this will be used to dunk their freezing feet/legs into in order to prevent skin damage (frostbite, etc.)
• Fill the other pot with cold water and the full bag of ice.
• Let the ice cool off the water some (you want it really ice cold)

Activity:

1. Show the water to the kids, ice and all.
2. Have them watch as you dump $10 worth of dimes into the water (you may wish to stick your hand in to mix them up some, or maybe a wooden spoon to be more dramatic as to how cold it is).
3. Announce: “Whatever amount of dimes you pick up, you may keep…seriously. Only catch is, you have to use your foot.”
4. Give a certain amount of time that each has to pick up coins. I suggest this because some will stay in as long as they can, and may risk frostbite.
5. As they’re sticking their feet in and pulling out the coins, pay attention to what they say, their motivation, reasons they decide to stop, how soon they stop, etc.
6. Once everybody’s had a chance, and assuming there are still dimes left, ask if anybody will go in for the last few. (You’re looking for complaining that it’s too cold, they’re too small, and/or they’re too spaced out, etc.).
7. Ask if they’d go back in if you added more money…dump in the roll of quarters.
8. See if anybody will go back in for the higher-priced coins.

Have somebody read Matthew 6:19-21

1. Ask about what you noticed/observed.
   1. Why were some of them hesitant to go in when they saw the ice?
   2. Why did some of them stay in longer the second time?
   3. Why did some of them go back in a second time after saying they wouldn’t?
   4. Why did they go in after the quarters, even after they said they wouldn’t go in after more dimes?
   5. etc.
2. What do you think Jesus meant when he said to store up “treasures in Heaven”?
   1. (ask for some examples)
      1. Is Jesus saying we shouldn’t have a savings account or save up?
         (Jesus’ focus isn’t so much on the money, but on where your heart is. So try to move the students in that direction with the next question):
   2. Why is it important to store up treasures in Heaven, and not so much treasures on earth?
3. Why do you think Jesus is so concerned about where your heart is?
   (Now bring them back to what they went through for the coins, and help them understand that God wants them to desire Him in the same way that they desired the money, and just as they wouldn’t allow anything to prevent them from getting the money – not even freezing cold water – God wants them to not allow anything to prevent them from Him).

(that’s the gist of it. Work your own gifts and wording into it as the Lord has given you the ability to).

End with prayer.

50

SHARES

Share on Facebook

Tweet