Youth Group Lesson on Greed

Whipped Marshmallow Grab

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Topic: Greed

Bible: Philippians 4:11-13

Teach students about greed with this awesome activity, lesson and discussion questions. So much fun!

SUPPLIES

Marshmallow (medium or large sized)

Whipped cream

If you want to go with a less messy version, then substitute the whip cream and marshmallows with individually wrapped pieces of candy (ex: Jolly Ranchers, etc).

Something to mark a dividing line, diving the group in half (ex: masking tape, orange cones or swimming noodles)

OPENING ACTIVITY: Whipped Marshmallow Grab

Mark a line dividing the playing area in half.

Divide the group into two even teams.

Throw on the ground an even amount of marshmallows on each side.

Top the marshmallows off with whipped cream.

(Note: for a less messier version, use inexpensive individually wrapped candies.)

On GO, players run to the opposing team’s side, grabbing up to two marshmallows at a time and bringing the marshmallows back to their side of the playing area.

If tagged while on the opposing team’s side, players drop the marshmallows in their hands and travel back to their side empty handed.

Once back on their side, players can continue to grab more marshmallows.

The team with the most marshmallows on their side at the end of the game wins.

Play for as long as you want, then end the game when time is up.

(Note: Some players might attempt to grab more than two marshmallows at a time. If that happens, it’s okay. You’re actually setting up that opportunity as a teachable moment.)

Break It On Down

Say: The goal of the game was to be greedy and grab as much marshmallows as possible.

Some of you were accused of grabbing more than two marshmallows at a time.

And if you played by the rules, you were probably at least tempted to grab more.

Others were accused of not going back to your team’s side when tagged.

Chances are almost everybody was tempted not to go back when tagged.

This game is a picture of what happens when you’re greedy.

When you’re greedy, you are mean, you fight and you argue.

Instead of being greedy, learn to be happy with what you do have.

Learn to rely on God’s power to be content.

Not just in a game you play at church, but in everyday life.

TEACH

Greed is when you have a strong desire to have more of something that you really don’t need.

Greed is a selfish desire.

Being greedy isn’t healthy because you’re always chasing after the next bigger or better thing.

You’re never happy with what you have.

You’re only thinking of what you want, regardless of how your desire or actions affect others.

You don’t care if you hurt others to get what you want.

You’re irritable, rude and impatient.

You want it all and you want it right now.

The interesting thing about greed is the more you get, the more you want.

Your desire for bigger and better is never satisfied!

God has a different way for us to live.

Instead of being greedy God wants us to be content, which means to be happy with what we do have.

Read Philippians 4:11-13.

“I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.”

Say: In this passage, Paul says he learned the secret of being content.

We can do anything with God’s help, who gives us strength.

Instead of thinking that the next bigger and better thing will satisfy you, realize the key to happiness is to be content with what you do have.

Ask God to give you the power to be content and He will.

Focus on what you do have, not what you want.

(Feel free to elaborate on this point in your own words.)

(Use a personal example of when you struggled with greed. Talk about how it affected you and those around you. Then share what you learned through the experience.)

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why do you think it is easier to be greedy rather than content?

Talk about a time when you (or someone else you know) was greedy?

How can being greedy be bad for you?

What are the benefits of being content (being happy with what you do have)?

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