CHILDREN BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE BY PASTOR (MRS.) OLANIKE BANSO
TOPIC: SECURING FOR YOURSELF A FUTURE OF ABUNDANCE
TEXT: 1 Kings 17:9-16
MEMORY VERSE: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).
SONG: Colourful shining bright, I will get there (2ce). My future is bright. I will get there (2ce).
INTRODUCTION: Every one desires a good and bright future, but this does not always happen all the time. A good and bright future depends on certain things one must do or certain principles one must practise. Your future refers to your tomorrow. There are three days in the life of a person.
1.Yesterday: This is the part of your life that you have spent already. Nothing can be done about it.
2. Today: The part of your life you are living now. Live it right and it will create a good tomorrow for you.
3. Tomorrow: This is the part of your life that is ahead of you, which you have not spent yet.
A person’s yesterday may not have been bright and his today may be difficult, but God has given every person the opportunity to contribute something towards his future. By faith in God and performing one’s responsibilities, one can have the kind of future one desires.
A future of abundance is a future or tomorrow that is blessed or one in which you have all you need or sufficient provision. As a child, your future is not only dependent on what your parents can do, but also what you can do now to ensure a future of abundance. One major way to plant or secure a future of abundance for yourself is by cultivating a lifestyle of giving.
 WHAT DOES GIVING MEAN?
Giving simply means sharing what you have with other people. It is the principle of God, which works for adults and children in every generation. Everybody believes that you have more things by keeping all you have to yourself and by collecting from other people to add to your own. But God’s principle says that you have more things by giving out some of what you have. (See Proverbs 11 :24) If you are going to enjoy the good things of life when you grow up, you need to start planning for that now by being a giver.
 EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO GAVE
1. God: He gave Jesus, His only son, to die for the world, and He now has many sons and daughters called children of God (John 1:12; Hebrews 2:10; 1 John 3:1).
2. Jesus: He gave His life for us, so that we might live and not die. Now He lives forever (John 10:15, 10:10).
3. The poor widow: She gave all she had (two mites) to God in spite of being poor (Luke 21:2-5).
4. The Macedonian churches: They were poor churches, who were going through difficult times, but gave willingly and generously to the work of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
 DIMENSIONS OF GIVING
1.Giving to God: This can be done in monetary terms (offerings, tithes, etc) and can involve giving material things e.g. giving out building materials for building the house of God (Exodus 35:21-29).
2. Giving to ministers of God: You can give to pastors and people who do the work of God (Galatians 6:6).
3. Giving to the poor, widows and orphans: These people need help and can be given food, clothes money, books etc. (Psalm 82:3-4).
4. Giving to strangers: These are people whom we have never met before, but who need our help. When we help them, God takes notice of it and blesses us Himself (Hebrews 13:2),
5. Giving to children of God: God will bless you when you do good to His children (Galatians 6:10).
 REASONS TO GIVE
1.Giving is a command to be obeyed (Luke 6:38).
2. It is more blessed to give than to receive. The hand of a giver is always on top. If you are a giver, you will never be a beggar (Acts 20:35).
3. Your gift is like a seed, which is planted and produces fruits for harvest (Genesis 8:22).
4. Your giving goes into your heavenly account which you can withdraw from in your time of need (Philippians 4:17).
5. Your gift will make room for you (Proverbs 18:16).
6. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
WHAT SHOULD GUIDE A CHILD’S GIVING
1.Give with your parents’ permission and knowledge. Don’t give out your things to anyone without discussing with your parents.
2. Don’t give out what does not belong to you. God gave His own son and not another person’s.
3. Don’t steal or borrow to give. God does not accept such a gift.
4. Don’t give out of fear or intimidation. Report to your parents or teacher immediately anyone who threatens you to give him or her something.
5. Don’t use your gift for an ulterior motive or evil intention. Don’t use your gift to control another person.
6. Don’t bribe or corrupt people with your gift. Don’t buy favour with your gift. Favour comes from God.
 HOW TO GIVE
1.Give cheerfully or joyfully. Don’t be a grumbling giver. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
2. Give good and useful things. Don’t give something that is useless to you. e.g. torn clothes that cannot be mended, giving out spoilt food (Galatians 6:7).
3. Give a good measure. Give according to your ability. Don’t be stingy in giving (Luke 6:38).
4. Give willingly. Don’t be forced or deceived to give. Let your giving come from your heart. (2 Corinthians 9:7).
5. Give without calling people’s attention or without being boastful. God is the one who rewards (Matthew 6:1).
6. Pray over your gift that it will be acceptable, used for the glory of God, and that you will be blessed.
7. Expect a harvest or reward from God when you give. Don’t feel that you have lost something when you give. Have it in mind that your giving will speak for you someday, especially in your future (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
8. Let God lead you to give and show you what and who to give to (Romans 8:14).
9. Continue to give. Giving is never too much and you cannot over give. Giving should be your lifestyle or habit. A man of God called W. Shambach wrote a book entitled: “You Can’t Beat God Giving.” The more you give; the more God gives to you. He gives you more than you can ever give (Galatians 6:9).
 CONCLUSION: A future of abundance awaits every child that cultivates a lifestyle of giving. Many of your parents are blessed today because they have been helpful to some other people in the past or have been involved in giving towards the work of God. It is often said that givers never lack. This is a true saying. Anyone who is a giver never lacks help and is never put to shame.
God has a colourful and a bright future of abundance for you, but it is your giving that is the vehicle that will drive you there. May you get there in Jesus’ name. Start giving and continue to give. People shall celebrate with you your future of abundance in Jesus’ name. SEE YOU THERE!
Pastor (Mrs) Olanike Banso is a servant of God in Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria. She has a ministry to children.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
