Monopoly vs. Tithing & Fast Offerings

Today in my Gospel Doctrine Class for Sunday School my lesson was on Tithing and Fast Offering.  So to present the subject of the class.......

 

This is what I did.....

Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17

The Law of Tithing & The Law of the Fast
May 19, 2013

In the game “Monopoly”, what does money represent?

Read game Objective:  In 1934 Charles B Darrow presented the game to Parker Brothers and in the game “Rules” it says…..The object of the game is to become the wealthiest player through buying, renting, and selling property.   And for the purpose of today I’m going to add by promoting power, greed, and pride.

Q:  Does that kind of sound like what money can represent in the World today?

“…Depending on how money is used it can represent material possessions, power, greed, or the simple necessities of life”

In the game “Tithing & Fast Offering”, what do you think money represents?

The object of this game according to Elder Sylvester Q. Cannon: CR October 1929, is to promote the spirit of unselfishness.  It promotes the spirit of church and community welfare.  It encourages fair dealing, for if a man is true in his obligations toward God, he cannot be otherwise than straightforward in his dealings with his fellow man.  It helps to cultivate economy and living within our means.  Thus we may gain material happiness…..training in moderate self denial is important to every human being, so that we may learn to control our appetites and our improper desires.  Therein is strength and power.  In like manner the principle of fasting and fast donations promotes the spirit of humility, charity, and equality in the hearts of those who observe it.

 Today we are going to play this game – Tithing and Fast Offerings – before we start there are only 3 rules I need to make you aware of:

 1.                  The Lord has commanded us to pay tithing.

 2.                  The Lord has commanded us to fast and to pay generous fast offerings.
 3.                  The Lord has promised great blessings to those who obey these Commandments.

 Have students pick questions out of a bag to know the order the discussion is going to go in….

What is the Lord’s definition of Tithing?

Read;  D&C 119: 3-4

What is the Lord’s promises to Tithe payers

Read:  Malachi 3:8-9  And Malachi 3:10-12

 How does paying tithing show our love for the Lord?

Why is it sometimes a challenge to pay tithing?   How can we overcome this Challenge?

Who determines how tithing funds are used? (D&C 120)

What are tithing funds used for?

What are some purposes for fasting?

What are some things we can do to prepare to fast?
Read: D&C 59: 13-14

How should we act when fasting?

How generous should we be when we pay fast offerings?

Read Isaiah 58:5-7

What has the Lord promised to those who obey the Law of the fast?

Conclusion:

When we faithfully pay tithing, we contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God.  Giving generous fast offerings is one way we can manifest that we are disciples of the Savior, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt 25:40).