During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Before class, tear apart the 16 phrases about love from the end of this lesson. Fold them and hide them around your meeting space.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Let families know that this week their children will learn how the Bible defines love. Encourage families to share their own definitions of love and compare them to what the Bible says about love in 1 Corinthians 13.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Before class cut or tear out the phrases from the end of the lesson and hide them around your class area.
Greet the children as they come into class. When you are ready to begin, walk to a child and use your finger to draw a big heart in the air above her head. Ask her to give a definition of love or to tell something about what love is. Then ask her to use her finger to draw a heart over the head of another child. The second child will add to the definition or tell something new about what love is. Continue this until the children start repeating themselves. When the children begin to repeat ideas, stop the activity. Tell them that for the next 4 weeks, they will be looking at God’s love and how important it is to them.
Optional: Do the activity above, but use the paper heart to pass from child to child instead of drawing hearts in the air.
You all have lots of good ideas about what love is! Let’s search for what God says love is. I have hidden 16 pieces of paper in our meeting area. Start looking when I say, “Go!” When you find a paper, sit down. When all the papers are found, we will read them. Go!
These are the phrases that your children will find:
When your children have found all 16 phrases, ask them to read the phrases they found. Help any children who need help reading or understanding their phrases.
Where do you think all these descriptions of love came from?
The Bible
Listen as I read these words from the Bible.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Gather the pieces of paper for use later in the lesson.
What is your favourite word or phrase from this passage? Why is it your favourite?
What are some similarities between the ideas the class shared about love and what the Bible says love is?
What are some differences?
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the children can respond to 1 Corinthians 13 on them.
Today you will hear a story about Someone who loves others with the perfect love described in the passage we just read.
Long ago, God created the first man and woman. Their names were Adam and Eve. God made Adam and Eve in His image. He loved them very much and had a close relationship with them. Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden. God said they could eat fruit from any tree except the one in the middle of the garden. That tree gave knowledge of good and evil. God said if they ate fruit from that tree, they would die. He loved them and wanted to protect them.
One day Satan, disguised as a serpent, lied to Eve. “You will surely not die if you eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden,” he said. Eve doubted what God had said and believed the enemy’s lie. She took the fruit, ate it, and gave some to Adam, who also ate it. Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They sinned, and their relationship with God was broken.
Because of this sin, Adam and Eve would have to leave the garden. They would now know death and separation from God. Every person since Adam and Eve has also sinned. We sin when we choose our own way instead of God’s way in our thoughts, actions, or words.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God did not stop loving them. Even though there were consequences to their sin, God loved them so much that He made a promise that He would send a Saviour one day so that every person could have a restored relationship with God.
God always keeps His promises. Hundreds of years later He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could be in relationship with God. Why do you think God would do this? Let’s read a verse from the Bible to find out.
If possible, read the following Bible verses directly from your Bible. If you do not have a Bible, the verses are printed for you here:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Why did God send His Son, Jesus, to die in our place?
Yes! God sent Jesus to die for our sins because He loves you, and He loves me, and He wants us to be with Him forever. God knew that we could not pay the price for our sins. It was impossible for us to do. Listen to what God did for us even when we were still choosing our own way of sin:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Have the children divide into groups of 3–5. Give each group one or more of the love phrases from the Connecting activity. Have each group read their phrases and discuss this question:
How is God’s love like the description on your paper?
If groups struggle to get started, discuss one of the phrases as a class. For example, one phrase is “Love is kind.” Together discuss how God showed kindness to Adam and Eve and to everyone.
After about 5 minutes, allow several groups to share their ideas with the class. Then collect the phrases.
Ask the children to spread out and sit down.
Raise your hand if you are thirsty.
Choose 1 child who raised a hand to come to the front. Hold an empty cup upside-down so the children can see it is empty. Give your volunteer the cup. Ask him:
Will this satisfy your thirst? Why or why not?
We are like this cup. Without God’s love, we are empty. If we have not yet accepted God’s perfect love, our cup is empty.
Ask the volunteer to sit down.
God knows you and loves you! He wants to fill your cup with His love. Remember the verses we heard a few minutes ago:
If possible, read the following Bible verses directly from your Bible.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Unlike the water in a cup, God’s love never runs out! He is always patient, always kind. He honours you. He is not easily angered. He does not keep record of our wrongs. He protects, trusts, and hopes. His love never ends!
Place the cups and the pitcher of water at the front of your space.
This water represents God’s love. If you want to be filled with God’s love, you can come up here and get a cup with water. As you drink the water, imagine God’s love flowing into you.
Some of you may not yet be ready to drink of God’s love. You may have never heard of God’s love for you before today. You may think that you are so bad that God cannot love you. Others may have told you that you are not worth loving, or someone may have rejected you. If you think any of these things, remember what we learned today. God loves you forever, and He wants to be in relationship with you. If you have questions, you can get a cup and think about being filled with God’s love. Later, when you choose to be filled with His love, take any cup, fill it with water, and drink it, saying, “God, I want to be filled with Your love.” You can also talk with me after class if you have any questions about this.
Close class by speaking a blessing based on Romans 8:39 over the children.
Blessing: May you know deep in your heart that God loves you! He is patient and kind with you. Nothing can separate you from His love!
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
