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.
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me. You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power. I’m amazed at how well you know me. It’s more than I can understand.
Psalm 139:1, 5–6, NIrV
Known. That is what God says you are—intimately, deeply known by Him. And not only does He know all about you, He loves you and cares about everything that concerns you. That is amazing and more than we can even understand.
Spend some time with this awesome God who knows and loves you. Tell Him all your concerns and joys. Ask Him to help you where needed. Give Him the concerns and burdens of your heart. Ask Him for healing in the wounded places of your life. You can trust this One who knows and loves you so deeply!
Encourage the children to share with their families an important truth they learned from today’s lesson about how God sees and values them. Families can talk about ways to encourage each other in that truth this week.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome the children to class and let them know you will begin today with a quick game.
We have been learning a lot about our bodies and how to protect them from dishonoring touch. Let’s start with a game about things that are alike and different about our bodies. Everyone stand up. I will say a statement. If it is true for you, quickly form a group with others for whom it is true. If it is not true for you, quickly form a group with the rest of the students. For example, if I say, “I am a boy,” all the boys will form a group. That statement is not true for the girls, so they will form a different group.
Use the following statements or add your own.
Good job finding those who have bodies like yours in some way! Now let’s sit down.
The last few lessons we have learned about our amazing bodies, what honoring touch is, what abuse is, and how to try to stay safe in dangerous situations. Today we will celebrate our bodies and how God made each of us special.
Listen as I read these verses you have heard before.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6–7
All the answers are no! God loves everyone the same. Everyone is special to God.
You are correct! God loves everyone the same. Every person is special to God, and that includes you! No matter what you have done or what you have gone through, you are special to God. He does not forget about any of us! Today we will learn what God has to say about who we are and how He loves and cares for us. Let’s listen to what God’s Word says.
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away. You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live. Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it. You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power. I’m amazed at how well you know me. It’s more than I can understand.
Psalm 139:1–6, NIrV
God sees you—every thought, everything you do, everything you have experienced. And He loves you very much!
Now listen to this psalm that tells us how God cares for us.
Share Psalm 23 with the children. Read it slowly 2 times.
The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over. I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23, NIrV
This psalm tells us that God cares for each of us the way a shepherd cares for his sheep. He gives us what we need. He gives us rest and refreshment. He gives us strength when we need it. He guides us. He is with us even when we walk through dark places and hard things. Even there, He cares for us!
The shepherd’s rod and staff are tools he uses to help protect the sheep and guide them. When the psalm says that the Lord pours oil on our head, it means that He honors us before others. He wants to fill us up with His love so much that it overflows.
Sometimes we may not feel special. We may not feel loved or cared for because we have experienced hard things, maybe even sexual abuse. Even though other people may do things that make us feel worthless or unlovable, God determines our value, and we have great worth in His eyes.
God made all of us very special. Because you are so special to God, He cares about everything in your life—the good, the bad, the happy, and the sad. We will now spend some time responding to truths that God speaks to us in His Word.
Read each of the following passages slowly 2 times. Read them directly from your Bible.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37–39
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
Close your eyes as I speak these truths over you again. God says that nothing you go through can separate you from His love. He tells you to pour out your heart to Him—that means to tell Him all your feelings and thoughts. He has always loved you and always will. God draws you to Himself with His kindness.
These are amazing things to think about! I will give you a few minutes to think about how you want to respond to God. You may want to thank Him for His love. You may want to ask Him about the hard things you have experienced in life. You may have a hard time believing that He loves you this much. I will give you a few minutes to think.
Pause for 1–2 minutes for the children to think.
Tell the children to open their eyes and find a partner. Give each child a piece of string or a rag. Have the children tie the strings or rags around the wrists of their partners. As they do, they will say to their partners, “Remember that God loves you and draws you to Himself.”
If you do not have string or rags available, the children can wrap their fingers around the wrists of their partners.
Now share with your partner something from this lesson that has helped you understand God’s love for you better.
Pause for 1–2 minutes for the children to share with their partners.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, allow the children to respond on them.
Speak this blessing over the children based on Jeremiah 31:3.
Blessing: May you know that God says you are amazing! He is with you no matter what you go through. His love for you is eternal and He draws you to Himself. May you always pour out your thoughts to Him.
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.
