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.
We always thank God for all of you. We keep on praying for you.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We are surrounded by people—in our families, communities, and churches. However, we may not always stop to think about how important these people are to us and to God. It can be easy to live each day without stopping to be grateful for the people God has so carefully placed in our lives. As the apostle Paul reminds us, it is important to give thanks for and to these people.
Think of someone you are grateful for and a reason you are grateful for that person. Perhaps this person is always there to comfort you when you feel alone or afraid. Perhaps this person has helped you to see a problem from a different perspective. This week, take time to stop and thank God for this person, and ask Him to bless this person. Take time to show your gratitude to this person as well. When you do these things, you will bring glory to God and help your relationships to grow.
Encourage families to think about people who help or encourage them. Ask them to consider thanking those people for the good things they do. If possible, encourage families to also pray for them.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the children as they come to class. Ask them to sit in a circle in the middle of the teaching space.
We have been learning about gratefulness for the last few classes. Today, we will learn about how to show gratefulness for people.
Let’s listen to a story about a boy named Juan.
Every time a person does something Juan could be grateful for, you all will jump up and smile. Let’s practice!
Show the children an example of how to do this. Read the following sentence and demonstrate jumping up and smiling: “Juan’s mother made him a nice meal after school.”
Remind the children to listen for people doing things Juan can be grateful for. The examples are underlined in the story.
You heard many things people did in our story that Juan and Pedro could be grateful for.
Ask the children to sit down.
There are many reasons to be grateful for people. Maybe your grandmother makes clothes for you to wear. Maybe your older brother works a job to help support your family. Maybe your friend hugs you when you are sad. Today, we will learn more about how to show we are grateful for people in our lives.
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
The Bible shows us examples of people who were grateful to God for others. The apostle Paul travelled to many countries and churches to tell people about Jesus. After he visited people, he would write letters to encourage and help them. In one of those letters, Paul told a man named Timothy he should pray for others. Listen to what the Bible says:
If possible, read the verses directly from your Bible.
First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them.
1 Timothy 2:1
What does this verse tell us we can do when we pray for people?
We can ask God to help and bless them. We can give thanks for them.
When we ask God to bless people and when we give thanks for them, we show we are grateful to them.
You can also tell or show that person that you are grateful. If possible, you can also share a reason why you are grateful for that person. When you do this, it will help that person to know he is important to you. This may make the person feel happy and may strengthen your relationship with that person.
Let’s practice these 3 ways to show we are grateful to people. They are:
Listen for these ways to show we are grateful to people as I give you an example from the Bible of what Paul wrote to a group of people called the Thessalonians.
How can we thank God enough for you? We thank God because of all the joy we have in his presence. We have this joy because of you…. May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:9, 12, NIV
In these verses, how does Paul show he is grateful to the people?
Allow 3–4 children to respond.
Paul thanked God for the people and he asked God to bless them. Paul wrote a letter to the Thessalonians to encourage them. This showed them Paul was grateful for them.
Remember, the ways we can show that we are grateful for people are:
I will give you an example by showing that I am grateful for all of you.
Have the children find partners for the next activity.
Let’s take a moment to think of a person we are grateful for and a reason we are grateful for this person. When you have thought of 1 person, please hold up a finger.
Give the children about 30 seconds or wait until most children have at least 1 finger up. Then encourage them to share their answers with their partners.
Who are you grateful for?
Possible answers include: relative, friend, or teacher.
Why are you grateful for that person?
Possible answers include: he takes care of me, she teaches me, or he is my friend.
Now that you have thought of someone you are grateful for, let’s create a picture to show you are grateful for that person.
Give each student a stick, a pencil, or a crayon to draw with. Be sure the children have a smooth place in the dirt to draw or give each child a piece of paper.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, use the page to complete the activity.
If it is appropriate, encourage the children to give their drawings to the people they drew. Ask them to share 1 reason they are grateful for that person. If you are using the Student Pages, children can share their drawings from their pages.
Optional: If the children drew in the dirt and if it is appropriate to do so, encourage them to give a small gift such as a flower or a pretty rock to the person they want to thank.
When you are grateful for someone, you honour that person and build your relationship with that person. When you stop to pray for that person and thank God for him, you honour God. This week’s memory verse reminds us of this:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Give thanks no matter what happens.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18a
Use the rhythm you created in Lesson 9 for the memory verse as you say this verse. Then, encourage the children to say the words and clap the rhythm with you 3 times.
End class by saying this blessing, based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9, over the children.
Blessing: May you see the joy God brings you through others, and may you thank Him for those people. May you also thank those who share their joy with you.
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.
