LEADERS HUB
Year 1, Term 4, Week 8: Ideas for Middle Group
Week 8: Responding to Jesus - Sharing His love!
Lesson Objective:
God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for us even though we did the wrong thing. God wants us to love others, even if they do the wrong thing against us, because that is what he did for us!
Bible Passage:
Luke 6:27-36 (Love your enemies)
Memory Verse:
Luke: 6:35 - But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward and you will be the true children of God in Heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.
Story Idea: What is Loving?
Before the lesson, download and print the Love or Not? pictures
Recap:
- Ask the kids about last weeks lesson and prompt them to remember:
- Jesus told Nicodemus that God loves EVERYONE SOOO much that He sent Jesus. Even though we've all done the wrong thing (sinned), Jesus died for us so that we could be part of God's family
Have the kids read Luke 6:27-36
Quiz Questions:
1. What radical thing does Jesus start off by saying?
Love your enemies
2. Why is that strange?
Our first response to somebody who is mean to us is to be mean back!
3. We have all done the wrong thing, but Jesus died for us... Did He treat us like we deserved or better?
Better! We have all done the wrong thing, but Jesus still died for us because He loves us!
4. Is it easy to love people who are kind?
Yes
5. Is it easy to love people who are mean?
No
6. Why does Jesus say we should love others even if they are cruel?
Because He loved us
7. How can we be loving?
Be kind, use nice words, help people who are hurt or sad, pray for others, treat them how we like to be treated
8. If someone does something mean to us, and we feel like retaliating, what can we do?
Stop, think about Jesus, pray for the person in your head and ask God to help you be kind
Game Idea: Love Balloons
- Before the lesson, blow up a few balloons and draw love hearts on them in marker
- Have the kids stand as a group
- Toss a balloon in the air and have them work together to keep it from touching the ground
- When they master the first balloon, toss in a second, and a third etc.
- Try timing to see how long the kids can keep the balloon up for!
Remind the kids that Jesus asks us to love EVERYONE - even when people are difficult to love. Sometimes we have to put in effort to keep loving, just like putting in effort to keep the balloon up! We can ask for God's help to love others when it's hard.
Craft Idea: Heart wreath
Before the lesson:
- Cut the centre out of paper plates to form a ring
- Cut heart shapes out of coloured paper
- Gather glue, scissors, tape, glitter, ribbon, marker pens and anything else decorate
Have the kids:
- Stick hearts to their ring to make a wreath
- Decorate with glitter etc.
- Attach a ribbon loop to the back to hang it with
- Have the kids write 'Jesus loves us... lets love others!' on their wreath in marker
