Kids will think of a specific way they can serve someone to show God’s love.
KEY PASSAGE:
John 13:1-17, Jesus Washes the Disciple’s Feet
MEMORY VERSE:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34b (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Valentine’s Day is a day that uses the word “love” a lot. Jesus also used that word a lot, but he also showed us what it looks like to truly love others by his actions. This Valentine’s Day when kids are excited about heart shaped chocolate, challenge them to think about what Jesus said it should really look like when we love one another.
We should pray for those who hurt us to know the love of Jesus.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will be encouraged to pray for someone by name who has hurt their feelings or been unkind to them.
KEY PASSAGE:
Acts 7:54-60, The Stoning of Stephen
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Jesus told his disciples that those who follow Him would have to suffer for it. When Stephen preached to the people about Jesus, they dragged him away and killed him by stoning him. Even as he was dying, Stephen did not hold anger against the men who were hurting him, but he kept his eyes firmly on Jesus.
When you go to school on the first day, your teacher probably gave you a name tag. That was to help them learn your name. When you get to be adults, you’ll find that many times you are asked to put on name tags at parties or other special events so that people can learn your name as well. Not everyone needs a name tag, but
sometimes these can be helpful tools to making new friends and acquaintances when you’re around new people.
Today, as we end our Non-Avengers series, we’re asking you to put name tags on people who are hard to love, people you need to forgive, people who need our prayers. Just as Stephen prayed for the men who put him to death, we want to begin praying for the kids and even adults who make life hard on us. Let’s pray for forgiving hearts, so we can show them God’s love, and let’s pray that God uses us to show them the love of Jesus.
We’re not asking you to put actual name tags on people. We’re just asking you to put a name in your prayer. Let’s begin praying specifically for those difficult people, and let’s expect God to do wonders in their lives.
John the Baptist sends his followers to ask Jesus a strange question and Jesus replies what did you come out to see? Blessed are those who do not stumble because of me.
Kids will know that forgiveness of sins comes from God through Jesus.
KEY PASSAGE:
Luke 23:32-43, The Crucifixion
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
We received the perfect example of what forgiveness looks like when God sent his son Jesus to earth. The ultimate forgiveness – the forgiveness of sins – comes from the Father through Jesus. He took the punishment our sins deserved and died for you and for me. But, he rose again so that we could have eternal life and live with him forever. Because God has forgiven us so much, he wants us to forgive others who wrong us.
Give each child a black piece of construction paper. Have them dip their hands in white paint and make a handprint on the page. Paint a red circle in the middle of the palm. Below the hand, write, “Only Jesus Saves.”
Today’s Passage in Matthews Gospel is pivotal. This week Jesus will instruct his disciples as to “how to announce the Kingdom” and at the same time tell them what to expect when they do, but honestly i’ve always found some of Jesus words in this text troubling, so join me this week and we’ll see what we can make of all of this.
We can set an example for our friends in being kind to others.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will be challenged to set an example for their friends this week by not talking bad about others or joining in making fun of others.
KEY PASSAGE:
1 Samuel 25:4-33, David, Nabal and Abigail
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Nabal had treated David and his men badly. David went out to get his revenge and kill Nabal. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, pleaded with David to have compassion; reminding him that vengeance belongs to God, not men.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
None
For today’s object lesson, I did not bring anything from home. That’s because today, the object I want to talk about is your hand. I want all of you to put your hand up. Open your hands, and spread your fingers wide. Fold your pointer finger in. Good. Now stretch it out with the others. Now, who can fold in just their pinky finger, anyone? Can you fold your pinky in without also folding in your ring finger?
You can’t fold in your pinky without folding in your ring finger. Where one goes, the other follows. That’s a lot like how we are with our friends, isn’t it? When our friends watch a new show, we want to watch. When our friends are playing a new video game, we want to try.
Most of the time, there’s no problem going along with our friends, but when our friends make fun of other people, that’s when we need to stand strong. We need to set the example so instead of us folding to peer pressure, they will stand against it with us.
We all have the choice to fold up, or to set an example, and if we set the example, it will encourage our friends to do the right thing too. Let’s make the right choice. Let’s stand strong so our friends will stand with us against gossip, name calling, and bullying!
Kids will be challenged to think of someone who is difficult to love and be encouraged to look for a way to be kind to them this week.
KEY PASSAGE:
1 Samuel 24:1-19, David Spares Saul’s Life
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
God chose David to be the new king himself. This made the current king, Saul, very angry. Saul tried to kill David. When David had the chance to get the jump on Saul, he chose compassion rather than anger.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
A pair of scissors
Avengers always have their weapons ready. Iron Man has his suit. Thor has his hammer. Captain Marvel has her fists ready to shoot lasers. David was armed and ready to fight as well when he was hiding in that cave. We don’t know whether he had a knife, a sword, or heck – a pair of scissors, but when he saw Saul come into the cave, he cut off a piece of the king’s robe – and felt very guilty about it.
It’s one thing to say we should love our enemies, but it’s another thing to actually do it. We can’t actually do it until we put away our weapons. We must put aside our anger by forgiving them for the things they have done to us. Only when we put down our weapons can we reach out an open hand and try to be friends with them.
I know it isn’t easy to love someone who is always mean, but you can’t shake someone’s hand when you have something in it. Let’s put away our weapons so we can befriend the people who probably need friends the most. Let’s choose love over anger.
