With the colder weather and financial increase in the economy, more and more people are feeling depressed and stressed. It can be so easy to keep your head down and focus on your tasks to get through the day. But Jesus teaches to do everything in love. This does not always have to be giving money to others, because maybe you are struggling financially too. But you can smile at someone who seems to be having a rough day. You can ask the clerk at the grocery store how their day is and truly listen to their response. You can watch the same movie for the hundredth time with your child because it is their favorite and they want to share it with you. Doing everything in love is not about going out of your way to be generous, it is being generous in your everyday tasks.
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: We can love like Jesus. (Do Everything in Love • 1 Corinthians 16:14)
Memory Verse: “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14, NIV
Key Question: Who does Jesus love?
Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone.
Bible Story & Worship
Watch the Bible Story Video with your kids so you can recap and discuss it with them in the “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. Then join your kids in worship as we sing and dance for God.
Bible Story Video – Do Everything in Love (link)
Worship – Everyone Everywhere (link)
Worship – I Like To (link)
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. We have practiced this verse all month long. If you can, have a fun reward you can give them when they are able to say it all by themselves during our “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. The activity sheet and coloring page are fun resources to help reinforce story and/or big idea.
Memory Verse with Hand Motions (link)
Bible Story Activity (link)
Coloring Page (link)
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Follow the following script to recap the story, practice the memory verse and demonstrate to your young children how to pray. (You’ll make a list with your family to pray over so have a pen a paper ready.)
Say: “Our Bible story, today, was about how we can love (hug yourself) like Jesus. And the best way to love like Jesus is to do EVERYTHING in love! That’s why we learned this Bible verse. It says . . . ‘Do everything (march in place) in love’ (hug yourself), 1 Corinthians 16:14. (Open hands like a book.) (Practice the verse once and then allow each child to say it by themselves. Give a small reward for all their hard work.)
“You did amazing! Now, since we’ve been talking about loving like Jesus, we’ll make a list of things we can do to love like Jesus. Then when we pray, we can ask God to help us do them! (Have each family member list something. Don’t forget yourself.)
“Wow! This is a great list of ways we can love like Jesus. Let’s use it when we pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?” (Give each family member who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.)
Prayer: “Dear God, we want to do everything in love, just like Jesus. Please help us love everyone, everywhere and do things like (read the list your family made). We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
As we wrap up, I would like to leave you with one of the kids’ favorite ‘good-bye’ songs:
Let Me See Your Alligator
Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the discipleship of your kid(s). My prayers are with you.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:7
