Children's Moment: Back to School with Jesus

Good morning!  Did everyone head back to school this week?  Was it lots of fun?  Anybody have a hard time getting up in the mornings?

 

Well today we are going to talk about Showing God's Love to Others!

Going back to school is tough, but what I remembered being tougher than anything else when I went back to school was loving others, even when I didn’t want to.  That’s right . . . the boy who pulled on my pigtails, or the girl who talked ugly to me, or the teacher who didn’t understand the things I was going through.  It was tough.

 

Because GOD IS LOVE, I know He loves me no matter what, and He helps me to love others as I love myself.

Do you remember what Jesus said are the two greatest Commandments? What are they? (1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 2. Love your neighbor as yourself)

How do we show God's love to others?

First Corinthians 13:4-7 says:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Discover God Bible, (NLT).

According to these verses, what is love?

          Patient

          Kind

          Not envious [wish you had something others may have]

          Is not boastful [doesn't brag]

          Is not proud [thinking more highly of yourself than you should]

          Is not rude 

          Is not self-seeking [selfish, desiring the best for yourself]

          Does not get angry easily

          Doesn't keep track of others mistakes

          Seeks truth rather than evil 

          Protects

          Trusts

          Hopes

          Perseveres [sticks with it - doesn't give up easily or quit]

Sometimes it is not easy to do all of these things, but I encourage you to stay connected to God through prayer and Bible reading and to work on these areas.  Work on being patient with others when they get on your nerves or to be nice to the girl on the playground that bugs you or to just forget when someone has done wrong to you.  Protect other kids who can’t protect themselves, trust and hope in God and never give up.

Let’s pray:  Dear heavenly father, thank you for our first week back to school.  I thank you that each of these children here today have the opportunity to know of you and your love and can share that love with others.  Be with each of these children in their day-to-day walk with you, encourage them and help them in whatever ways they need.  Jesus, we praise you and love you, in your name we pray, amen.