Lesson 2 We Love Others Because God Loves Us

Serving the World as a Family

We Love Others Because God Loves US

Read: 1 John 4: 7 – 21

Questions for Discussion:
What is the difference between our love and God’s love?
Imagine that someone made the perfect gift for everyone. Then they gave it to a few people and it was their job to share that gift with the whole world. Your neighbors received it, your best friends received it, maybe even some of your family members did. Now imagine at the end of your life you find out that they could have given you this gift at any time and for some reason or another decided not to share it. How would that make you feel?

Why is it important to love others?
What happens if we don’t share God’s love with others?

As a family, make a list of family members or close friends of the family who aren’t serving the Lord, then pray for each of them.

Key Thought: Because we know that God is love and that he gave us his love, we know that loving others is a way that we can share God with those who do not know him. We also know that it is our responsibility as his follower to share his love with others, even those who we would consider our enemies.

Pray: That God would teach you to better show His love to everyone you come into contact with.

Activities

Preschool:
Make Valentines Day cards saying I love you, because God loved us first! Then give them to someone special. The unexpected Valentine Surprise will make them very happy.

Lower Elementary:
Make heart shaped cookie and give them to friends or neighbors.

Upper Elementary:
Cut a crown shape out of card stock. Bend it into a circle and attach it in the back, and then cover the crown in aluminum foil. Put the crown in a prominent place with scraps of paper and a pen. Write prayer requests on the cards, fold them and place them in the crown. Every time you see the crown pray, that God would help you with the challenges on them. Remember that God is king over all the world and because God is love, we have His Love with us everywhere and in every situation.

Teens:
If you have job, go out of your work to smile at every customer you come across this week. Go out of your way to show God’s love that is in you. Even though they might not always be in the best mood, don’t let that affect you!