Bible Lesson for Kids – God’s Love

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This is a great Bible lesson on God’s love. Perfect for children’s church, children’s ministry, preteen ministry, youth group or sunday school. Enjoy!

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Topic – God’s Love

Bible: Luke 15

Activity: God is…

Give each small group of preteens a large sheet of butcher paper with the phrase, “God is…” written at the top.

Instruct each group to think of words or phrases that describe the character of God and write them on the paper.

Be sure to give the groups a few examples of God’s attributes (peace, just, love, all-knowing, all-powerful) to get them headed in the right direction.

Allow time for groups to share some of their answers at the end of the activity.

After the activity, say: God is so awesome.

Even with all these characteristics we just listed, He is still so much more!

When I think about God, the characteristic that really stands out to me is “love.”

I think of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I also think of 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

These verses remind me that our God does everything out of love.

He provides for us because He loves us.

He speaks to us because He loves us.

He punishes us because He loves us.

God the Father loves us as His children, and He wants to be in a relationship with us.

As a Father, He will do anything to bring us to a relationship with Him.

God is our Father,  and the Bible makes it clear that He will do anything to bring His children home.

In Luke 15, the Pharisees and those that opposed Jesus were asking why he spent his time with tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus responds by telling them three stories.

Listen to how Jesus responds to their questioning.

Read Luke 15 (if time is limited, read Luke 15:1-10)

Each of these stories tells us why Jesus came to earth.

He came to give His life so that those who are lost can be found.

God loves us so much that He is willing to do anything and everything for His children.

That includes sending His Son to die for them.

Max Lucado, a pastor and author, tells the following story in one of his books (A Love Worth Giving):

How did Christ endure treatment like that?

At any point he could have said, “I quit. I’ve had enough.”

Why didn’t he?

What kept him from giving up?

I wonder if Lee Ielpi understands the answer?

He is a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter.

He gave twenty-six years to the city.

But on September 11, 2001, he gave much more.

He gave his son. Jonathan Ielpi was a fireman as well.

When the Twin Towers fell, he was there.

Firefighters are a loyal clan.

When one perishes in the line of duty, the body is left where it is until a firefighter who knows the person can come and quite literally pick it up.

Lee made the discovery of his son’s body his personal mission.

He dug daily with dozens of others at the sixteen-acre graveyard.

One Tuesday, December 11, three months after the disaster, his son was found.

And Lee was there to carry him out.

He didn’t give up.

The father didn’t quit.

He refused to turn and leave.

Why? Because his love for his son was greater than the pain of the search.

Can’t the same be said about Christ?

Why didn’t he quit?

Because the love for his children was greater than the pain of the journey.

He came to pull you out.

Your world had collapsed.

That’s why he came.

You were dead, dead to sin.

That’s why he came.

He loves you.

That’s why he came.

This love that God has for us is why He sent Jesus Christ to die for us.

Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God did not wait for us to act right before He would love us.

He chased after us and showed us His love while we were still sinners.

God is determined to save the lost. He will never give up.

He will always pursue His children, and He will welcome them home.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think there was a celebration for the 1 and not the 99 in all 3 stories Jesus told?

2. Read 1 John 3:1. What feelings do you have knowing that you have been called a “child of God?”

3. Read 1 John 4:9-11. According to these verses, how should we respond to the love God has shown us?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Look up the following words in the dictionary and discuss examples of how each represents Godly love: patient, kind, envy, boast, proud, rude, self-seeking, angered, truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, fails.

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