Bible Study – Fifth Sunday of Easter – “Love One Another”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
"Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." An astounding discovery! The Easter news was spread to all who would listen. The disciples told people, who in turn, told people, and to this day, we hear the message — a message of weeping and then of joy that comes with the morning of a new day. We too like the disciples weep AND then delight in the joy bursting forth in us. We, too, are called to bring this message with our lives, and, if necessary, with words, to those who have not yet heard it.
Soon Jesus will not be appearing so concretely to the disciples. So, does he give them a complex strategic plan? No. He gives them a new commandment, and this will cover all they need to do. The world will recognize them as followers of Jesus because of the way they love each other.
Theme: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Think of as many definitions or examples of love that you can think of. Yes, romantic love. What other kinds of love can you think of? Notice the love of our planet earth and people who are good stewards, people who volunteer their time or talents, people who are there to help us: firefighters, nurses, etc.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, that you help us notice your love for us, and help us love one another. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to John 13:31-35 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 13:31-35
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Questions:
- What would you say is Jesus’ main message today. (Love.)
- What do you think the different kinds of love might be?
There are examples below of different types of love from one another. Examples: I love my toys, I love my job, I love my child, and I love Jesus.
Think about some categories for types of love:
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- Love that means it gives me pleasure, like my CD player;
- Love that means love between two people who join their lives together;
- Love that means really caring about other people and looking for what God sees in them;
- Love that means doing stuff that needs to be done because you are so grateful to be living on this beautiful planet.
- Come up with your own titles for each. How would you explain this to a friend, who might not be a Christian, for example.
- Which kind of love is Jesus talking about here?
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- How would you "love" someone you do not even "like?"
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Bible Memory Verse: John 13:34-35 - 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Videos (Click on url)
Who are true disciples of Jesus? John 13: 31-35 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOZX1n3tlNs
How To Be More Loving – John 13:31-35 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrgBlm5yRec
Gospel of John Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk
Song: Love One Another – Kidspring Worship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbVGRUB1qNk
Activities:
Word - Love - create an icon for one definition of "Love. Using your art supplies, develop your icons for love. You can create a bookmark icon also if you would like.
Design an icon for your word. (Click on website for examples of icons https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Love%20icon&rs=typed )
Heart Banner – You will need a supplies to trace and cut out FOUR hearts. You can choose different colors for each heart if you wish. Tape the four heart together and on the first heart write JESUS; on the second heart write LOVES; on the third heart write US; and the fourth heart write ALL. Hang the heart banner in your room. Examples of hearts: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Hearts&rs=typed
A New Commandment - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/a-new-commandment-1
A New Commandment - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/a-new-commandment-3
A New Commandment - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/a-new-commandment-2
A New Commandment – Word Shape: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/a-new-commandment-4
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the love you have shown us and for the love we hear about today. Help us to love one another and remember your words as we leave this place today. Amen.
