The scripture for the dry erase board is John 14:15.
When the children enter
the room, ask them if they know who left this trash on the floor. Ask
if they think we should leave the trash where it is - or clean it up.
Tell them for right now, we will just leave it.
Today we are going to talk
about how we can know if we really love God. The Bible shows us that
God knows how to tell if we love him. God says, “If you love me,
keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Play the erase a word game
until they have the verse memorized.
Explain the verse by
sharing some of the 10 Commandments. God told us the way HE wants us
to show him we love him by giving us some things to do --- or not do.
When we do not obey God’s commandments, we are trashing God, His
Word, and messing up our lives…. Just like the trash on the floor.
Here are some of the commandments we can obey so that God KNOWS that
we love him.
Expound on each of the
following - interacting with the children as you go.
Honor your father and
mother.
Honor the Sabbath day
and keep it holy.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not lie.
Thou shalt not covet (explain covet).
Love your neighbor as
yourself.
Thou shalt not take
the Lord’s name in vain.
Should we obey God’s
commands? Why?
What happens when we do
not obey God?
Sin is not obeying
(breaking) God’s commandments.
What does the Bible say is
the payment (wages) for sin?
Romans 6:23 “For the
wages of SIN is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God sent Jesus to pay for
all the sins that we do. Is it right that we should continue to sin
and break God’s commandments?
God loved us so much that
HE had Jesus die for our sins. God loved us so much that HE gave us
rules that will make our lives good - if we obey the rules. God wants
us to have a good life. God wants others to see our good behavior and
for us to tell them about HIS love. IF we make choices to obey and not
to disobey, people will want to know why we are a nice person. Then we
can tell them about God’s love and God’s plan (the Bible) to help
us have a good life. If we ask Jesus into our hearts - Jesus will make
us strong and brave. Jesus will help us to do the right thing - to
honor God and our parents, to not lie, or cheat, to honor God by going
to church and learning about the Bible, and to love others - not be
mean to them - so that they will want to know Jesus too.
“If we obey God’s
Word, we will not “trash” up our lives by getting into trouble all
of the time. Lets see if we can
find out about this trash in the floor.”
Have the children take
turns picking up a piece of “trash”. Have them read what is on the
paper (or help them read the message). Ask them if that is a good way
to show God that they love him. If it is not a good way to show God we
love him then it is TRASH - we should throw away that kind of
behavior. Let them wad up the paper and throw it away - slam dunk - 3
point try - etc. Reiterate that we don’t want to TRASH God’s
commandments. Restate John14:15 each time a piece of trash is thrown
away - until all of the trash is cleaned up.
Ask the children if they
will show God that they love him this week. Will they keep God’s
commandments --- or make TRASH?
Copyright 2004 Emmalea
Butler
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