Love
Jesus Loves Children
Text Version
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards
Many people talk about the things they think they love. A little boy might say he loves his new video game. A little girl might say she loves her new doll house. A grown man might say he loves his car or a grown woman might say she loves her new hairdo. But is all of this really love? Can a person really love things?
Let's take a moment to think about Love.... What is Love? ... How can we show love? ... (Let some of the children share their ideas.)
Love means caring for another person as much as you care for yourself. Love means to treat another person the way you want to be treated. We show our love through our actions. If you would not want to be hurt, or pinched, or kicked, or teased, or bullied, then you should never do those things to someone else. On the other hand, if you would like to be treated kindly, then you should be kind to others.
The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13, tells us how we show our love:
By being patient. This means waiting a long time without whining or complaining.
By being kind, even when someone is not kind to you.
By not being envious. That means being happy when good things happen to someone else and not being upset that it didn't happen to you.
By being well behaved.
By sharing and not being selfish.
By staying calm and not being quick to become angry.
By telling the truth.
The Bible also tells us that:
Love never ends. Love lasts forever.
Now let's take another look at the things people think they love. The little boy will eventually become bored with playing the same video game over and over. It will be left on the shelf and forgotten. Is that love?
The little girl will get older and find new interests, and stop playing with the doll house. Is that love?
Even adults don't always know what love is. The car will someday breakdown and the man will have to dispose of it and get a new one. The woman's hair will grow; she will not like it, and will get a new hairstyle. All of these things are only with us for a little while. We cannot and should not love things, because they come to an end and then love would have to end. But, real love never ends. We should love people and we should love God so that our love will last forever.
One day, Jesus and his friends were walking along the beautiful coast of Judea. As they were walking and talking, and discussing the news of the day, other people saw Jesus and wanted to hear what he was saying. Soon there was a very large crowd of people following Jesus. Some of them were sick, and Jesus touched them and made them well. Others had questions they wanted to ask and listened carefully as Jesus answered them.
There was a group of people called "Pharisees," who were leaders in the temple. They liked to have long discussions and especially enjoyed arguing and trying to trick one another. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus was nearby, they left their work and rushed to join the crowd. They were having a good time asking questions and trying to trick Jesus, but, of course, Jesus knew what they were trying to do, and He gave them perfect answers every time. They could not trick Jesus!
While the Pharisees were having their discussion with Jesus, some mothers joined the crowd. They knew Jesus was a very important man, and they wanted their children to have a chance to see Him. Holding the hands of their children, they pushed through the crowd, trying to get closer.
When Jesus' friends saw the mothers and children trying to get to the front to see Jesus, they scowled roughly. "Go away! Don't you know that Jesus is an important man? Can't you see that he is busy talking with the leaders of the temple? Take your children and go home!" Sad and dejected, the mothers turned to guide their children back the way they had come and away from the crowd.
However, Jesus loved children very much and had a different idea about the situation. He turned to his friends and kindly said, "No, don't send them away. Let the children come to me." Jesus' friends quickly worked to make a path through the crowd so the mothers and children could get up close to Jesus. The mothers were full of joy and excitement as Jesus reached out his arms toward their children!
One by one, He scooped up the younger children into His loving Arms, held them close, and prayed a special prayer of blessing. He gave each of the older children a tender hug and also prayed a blessing for them. He spoke gently to the mothers and gave them a smile of approval. After each one had seen Jesus and been blessed, Jesus spoke to his friends, the Pharisees, and the rest of the crowd, saying, "Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God as a child does, will not be able to enter into it." He was trying to help them all understand that loving God is easy enough for a child to do, and all their long discussions and arguing were unnecessary.
THINK!
What is love? Can we really love things? What were the disciples doing during the storm? Who were the Pharisees? What did Jesus do when his friends wanted to send the children away? Which fruit of the Spirit did you learn about in this story?
REMEMBER:
Jesus loves you and love lasts forever.
A VERSE TO LEARN
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
ALTERNATE VERSE TO LEARN
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4a KJV).
"Love is patient. Love is Kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4a NIV).
LET'S PRAY
****************************************************
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me.
Help me remember to love people
and show my love by being kind.
In your Name I pray, amen.
****************************************************
CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Matthew 19:1-15
Mark 10:1-15
Luke 18:15-17
STORIES IN THIS SERIES:
The Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
Jesus and the Children
Let the Little Children Come to Me
Jesus Loves Me Happy Day Coloring Book
Fruit Basket
God Wants Us to Bear Good Fruit
Fruit of the Spirit Tree
Fruit
Fruit of the Spirit
My Story of Jesus Happy Day Coloring Book
Bible Story Coloring Pages V2 (Reproducible)
New Testament Bible Story Cards Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book (Shirley Dobson)
Children's Coloring Books
Smart Coloring Books
Let the Children Come to Me
Jesus Blesses the Children
I Know Jesus Loves Me
Jesus Loves the Little Children Board Book
Come to Jesus: Jesus Blesses the Children
Bearing Fruit
Fruit of the Spirit Stories
Fruit of the Spirit (Arch Books)
The Fruit of the Spirit
Life Is an Adventure with Ernie
The Fruit of the Spirit Is Jesus in Me
365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories (Barbour Publishing)
Awesome Book of Bible Stories for Kids
Pilgrim's Progress for Kids
365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Baby's First Bible
Beginner's Bible
Bible In Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Early Reader's Bible
Five Minute Devotions for Children (ages 4-8)
Little Hands Story Bible
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Preschoolers Bible
Toddlers Bible
Pilgrim's Progress for Kids
Children's Books
Spanish Children's Books
The Picture Bible (my children's favorite!)
Life of Christ - Jesus Blesses the Children - Lesson and Activities (pdf) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Jesus and the Children - Bible Lesson and Activities (pdf) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Jesus and the Children - PDF - Activities (pdf) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Fill-in-the-Blank Bible Fun: Jesus Blesses the Children
Fruit of the Spirit Online Game
Online Word Search
Fruit of the Spirit Maze
Fruit of the Spirit Online Jigsaw Puzzle
Online Word Search
Online Hangman
Crossword Puzzle
Word Search
Unscramble
Online Coded Bible Puzzle
Coded Bible Puzzle
Online Fruit Basket to Arrange
Online Animated Jigsaw Puzzle
Online Animated Slide Puzzle
Amazing Bible Mazes
Best Book of Bible Activities
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Childrens Ministry
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
Memory Verse Games for Kids (Take Me Through the Bible Series)
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles (Reproducible)
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1 (Gospel Light Big Books)
More Bible Time with Kids
Christian and educational toys
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Crossword Books
Sticker Books
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus Loves Even Me
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Jesus Is My Friend Today
Fruit of the Spirit (sheet music/MIDI)
I Want To Be Like Jesus (sheet music/MIDI)
Fruit of the Spirit (mp3)
The Fruit of The Spirit Song/MIDI/CHORDS
Fruit of the Spirit Cadence
Action Bible Songs (Cedarmont Kids)
Bible Songs on CD
100 Singalong Songs For Kids (Cedarmont)
25 Favorite Sunday School Songs (Veggie Tales)
Children's Music
Fruit of the Spirit Animation
Auto B Good Fruits of the Spirit DVD
Sunday School Songs (Cedarmont Kids)
Music Machine
Adventures from the Book of Virtues
You Are Special DVD
Amazing Bible Stories DVD Boxed Set
Bible Stories DVD
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (listen & watch online)
Read and See DVD Bible
Children's DVDs
Jesus Loves Me Doorknob Hanger
Activities, Crafts and Cards for Valentine's Day
Fruit Printing
Fruit Basket (pdf) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Fruit of the Spirit Crafts
Draw 50 People from the Bible
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 6-8)
Bible Crafts On A Shoestring Budget (Ages 5-10)
Big Book of Bible Crafts (Ages 3-12)
Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Praise God With...Craft Series
Praise God with a Paper Plate (PreK-Grade 2)
Really Big Book Of Cool Crafts For Kids w/CD-Ages 4-12 (Reproducible)
Children's Crafts & Hobbies
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Love One Another Activity
Love Tug Game
Let the Children Come
Interactive Group Activities
Love
The Fruit of the Spirit - Love
Love Is Spinning Game
Introduction to The Fruit of the Spirit - A Bible Story about Paul by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards
Fruit of the Spirit Story Idea
Experience the Fruits of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit Characters
Fruits of the Spirit and How We Can Show Them to Others
Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Bowl
Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit Lesson Plan
Fruit of the Spirit Anagrams
Fruit of the Spirit Name Tags
Fruit of the Spirit
Puppet/Skits Scripts
Apple Snacks
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Fruit Kabobs
Fruit of the Spirit Pizza
Fruit of the Spirit Game
Please Pass The Fruit (Game)
Fruit of the Spirit Necklace (Memory Tool)
God's Kids Grow: KidsTime Fruit of the Spirit Leader's Guide
Fruit of the Spirit: a Childrens Bible Study of Galatians 5:22
Kids Travel Guide Fruit Of The Spirit
Fruit Of The Spirit Bookmark
Fruit Of The Spirit Bulletin
Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin Board Set
Fruit Of The Spirit Laminated Chart
Fruit Of The Spirit Bracelet
Fruitz Of The Spirit Game (2-10 Players, Ages 7+)
Little Angels & Fruit Of The Spirit Game (2-4 Players. Ages 3+)
Fruit Of The Spirit Chubbies Pen
Poster Set-Fruit Of The Spirit & Armor Of God
Bible Memory Games (Creative Bible Activities for Children)
Bible Story Coloring Pages (Reproducible)
30 New Testament QuickSkits for Kids
801 Questions Kids Ask About God (Focus on the Family)
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher (Bruce Wilkinson)
Bible Crafts and Activities for Any Story
Big Book of Bible Games (Gospel Light)
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Church Resources
Children's Sermon
Church Nanny Sos: Teaching Discipline Essentials for Preschool Ministry Volunteers
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer
Edible Object Talks That Teach About Jesus (Edible Object Talks)
52 Games That Teach The Bible
Flannel Graph Story Sets to Purchase
Free educational videos
God's Servants Teach Me (Instant Bible Lessons)
God's Wisdom for Little Boys: Character-Building Fun from Proverbs
Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher (Focus on the Family)
Hermie Scripture Memory
How To Lead a Child To Christ
King James Version Award Bibles
Leading Little Ones to God: A Child's Book of Bible Teachings
Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids (Kay Arthur)
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Ideas
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer
Parenting
Power Point Presentations of Various Bible Stories
Pray & Play Bible for Young Children
Puppet Scripts
Resources for Teachers
Seven Laws of the Learner (Bruce Wilkinson)
Spanish Resources
Sunday School Attendance Boosters: 165 Fresh Ideas
Sunday school resources
Talking to God (Instant Bible Lessons)
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching children
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives (by Howard Hendrickss)
The Big Book of Bible Skits
Things To Make Craft Activities
20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know /CD (Heritage Builders)
Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know
(by Elmer Towns)
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