enemies
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
What is an enemy? Do you have anyone that you would consider your enemy? How do you treat them in comparison to your friends? The bible gives us instructions on how we are to treat our enemies. It might be hard to follow these instructions sometimes, but our enemies will help us learn to love the way our Heavenly Father wants us to love others.
BIBLE STORY
We’ve been talking about opposites this month and the way God wants us to behave can sometimes feel like the opposite of what we want to do. Although God’s way is different than ours, we can trust that God knows what is best and wants what is best for our lives. Listen to the following words and tell me a word that is the opposite.
-hate (love)
-mean (kind)
-take (give)
-shove down (help up)
-put-downs (compliments)
-selfish (generous)
-angry (happy)
-useless (helpful)
All of the words I listed above are words we could use to describe what type of person? Would you consider that type of person a friend? We would probably try to avoid being friends with someone who had some of these traits, and might even call them our enemy. What if the person treated us like the first word, but we responded with the opposite actions. If they showed us hate and we showed them love, what would that look like? That would be hard to do, but that’s what God calls us to do. We are to love our enemies. This week we are looking at what Jesus said about our enemies which might sound backwards to us. We may naturally want to treat our enemies the same way they treated us, but God wants us to respond in a better way. Let’s read or listen to our story for this week.
Read or listen to the scripture Luke 6:27-38
How did Jesus say you should treat your enemies? (Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you)
What should you do if someone slaps you? (Turn your check)
What should you do it someone wants your coat? (Give them your shirt as well.)
If someone takes something from you, what should you do? (Not demand it back)
How should you treat others? (The way you would have them treat you.)
What should be the difference between how Christians love and sinners? (Not just love those who love you, but also love those who hate and be good to those who are not good to you)
Do not judge, do not condemn, but what should you do instead? (Forgive and give)
To what measure will these things be given to you? (The measure to use for others is what will be given to you.)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
What if we treated our enemies as well as we treat our friends? What would that look like? The bible gives examples of things we should do to our enemies. Print and cut out the following scenarios and the scripture cards. Read a scenario card aloud to the person taking a turn. That person then picks a bible verse card from the deck to read aloud. They will then tell how they would respond to the scenario using the Bible verse as their guide for their behavior. EXAMPLE: Your enemy trips you while walking down the hallway at school and makes you drop all your books. Everyone turns to stare at you and begins to laugh. How would you respond? If the verse you chose read “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you”, you might say “I would greet them kindly every morning with a smile and a warm hello”.
Materials: scenarios
Alternate
Cut out the following hearts and scatter them around the floor or large area. Have your child go around the room and gather all of the hearts, reading them aloud if they can. If they come across words that are unkind and unloving, ask them to say the opposite so they can make those words loving. Help them come up with loving words if needed.
Materials: printed and cut-out hearts, small basket to collect heart
Independent activity:
Illustrate a picture showing how you should treat your enemies. Use one of the bible verses about loving your enemy to write on your paper that matches your picture.
Materials: sheet of drawing paper, coloring utensils, printed scriptures or device for viewing
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials:printed coloring sheet, crayons or other coloring utensils
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Who loved us first?
How does knowing God loved us first help us love others?
Is it easier or harder to love others when we know how much we are loved?
What are some examples of enemies you have?
How can you show them love instead of hate this week?
What does it mean to be a reflection?
What does it mean to be a reflection of Jesus?
Practical Application at Home
In our very busy world we sometimes get in a hurry and forget to think of others besides ourselves. We are not always looking for ways to be kind to others or remember to show them love. Think of ways you can be a reminder to others to be kind to one another and show God’s love to each other. We can share the beauty of God’s love with others and spread His love. When we write words of encouragement, it can brighten someones day or even remind them to show God’s love in their lives. We can do this through various ways such as, writing a message on our sidewalk in sidewalk chalk, or write a sidewalk chalk message on a park walkway, decorate rocks with encouraging words and leave them along a walking trail, send notes to classmates, leave encouraging notes under your neighbor’s doormat. Your message can say anything encouraging you can think of, such as:
Jesus loves you
Be kind one to another
Love your enemies
We love because He first loved us
God loves us with an Everlasting Love!
You are redeemed
You are loved
You are chosen
You are forgiven
Any special message from you!
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?