The Cornerstone
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
Have you ever seen a leaning tower? Have you ever seen a bridge where one end is sinking into the ground? Have you seen a house floating in the air? How we build the base, or foundation of buildings can determine how long it will last and how straight it will stand. We could build on any material, but it might not stay standing very long. God wants us to build our foundation on Him and He is love. This week we will see how much God loves us and has a plan for each of us with love as the cornerstone.
BIBLE STORY
Build a tower using foam or wooden bricks. Practice making different sized towers, some with narrow foundations and some with wide foundations. When we built our towers, some of them were able to stay up because the base was wide and strong. Other towers didn’t stay up very long because the base was too narrow and the tower leaned and fell. The foundation, or the bottom of our tower, made a difference as to how high we could build without it falling over. Foundations are important to towers, homes, and in our lives. What we build our lives upon will determine how strong and sturdy we will be. What is the foundation of God’s plans for us? God’s plans are based on his love for us. Everything God does is out of His love for us. This week we will see how much God loves us.
Materials: wooden bricks or other building blocks
Read or listen to John 3:14-21
Who did Jesus compare himself to being treated as? (As the snake was lifted up in the wilderness)
Who did God love? (The world)
What did God do for the world? (Gave his one and only son to die)
Who can be saved? (Anyone who believes)
What was Jesus sent to the word to do? (Not condemn it, but save it)
Where do people who like evil want to be? (In the dark)
Where do people who like the truth go? (Into the light)
Why do people stay in the dark? (So their evil deeds will not be exposed)
Why do people come into the light? (So it can be seen that what they’ve done was in the sight of God)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
God loved us so much he gave his son to die for our sins so we could live in relationship with Him forever. God does not measure how much he loves us on how good we are or how many great things we do. God has already delivered us through Jesus, we just need to accept the gift! If God is willing to give up his beloved Son, we can trust that He wants what is best for us in all areas of our lives. God’s plan for us is based on how much He loves us.
Activity
Cut out a large heart using large red construction paper, then write “God’s Love is…” in the middle of the heart. Print the attached hearts on plain paper or red paper (if desired), cut the hearts, and place them around the room for your child to find. After all the hearts are collected, place them around the large red heart and read what is written on each heart. Discuss the ways God’s love was described.
Materials: large red construction paper, marker, printed hearts, scissors, tape (optional)
Alternate
Listen to this read-aloud story of the parable of the two builders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cZOHeFUQVo
Materials: device for watching story
Independent activity:
Decorate a stone to use as a remembrance of Jesus being our foundation. On one side draw and decorate a heart or the words love. On the other side write, ”Jesus is my rock”.
Materials: smooth stone, paints, permanent marker
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Use a paper plate or a circle of white construction paper to create a globe. Paint the circle blue and then paste small torn pieces of green construction paper to create sections of land. Cut out a heart shape from red construction paper. On the heart write “For God so loved the world”. Glue the heart to the center of the globe.
Materials: paper plate or white construction paper circle, blue paint, green construction paper, red construction paper, scissors, glue, marker
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
What are some things that you love?
How do you treat the things you love?
What are some things God has called us to love and care for?
How do you treat those things God has called you to love?
How can we make love the foundation of everything we do?
How would you define love?
Are there kids at school or church who do not treat you with love?
Who is someone you think does’t deserve to be treated with love?
How could you still show them love, even when you don’t think they deserve it?
Practical Application at Home
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God’s plans for us are not last minute, He has not forgotten you but has a plan for you. Not just any plan, but one that uses the good works you have been given. Some versions of this verse say that you are God’s Masterpiece. What a wonderful thought. We are not thrown together carelessly, but we were created with a purpose in mind. We were created exactly the way God wanted us to be and He considers us some of his best work!
Think about how God has designed you. We each have things we are naturally good at doing or things we are really drawn to do. We are each unique and bring something different that God has given us to do. His plan for us is based on love, therefore the things we do with our gifts and talents should also be based on love. Make a list of the things you feel God has blessed you with, then describe how you can use that now or in the future with love as the foundation of these plans.
Materials: printed sheet, or plain sheet of paper, writing utensil
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.