God’s Love Helps Us Grow To Be More Like Him.
L E S SONYear A4th QuarterLesson 9The Big, Big TreeGRACEGod brings His love to us.ReferencesMatthew 13:31, 32; Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 76-79.Memory Verse“Grow in the grace . . . of . . . Jesus” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).ObjectivesThe children will:Know that our lives are like plants—we grow in God’s love all the time.Feel a desire to grow tall in God’s love.Respond by thanking God for His gifts of love that help us grow each day.The MessageG od’s love helps us grow to be more like Him.Getting Ready to TeachThe Bible Lesson at a Glance This is a lesson about grace.A man plants a tiny mustard seed inthe ground at his farm. When it grows, itbecomes a huge tree and gives shade forbirds and animals. When we listen to stories from the Bible, we feel good like thebirds and animals feel good in the shadeof the mustard tree. Our lives are like themustard plant. We grow in God’s loveevery day as we get to know Him better.90God’s love helps us grow in manyways. We grow physically, spiritually, andmentally. And we grow in love for Himas we get to know Him better.Teacher Enrichment“When Christ spoke this parable,there were only a few Galilean peasants to represent the new kingdom. . . .
NINEProgram OutlineLESSON SECTIONWelcome1*234MINUTESACTIVITIESongoing Greet students at door; hearpleased/troubledMATERIALS NEEDEDnoneReadinessup to 10A. Seed SproutingOptions B. Nature Table: Seedssame as last weekseeds, plants or pictures of plantsC. Growing Leaves card stock, scissors, green paper,copies of leaves (see p. 142), pencilsPrayer andPraise*up to 10Bible Lessonup to 20See page 96.*Prayer and Praise may beused at any time during the program.Experiencing the Story optional: little seeds, leaves made inReadiness Activity CBible StudyBible, Little Voices Praise HimMemory VerseBibleApplyingthe LessonSharing Tag Gamenoneup to 15Sharingup to 15Mustard Seedcopies of mustard seed card onthe Lesson heavy paper (see p.142), mustard(or other small) seeds, tape or liquidglueBut the mustard seed was to grow andspread forth its branches throughout theworld. When the earthly kingdoms whoseglory then filled the hearts of men shouldperish, the kingdom of Christ would remain, a mighty and far-reaching power.“So the work of grace in the heart issmall in its beginning. A word is spoken,a ray of light is shed into the soul, an influence is exerted that is the beginning ofthe new life; and who can measure its results?” (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 77, 78).Room DecorationsAdd a picture or model of a large treeto your bulletin board or scenery.91
LESSONLESSON 9?Teaching the LessonWelcomeWelcome students at the door. Ask how their week has been—whatthey are pleased/troubled about. Encourage them to share any experiences from last week’s lesson study. Have them begin the readinessactivity of your choice.1Readiness ActivitiesSelect the activity most appropriate for your situation.A. Seed SproutingSay: Each week since we planted our seeds, wehave given them sunshine and water. Let’s look atthem this week and see how much they have grown.Help the children find their jars and look at their plants. Ifdesired, measure the sprouts this week and compare withmeasurements from last week. This activity can be continuedat home after today.You Need:q i tems usedlast weekDebriefingSay: Just as these seeds grow with sunlight and water, you aregrowing too with the good food and care you get from your parents. Let’s water our plants and put them back in the sun. Youmay take your plant home with you today and continue to watchit grow. It will help you know that you can grow to be more likeJesus. Remember that . . .God’s love helps us grow to be more like Him.Say that with me.B. Nature Table: SeedsGather as many different kinds of seeds as you can. TryYou Need:to get tiny mustard seeds also. An adult can talk with thechildren about the names of the seeds, their colors, whereqd ifferentthey grow, if they are good to eat, etc. If possible, havekinds ofplants or pictures of the plants the seeds could become, soseedsthe children can compare the size of the seed to the sizeqp lants orof the plant. The children can sort the seeds according topicturescolor, shape, size, etc. If the weather permits, take the children outside and show them some plants that have grown from some similarseeds.92
LESSON 9DebriefingSay: Just as the seeds grow into big plants, you grow every dayas well. Because Jesus loves us, He wants us to grow up to be strongboys and girls. Who can tell me what plants must have in order togrow? (water, air, sunlight, food from good soil) Say: Yes, all living thingsneed water, air, sunlight, and food. What is another thing that people need in order to grow? (Elicit the response: Love.) Say: You are right.People need love. Who gives us love? (Jesus, Mommy, Daddy, grandparents, friends, etc.)Say: Yes, Jesus gives us a lot of love, just as our mommies anddaddies do. God’s love helps us grow to be more like Him. Say thatwith me.God’s love helps us grow to be more like Him.C. Growing LeavesIn advance, copy the leaves (see page 142) onto greenpaper.Say: We are going to make some leaves touse when we learn about our lesson story today.One leaf will be big, and the other will be a littlesmaller. An adult helper will help you cut out yourleaves. Have the children cut out two sizes of leaves. Adultsassist as necessary.You Need:qh eavy cardstockq s cissorsqg reen paperqc opies ofleaves (seep. 142)q pencilsDebriefingSay: You have all made lovely green leaves to usein our lesson story. These leaves remind me of theway people grow. Just as leaves get bigger, people get bigger also.We grow taller, and our minds grow as we learn new things. Did youknow that we grow in another way too? Yes,God’s love helps us grow to be more like Him.Say that with me.*NOTE: Prayer and Praise appears on page 96.93
LESSONLESSON 9?2Bible LessonExperiencing the Storyyour heart. Other people will want tobe around you, just as the birds came tobuild their nests in the branches of theYou Need:mustard tree [stand on tiptoe, hold bigleaves].q s eedsWhen you say: Children will:Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when(optional)He said that God’s kingdom is like aq l eavesseed crouch down and mustard seed [crouch, hold up seed].made inhold up their seedBut maybe He also meant that theReadinessstory of His love would begin with just aActivity Cplant bend knees andfew people. The people who knew Him(optional)hold up smallwhen He was alive are like the tiny seedleaves[crouch, hold up seed]. But as they toldother people about Jesus, the planttree stand on tiptoe[bend knees, hold small leaves] grew bigand hold up bigger. Each time someone shares a Bibleleavesstory or tells someone else about Jesus’Have an adult lead the children inlove for them, the plant [bend knees,doing the actions.hold small leaves] grows bigger. Wheneveryone who loves Jesus tells someoneGod’s kingdom, said Jesus, is like aelse about Him, the plant [bend knees,mustard seed [crouch, hold up seed]. The hold small leaves] turns into a treepeople who were listening to Jesus knew [stand on tiptoe, hold big leaves]. Morea mustard seed [crouch, hold up seed] isand more people want to hear abouttiny—one of the smallest seeds [crouch, Jesus, just as people want to rest underhold up seed] that grew. But when aa cool, shady tree [stand on tiptoe, holdfarmer plants that tiny seed [crouch, hold big leaves] and birds want to build theirup seed] in his field, it grows and growsnests in its branches.until it becomes a big tree [stand onIs that what Jesus meant when Hetiptoe/big leaves]. Then birds come andsaid a tiny seed [crouch, hold up seed] isbuild nests in its branches.like God’s love?What did Jesus mean by saying thatMaybe Jesus meant two things. God’sa tiny seed [crouch, hold up seed] is likelove is a tiny seed [crouch, hold up seed]God’s love?that grows in your heart every time youMaybe Jesus meant that the first time learn more about Him and as you askyou ask Him to come and live in yourHim each day to come into your life.heart He plants a seed [crouch, hold upAnd God’s kingdom grows bigger andseed] of love inside you. Every time youbigger each time someone else learnshear Bible stories, and every time youabout His love.choose to follow God’s way, every timeyou talk with God, the plant [bendDebriefingknees, hold small leaves] grows biggerAllow response time as you ask:and stronger. Soon everyone can see it.What can you do now that youThey know that you have God’s love incouldn’t do when you were a baby?Give each child a little seed andthe different-sized heart-shapedleaves they made (optional).94
LESSON 9Show me. (Run, talk, feed myself, etc.)What do you know about Jesusthat you didn’t know when youwere a baby? (He loves me; He caresabout me; His love helps me grow.)What can you do with Jesus thatyou couldn’t do when you were ababy? Show me. (Pray, praise Him,tell people about Him, sing songs aboutHim.) You have all grown a lot bigger. And you are learning moreabout Jesus and His love for you.Remember . . .God’s love helps us growto be more like Him.Say that with me.Memory VerseYou Need:Open your Bible to 2 Peter 3:18and point to the text. Say: Thisq Bibleis where our memory verse isfound in God’s Word, the Bible.Read the text aloud.Use the motions to teach the verse.“Grow Crouch down andgradually standup.in the grace . . . Clasp arms overchest.of . . . Jesus.”Point upward.2 Peter 3:18 Palms together;then open as ifopening a book.Bible StudyRepeat the actions and words severalSing “The Bible”times in a rhythmic manner until theYou Need: (Little Voices Praise Him, children have learned the verse.no. 53).q BibleOpen your Bibleq L ittle Voicesto Matthew 13:31, 32.Praise HimPoint to the verses andsay: This is where wefind our lesson in God’s Word, theBible. Read the verses aloud.DebriefingSay: Just as a tiny seed growsinto a big plant or tall tree, so dowe grow in God’s love. The morewe know about His love for us, themore we will grow to be like Him.Remember:God’s love helps us growto be more like Him.Say that with me.95
LESSONLESSON 9?PRAYER AND PRAISE*FellowshipReport the students’ joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reportedto you at the door (as appropriate). Allow time for sharing experiences fromlast week’s lesson study and review the memory verse. Acknowledge anybirthdays, special events, or achievements. Give a special warm greeting toall visitors.Suggested Songs“I Know That Jesus Loves Me” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 95). Use thesewords:I know that Jesus loves me;The Bible tells me so.He always watches over me,To help my love to grow.“I Love the Lord” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 207)“Jesus Loves the Little Ones” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 107; first verse)“Jesus Loves Me” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 102)MissionWe know that people in other countries are growing in God’slove too. Use a story from Children’s Mission.OfferingBecause Jesus loves us and we love Him, we give Him our offerings. Let’s sing the offering song. Use “Giving” (Little Voices Praise Him,no. 285).Say: We show we love Jesus when we give Him our offerings.Say (and have children repeat after you): Thank You, Jesus, that wecan give offerings to help people around the world. Amen.PrayerInvite the children to repeat after you as you pray a simple prayer suchas: Thank You, Jesus, for helping us to grow. We want to be morelike You. Amen.*Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program.96
LESSON 93Applying the LessonSharing Tag GameSay: I will choose one child tobe “It.” The rest of you will sit onthe floor. (Teacher chooses.) Say to thechild: Jesus loves you! Now (nameof child), you go and tell one otherchild that Jesus loves them. Thenthat child can stand up. (Child doesthis. Now there are two children standing up.) Now you two children eachgo and tell another child who issitting down that Jesus loves them.(Children do this. Now there are fourchildren standing up.) Continue to playuntil all children are standing.4DebriefingAllow response time as you ask:What happened as we playedthe game? Ask questions to elicit theanswer: The more children who sharedJesus’ love, the more children who got tostand up and share. Let’s make a bigcircle. When the game began, onlyone person was standing. Now lookat all the people who know aboutJesus’ love. It’s just like the big, bigmustard tree. Let’s remember . . .God’s love helps us growto be more like Him.Sharing the LessonMustard SeedIn advance, copy the mustard seedcard for each child. (See page 142.) Giveeach child one mustard seed (or othersmall seed) to tape or glue to the card.Tell the children what the card says.Encourage the children to give their cardto someone today.DebriefingAllow response time as youask: What will you say to theperson when you give themyour mustard seed card? Canyou tell them the story Jesustold about the mustard seed?What do you think they willsay to you? Tell us next weekwhat happened. Remember . . .You Need:qc opies ofmustardseed card(see p. 142)q s mall seeds(mustard, ifpossible)q t ape orliquid glueGod’s love helps us growto be more like Him.ClosingSing “Good-bye to You” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 45).Pray and have children repeat after each phrase: Thank You,Jesus, for teaching us that God’s love helps us growto be more like Him. Amen.97
LESSONLESSON 9?S T U D E N TReferencesMatthew 13:31,32; Christ’s ObjectLessons, pp.76-79Memory Verse“ Grow in thegrace . . . of. . . Jesus”(2 Peter 3:18,NIV).The MessageGod’s lovehelps us growto be morelike Him.98L E S S O NThe Big, Big TreeHave you ever planted a seed? Did it grow fast or slow? Did it stay short or becometall? Are you growing?Many of the people who came tolisten to Jesus were farmers who grewthings in the ground. So Jesus used alittle story about a seed to help themunderstand God’s kingdom, the placewhere He is King.“God’s kingdom,” said Jesus, “is likea mustard seed.” The people who werelistening to Jesusknew a mustardseed is tiny—oneof the smallest seeds theygrew. But whena farmer plantsthat tiny seed inhis field, it growsand grows untilit becomes abig tree. Thenbirds come andbuild nests in itsbranches.What didJesus mean bysaying that a tinyseed is like God’skingdom?Jesus meantthat the first timeyou choose Him to be in your life, Heplants a seed of love inside you. Everytime you hear Bible stories, and everytime you ask Him into your life, everytime you talk with God, the plant growsbigger and stronger. Soon everyone cansee it. They know that you have God’slove in your heart. They know that Jesusis your best friend. Other people willwant to be around you, just as the birdscame to build their nests in the branchesof the mustard tree.That’s what Jesus meant when Hesaid that God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed.But He also meant that the story ofHis love would begin with just a fewpeople. The people who knew Him whenHe lived on earth are like the tiny seed.As they told other people about Him,more people followed Him, like the plantthat grew bigger.Each timesomeone shares aBible story or tellssomeone elseabout Jesus’ lovefor them, theplant of God’slove growsbigger. Wheneveryone wholoves Jesus tellssomeone elseabout Him, theplant turns intoa tree. More andmore peoplewant to hearabout Jesus, justas people wantto rest under acool, shady tree, and birds want to buildtheir nests in its branches.Is that what Jesus meant when Hesaid a tiny seed is like God’s love?Jesus meant two things. God’s loveis like a tiny seed that grows in yourheart every time you learn more aboutHim and as you choose to follow Hisway each day. And God’s kingdomgrows bigger and bigger each timesomeone else learns about His love.God’s love does help us grow to bemore like Him.
LESSON 9Do and SaySabbathTuesdayEach day this week read the lesson story and usethe following to review the memory verse:Help your child measure their plant again today.Has it grown? How much did it grow? Measure yourchild to see how tall they are. Tell him or her howmuch they have grown since their last birthday. Havethem call a friend and tell them how much they havegrown. Remember that God’s love helps us grow tobe more like Him.“Grow . . . . . . . . . . . Crouch dow, then stand.in the grace . . . . . . Clasp arms over chest.of . . . Jesus.”. . . . . . Point upward.2 Peter 3:18. . . . . . . Palms together; then openas if opening a book.Put a small plant in a sunny window and remember to waterit. It will remind you thatGod’s love helps us growto be more like Him.SundayHelp your child “read”the pictures in the lessonstory. Talk about growingup physically, mentally, andspiritually in God’s love. Helpyour child pray and thank Jesusthat God’s love helps us grow tobe more like Him.MondayVisit a place where plants and flowers are displayed(flower shop, garden store, etc.). Help your child selecta plant or flower to give to someone they love. Deliverthe gift together. Encourage your child to say “Jesusloves you, and so do I.” Thank Jesus for loving friends.WednesdayHave everyone in your family tell about one waythey showed love to someone today. Thank Jesus thatGod’s love helps us grow to be more like Him.ThursdayHelp your child make a healthy treat. For “Ants ona Log” spread some peanut butter (or a spread thatis safe for your child) on some celery or a banana andsprinkle it with raisins. Thank Jesus for good food thathelps you grow.FridayHelp your child showyour family how atree starts out as atiny seed and slowlygrows into a largetree. (Roll up into asmall ball, then slowly standup straight until hands are stretched above your head,like tree branches.)99
Feel a desire to grow tall in God’s love. Respond by thanking God for His gifts of love that help us grow each day. The Message The Bible Lesson at a Glance A man plants a tiny mustard seed in the ground at his farm. When it grows, it becomes a huge tree and gives shade for birds and animals. When we listen to sto-
I. Is LOVE AN ART? II. THE THEORY OF LOVE 7 1. Love, the Answer to the Problem of Human Existence 2. Love Between Parent and Child 3. The Objects of Love a. Brotherly Love b. Motherly Love c. Erotic Love d. Self-Love e. Love of God III. LOVE AND ITS DISINTEGRATION IN CONTEM-PORARY WESTERN SOCIETY 83 IV. THE PRACTICE OF LOVE 107File Size: 1MBPage Count: 148Explore furtherThe Art of Loving by Erich Fromm - Goodreadswww.goodreads.comThe Art of Loving According to Erich Fromm - Exploring .exploringyourmind.comThe Art of Loving - Kindle edition by Fromm, Erich. Health .www.amazon.comRecommended to you b
from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved
God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:16-19 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the
Savior draw us into even greater love in word and deed. For God is love. Advent peace, God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 † Advent Peace
obey God because we are afraid of punishment by God —this is living under the law of God and not the love of God. It is not burdensome to obey God when we know God loves us and we love God and love to obey God because we truly love God and want to bring G
very young age that the greatest love isn’t what she sang about in that song. She knew that the greatest love greatest love of all is God’s love for us. Let’s read about the Greatest Love in 1 John 4:7-16: Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
the Lord your God [and] love your neighbor as yourself." We are able to love God, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). We are secure in Him and His love is in us (1 John 4:15-16). Yet, we often love other things, more than God. We turn away from the love of God, because we aren't satisfied with what we have, and turn toward something .
of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have condence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear
