Agape
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Our English word love does not
adequately express what Jesus tells us to do in this Gospel
message. He commands us to "love one another" in the same way he
loved us. The Greek word agape which is used here means a totally
unselfish, sacrificial kind of love; the kind of love Jesus showed
for us when he went to the cross to pay for our sins. We need to
show our children the importance of sacrificial love for others.
*With chalk or tape, lay out the outline of a lifeboat on the
floor. Ask the children to pretend that we are all on a large
ocean liner and it is sinking. This is the last lifeboat and it
will only hold a number of people that is one or two less than the
number of children there. If even one more than this number gets
in, the boat will sink. Now, ask them for a solution to the
problem. What can we do?
If they do not suggest that one or two of them stay on the
sinking ship, you will need to suggest it. When the solution is
clear, you will need to ask for volunteers, making sure they
understand that to remain on the sinking ship means they will go
down with it.
Whether there are, or are not, volunteers, you can discuss
the whole concept of sacrificial love that Jesus commands us show
for one another. In this case, unless someone is willing to
sacrifice, nobody will be saved.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Today is Mother's Day. Ask the children to name the things
that their mothers do for them and make a list of these things.
After the list is made, ask them why their mothers do these things
for them. Perhaps they will mention their mothers' love for them.
This will provide an opening to talk about the sacrificial love of
Jesus and how their mothers are obeying his command to love in the
same way he loved us.
adequately express what Jesus tells us to do in this Gospel
message. He commands us to "love one another" in the same way he
loved us. The Greek word agape which is used here means a totally
unselfish, sacrificial kind of love; the kind of love Jesus showed
for us when he went to the cross to pay for our sins. We need to
show our children the importance of sacrificial love for others.
*With chalk or tape, lay out the outline of a lifeboat on the
floor. Ask the children to pretend that we are all on a large
ocean liner and it is sinking. This is the last lifeboat and it
will only hold a number of people that is one or two less than the
number of children there. If even one more than this number gets
in, the boat will sink. Now, ask them for a solution to the
problem. What can we do?
If they do not suggest that one or two of them stay on the
sinking ship, you will need to suggest it. When the solution is
clear, you will need to ask for volunteers, making sure they
understand that to remain on the sinking ship means they will go
down with it.
Whether there are, or are not, volunteers, you can discuss
the whole concept of sacrificial love that Jesus commands us show
for one another. In this case, unless someone is willing to
sacrifice, nobody will be saved.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Today is Mother's Day. Ask the children to name the things
that their mothers do for them and make a list of these things.
After the list is made, ask them why their mothers do these things
for them. Perhaps they will mention their mothers' love for them.
This will provide an opening to talk about the sacrificial love of
Jesus and how their mothers are obeying his command to love in the
same way he loved us.
