2L	The God of Love
	Aim To explore concept of God as loving parent. Preparation Before the lesson photocopy one worksheet for each child. Lesson Remind children that last week they learned how Christians show their love to God. But why do Christians believe that God deserves love? Jesus taught His followers that God is their loving father in Heaven. So to help us understand why Christians love God, we must look at how earthly parents express their love for their children. Activity Invite children to make a list of all the many ways in which their parents/carers serve them. Discuss the children's responses before considering which of the services listed throughout the class are also performed by God in His role as loving father to all of humanity. For example: Does God feed His children on Earth? How does He do this? Distribute the worksheets and ask the children to complete them. Ask the children to reflect again on how their parents/carers show them love. Through role play decide how a loving parent would act in the following situations. Parent is watching favourite TV programme. Child asks for a lift to friend's house. Child informs parent that he has broken a large window at school and is therefore required to pay one hundred pounds or face permanent exclusion. Doctor informs parent that unless parent donates one kidney to child, child will die. Children should realize through the role play that loving parents make sacrifices for their children. Christians believe that God's greatest sacrifice for humanity was through his death in the person of Jesus. They believe that on the cross Jesus took on the punishment for all the wrong things which people had done. If He had not sacrificed Himself in this way, then Christians would not have been able to get into Heaven. What do the children think of this idea? Conclusion Conclude lesson by reading the following verses from the Gospel of St. John, which for many Christians, sums up their religion. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Teachers' Notes You may feel it appropriate in your particular circumstances to prelude this lesson with a short homily on the facts that not all children are brought up by both biological parents and, unlike God, human parents are not perfect.
	A Primary Vision resource provided by Stockport Christians in Schools Trust

2L

The God of Love

Aim

To explore concept of God as loving parent.

Preparation

Before the lesson photocopy one worksheet for each child.

Lesson

Remind children that last week they learned how Christians show their love to God. But why do Christians believe that God deserves love? Jesus taught His followers that God is their loving father in Heaven. So to help us understand why Christians love God, we must look at how earthly parents express their love for their children.

Activity

Invite children to make a list of all the many ways in which their parents/carers serve them. Discuss the children's responses before considering which of the services listed throughout the class are also performed by God in His role as loving father to all of humanity. For example: Does God feed His children on Earth? How does He do this? Distribute the worksheets and ask the children to complete them.

Ask the children to reflect again on how their parents/carers show them love. Through role play decide how a loving parent would act in the following situations.

Parent is watching favourite TV programme. Child asks for a lift to friend's house.
Child informs parent that he has broken a large window at school and is therefore required to pay one hundred pounds or face permanent exclusion.
Doctor informs parent that unless parent donates one kidney to child, child will die.

Children should realize through the role play that loving parents make sacrifices for their children.

Christians believe that God's greatest sacrifice for humanity was through his death in the person of Jesus. They believe that on the cross Jesus took on the punishment for all the wrong things which people had done. If He had not sacrificed Himself in this way, then Christians would not have been able to get into Heaven.

What do the children think of this idea?

Conclusion

Conclude lesson by reading the following verses from the Gospel of St. John, which for many Christians, sums up their religion.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Teachers' Notes

You may feel it appropriate in your particular circumstances to prelude this lesson with a short homily on the facts that not all children are brought up by both biological parents and, unlike God, human parents are not perfect.

2L