Aim

To make children appreciate Jesus' radical teaching.

Preparation

Before the lesson photocopy one worksheet for each child.

Lesson

Remind children that last week they considered how their parents/carers expressed their love for them. This week it is their turn to list how they can begin/continue to show their love to their parents/carers through service.

Ask them to complete the first part of the worksheet, listing practical tasks like "cleaning out the hamster before I'm told", rather than banal generalities like 'being nice'.

After the children have completed this task, inform them that Jesus taught His disciples that it was not enough for them simply to love people who loved them.

He said,

"If you only love the people who love you, then you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, then you are no better than other people. Even people without God are nice to their friends."

Christians believe that they must also show love to people outside their immediate circle of family and friends. How could the children do this?

Ask children to complete the bottom half of the worksheet, thinking of practical ways they could serve other people within their local community and beyond - e.g. go shopping for an elderly neighbour or give money to charity.

Do the children think that if they did everything listed on their worksheet then they would be perfect? Jesus taught that to be perfect, His followers had to love their enemies.

"...love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Ask God to bless those who say bad things to you. Pray for those who are cruel to you."

Remind the children that Christians believe love is not just a feeling. It involves action - serving.

Conclusion

Invite children to think about a person they dislike. It may be a family member, a bullying classmate or someone else. Propose that the children think of one nice thing they could do for that person in the week to follow. Challenge them to do it and to note their reaction. The results of their actions will be discussed at the beginning of the next lesson.

Teachers' Notes

Try to ensure that the children keep secret the names of those whom they perceive to be their enemies.