Lesson: 1 Corinthians 9:20 (Ages 3-5)

📖 1 Corinthians 9:20 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

This Bible verse means that the apostle Paul wanted to be like the people he was teaching so that they could understand and believe in Jesus better.

Imagine if you were playing with someone who loved dinosaurs. Even if you didn't know much about dinosaurs, you might pretend to be a dinosaur too so you could have more fun playing together, right? That's kind of like what Paul did – he tried to understand and be like the people he was talking to so they could learn about Jesus in a way that made sense to them.

Paul wanted everyone to know about Jesus and love Him, so he was willing to change the way he did things to help them understand. It's like when we try to be kind and patient with others, even if they are different from us, because we want to show them God's love.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a little squirrel named Sammy who loved to play in the forest. One day, he met a group of rabbits who liked to hop and play together. Sammy wanted to join in, but he noticed they were eating carrots and he didn't like them. Instead of saying, "I don't eat carrots," Sammy decided to try them so he could be friends with the rabbits.

Soon after, Sammy met a family of birds who loved to fly high in the sky. They only ate seeds, which Sammy had never tried before. Even though he was unsure, Sammy wanted to be friends with the birds, so he tried some seeds.

Sammy learned that by being willing to try new things and understand others' ways, he could make many different friends and share his love with them, just like the way Paul talked about in the Bible.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for showing us how to love and connect with all people, just like Paul did. Help us to be understanding and kind to everyone we meet. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Paul tried to become like the Jews so he could tell them about Jesus?
2. How can we show love to others who may believe differently than we do?
3. Do you think it's important to respect other people's beliefs, even if they are different from our own?
4. How can we share Jesus's love with people who may not know Him yet?
5. What can we learn from Paul about being kind and understanding to others?

Life Application

This verse is teaching us about being respectful and understanding towards others who may have different beliefs or ways of doing things. Children can apply this by being kind and considerate to everyone, even if they are different. For example, if a friend celebrates a different holiday or has different traditions, the child can show interest and respect for their friend's ways. It's important to remember that we can still be ourselves while showing love and understanding to others who may be different from us.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a craft where children can make a "Paul's Disguise" mask! Provide children with plain masks or paper plates, markers, crayons, and craft materials to decorate their masks. As they decorate, explain to them that just like how Paul adapted to different cultures to share the message of Jesus, they can be creative and adapt to different situations while sharing God's love with others. This hands-on activity can help children understand the importance of being flexible and relatable when sharing the message of Jesus with people from different backgrounds.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

To share God's love, I'll go the mile,
Becoming all things with a smile.
To win others, I'll change my view,
Just like Paul did, for Jesus and you!

Songs or Videos

One Christian song that relates to the message of 1 Corinthians 9:20 is "Love One Another" by Seeds Family Worship. This song teaches children about the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures and backgrounds to share God's love with everyone.

Another great song is "Jesus Is the Way" by Colin Buchanan. This song emphasizes that Jesus is the way to salvation for all people, regardless of their background or beliefs, just as Paul adapted to different cultures to share the Gospel effectively.

📄 Download as PDF