Lesson: 1 Timothy 3:7 (Ages 3-5)

📖 1 Timothy 3:7 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

In this verse, God tells us that it's important for us to be kind and good not just to our friends, but also to people we may not know very well, like neighbors or people we meet for the first time.

Imagine if you had a shiny red apple, and you showed it to your friends. They would think it's a nice apple because they know you took good care of it. Now, if a new friend came over, and you showed them the apple, they would also think it's a nice apple because they see how well you treat it.

In the same way, God wants us to have a good reputation, which means people see us being kind and helpful to everyone, not just our close friends. This is important because if we are mean or unkind to others, we might make them feel sad and hurt, and that's not what God wants for us.

When we are friendly and kind to everyone, we don't fall into the trap of the devil, which means we don't let bad things like meanness or selfishness take over our hearts. God wants us to be loving and caring to everyone, just like how He loves us all the time.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a friendly squirrel named Sammy who loved to play with all the animals in the forest. One day, a new rabbit named Rosie moved in, and Sammy didn't say hello because he was busy playing with his old friends.

Rosie felt sad and left out, so she decided to find new friends in the forest. Sammy saw how Rosie was feeling and realized he hadn't been kind to her. He went to Rosie, apologized, and invited her to play. They became good friends, and soon all the animals in the forest loved them both.

Sammy learned that it's important to have a good reputation with everyone, even those you don't know well. Just like in the Bible verse, being kind to others helps us stay away from trouble and the tricks of the devil.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for teaching us to have a good reputation with others so we can stay away from trouble. Help us to always be kind and loving to everyone. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to have a good reputation with others?
Why is it important to have a good reputation?
Who is the devil, and why do we want to avoid falling into his trap?
How can we show kindness and love to others to have a good reputation?
How can we ask God to help us have a good reputation and avoid falling into disgrace?

Life Application

Having a good reputation with outsiders means being kind, respectful, and honest with everyone we meet. Children can apply this by being friendly and helpful to their friends at school, sharing toys and taking turns, and listening to their teachers and parents. They can also be polite to people they meet outside their family, like neighbors or store clerks, by saying "please" and "thank you." By being loving and considerate to others, children can show the goodness of Jesus in their actions and avoid falling into the devil's traps of being mean or selfish.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a "Good Reputation" chart together! You can draw a simple chart with two columns labeled "Good Reputation" and "Disgrace." Then, help your child brainstorm actions or behaviors that would fall under each column. For example, being kind to others could go under "Good Reputation," while lying could go under "Disgrace." This visual aid can help your child understand the importance of having a good reputation and making choices that honor God.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

Remember, be kind and true,
To outsiders, they must have a good view.
Avoid disgrace, don't let evil win,
Keep a good name, and stay away from sin!

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of 1 Timothy 3:7 is "This Little Light of Mine." This song encourages children to let their light shine brightly for Jesus, which includes having a good reputation with others.

Another wonderful song is "I Am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N." This fun and catchy song teaches children about living a life that reflects Christ in everything they do, including their interactions with those outside their faith community.

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