Lesson: Galatians 5:3 (Ages 9-11)

📖 Galatians 5:3 – Ages 9-11

Explanation

This Bible verse from Galatians 5:3 is like a special reminder from Paul to the people in Galatia. He is telling them that if someone chooses to follow one rule, like getting circumcised, they must follow all the rules in the law of God.

Imagine if you were playing a game with rules. If one player decides to follow only some rules and not all of them, the game wouldn't be fair or fun for everyone, right? It's the same with following God's rules. God wants us to obey all His rules, not just pick and choose the ones we like.

When we decide to follow Jesus, we agree to follow all of God's rules because we love Him and want to show it by obeying Him. God's rules are like a guidebook for how to live a happy and loving life. So, let's remember to follow all of God's rules with joy and love in our hearts!

Kid's Story

Once there was a curious puppy named Buddy who loved exploring the neighborhood. One day, Buddy saw a sign that said, "Keep off the grass." Ignoring the sign, he ran onto the grass to chase a butterfly. Suddenly, he heard a loud voice scolding him, "If you step on the grass, you have to follow all the rules in the park!"

Confused, Buddy sat down and thought about what the voice meant. Just like how stepping on the grass meant following all the park rules, in the Bible, Paul was saying that if someone chooses to follow one rule, they must follow all of God's rules.

Buddy realized that it's important to obey all of God's rules, not just pick and choose the easy ones. From that day on, Buddy made sure to respect all the rules in the park and remembered to follow all of God's rules too.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for reminding us through Galatians 5:3 that when we choose to follow your laws, we are committing to obey all of them. Help us to remember that following you means following all your teachings. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What do you think it means to be "obligated to obey the entire law" in this verse?

Why do you think Paul is warning about the consequences of being circumcised in this way?

How do you think God wants us to follow His laws and commandments today?

Do you think it's important for us to understand the reasons behind God's laws, or is it enough to simply follow them?

In what ways can we show our love and obedience to God in our daily lives?

Life Application

In Galatians 5:3, the apostle Paul is warning the believers in Galatia about trying to earn their salvation by following only certain rules, like circumcision. He is saying that if they choose to follow just one law, they are then obligated to follow all of God's laws perfectly, which is impossible for us as humans.

For a child aged 9-11, this verse can be applied in their real life by helping them understand that trying to earn God's love or favor by simply following rules or doing good deeds is not the way to truly please God. Instead, they can learn to trust in Jesus and His grace for salvation.

At home, they can remember that God loves them no matter what they do, and they can show love and kindness to their family members not to earn their acceptance, but out of gratitude for God's love for them.

At school, they can treat their friends with kindness and respect, not to gain popularity or approval, but because they are following Jesus' example of love.

With their friends, they can remember that God's love is unconditional, and they can show forgiveness and grace when their friends make mistakes, just as God does for them.

Ultimately, this verse teaches children that their relationship with God is based on faith and trust in Jesus, not on trying to earn God's love through rule-following.

Craft or Activity

One creative activity to help children understand Galatians 5:3 could involve creating a "Chain of Obedience." Provide each child with colorful strips of paper or cardstock. On each strip, have them write down a different commandment or rule from the Bible that reflects the idea of obeying God's law completely. Then, they can link these strips together to form a chain, symbolizing how following one rule means committing to follow all of God's laws. This visual representation can help reinforce the message that true obedience to God means living according to His whole word, not just picking and choosing which rules to follow.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

Here's a fun rhyme for you:
"If you choose to be circumcised,
Remember this rule to abide:
Following one law won't suffice,
Obey the whole, that would be wise!"

Songs or Videos

One Christian song for kids that relates to the message of Galatians 5:3 is "Obedience" by Go Fish. This song emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's word and following His commandments.

Another great song is "The Fruit of the Spirit" by Listener Kids, which talks about the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It's a fun and catchy way for kids to remember the characteristics that God wants to grow in their lives.

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