Lesson: 1 Peter 4:3 (Ages 3-5)

📖 1 Peter 4:3 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

This Bible verse is like a loving reminder from God to us. It tells us that we have already spent a lot of time doing things that are not good for us, like being selfish, not sharing, or being unkind to others. Just like how sometimes we may want to eat candy all day, but we know it's not good for our bodies.

God wants us to be happy, healthy, and kind to others. He doesn't want us to do things that are bad or hurtful. So, it's like God is saying, "Hey, you've already done enough of those not-so-good things. It's time to start being kind, helpful, and loving to everyone around you!"

So, let's remember to be like Jesus and choose to do things that make God happy, like sharing our toys, helping our friends, and being kind to everyone we meet. This way, we can show God's love to others and make the world a better place.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a little squirrel named Sammy. Sammy loved to play and have fun all day long. He would jump from tree to tree, collecting nuts and exploring the forest. One day, Sammy met a group of raccoons who invited him to join their wild party in the forest.

At the party, there was lots of food, music, and dancing. Sammy had never seen anything like it before and he was having so much fun. But as the night went on, Sammy started to feel tired and dizzy from all the excitement. He realized that the party was making him feel strange and not himself.

Remembering the words from 1 Peter 4:3, Sammy knew that he had spent enough time doing what the other animals chose to do. He said goodbye to the raccoons and went back to his quiet tree, where he felt safe and happy once again. Sammy learned that it's important to listen to what is right and good, even when others are doing things that may not be the best for us.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for loving us and teaching us how to make good choices. Help us to be kind, loving, and follow Your ways instead of doing things that are not good for us. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it's important to choose good things to do instead of bad things?
2. Can you name some good things that you like to do with your family and friends?
3. How do you think God wants us to behave and treat others?
4. What are some ways we can show love and kindness to others, like Jesus did?
5. How can we make good choices like following Jesus instead of doing things that are not good?

Life Application

In this verse, God is telling us that we should not act like people who do not follow Him. For a child your age, this means making good choices and doing what Jesus would want you to do. You can apply this message by being kind to others, sharing your toys, listening to your parents, and being honest. When you are playing with your friends, you can choose games that are fun and good for everyone. At school, you can be a good helper to your teacher and classmates. Remember, God wants us to make choices that show His love and kindness to others.

Craft or Activity

One fun activity to help young children understand the message of 1 Peter 4:3 is to create a "Choose God's Way" poster together. Give children stickers or markers to decorate a poster with images representing good choices like helping others, sharing, being kind, and praying. Talk about how these are the choices God wants us to make. Then, add images or drawings representing the negative behaviors mentioned in the verse, like pictures of people fighting or being mean to each other. Explain that these are not the choices God wants for us. Display the poster in a visible place as a reminder to always choose God's way.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

Let's sing a song to remember this verse,
Doing what's right is always the best.
No more wild parties, no more sin,
God's love and goodness we will live in.
We'll choose kindness, love, and grace,
To show the world God's shining face.
Living for Jesus, our hearts will be true,
1 Peter 4:3, we'll remember you!

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of 1 Peter 4:3 is "Live Differently" by The Donut Man. This song emphasizes the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God and not following the ways of the world.

Another song that children may enjoy is "Shine" by Newsboys. This song encourages kids to let their light shine for Jesus and stand out from the world by living a life that honors God. Both of these songs can help reinforce the message of 1 Peter 4:3 in a fun and engaging way for kids.

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