Lesson: 3 John 1:11 (Ages 3-5)

📖 3 John 1:11 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

In this Bible verse, God is telling us that we should always try to do good things, like being kind, sharing, and helping others. We should never copy or do things that we know are wrong or unkind.

Imagine you have a big box of colorful crayons. If you share those crayons with your friends so that everyone can have fun drawing together, that's doing something good! But if you take someone else's toy without asking, that's not nice and it's not what God wants us to do.

When we do good things, it shows that we love God and that we want to make Him happy. But when we do bad things, it means we are not following God's loving ways. So, let's always try to be like Jesus and do good things that make God smile!

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a little squirrel named Sammy who loved to play in the forest. One day, while playing with his friends, he saw a mischievous raccoon stealing nuts from other animals. Sammy felt tempted to join in the fun, but then he remembered the wise words from 3 John 1:11 that his mom had taught him.

Instead of imitating the raccoon's bad behavior, Sammy decided to help the other animals gather more nuts and share them with everyone. As he did good deeds, Sammy felt happy and proud of himself. The animals praised Sammy for his kindness, and he knew that by doing good, he was showing that he belonged to God.

From that day on, Sammy became known as the little squirrel who always chose to do good, spreading joy and love wherever he went.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for loving us. Help us to always do what is good and not to imitate what is bad. When we do good things, we show that we belong to You. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Can you tell me about a time when you did something good to show love to others?
2. How do you think we can know the difference between good things and bad things to imitate?
3. Why do you think it's important to do good things like sharing and being kind to others?
4. How can we show that we love God by doing good things for others?
5. What are some ways we can be like Jesus and do good things every day?

Life Application

This Bible verse is telling us that we should always try to do good things, and not copy others when they are doing things that are wrong. So, for a child aged 3-5, this means they can remember to be kind, share with others, help their family, and listen to their teachers. They can remember that when they are doing good things, they are showing that they belong to God and that God is happy with them. And when they see someone doing something that they know is not right, they can choose to do what is good instead. This verse can help children make good choices at home, school, and with their friends by following God's example of goodness and love.

Craft or Activity

One fun activity to help young children understand and remember the message of 3 John 1:11 is to create a "Good vs. Evil" sorting game. Provide the child with pictures or small objects representing good actions (such as helping others, sharing, or being kind) and evil actions (like lying, being mean, or stealing). Have the child sort these items into two categories - one for good and one for evil - while explaining that we should imitate what is good because it comes from God. This hands-on activity will help reinforce the message in a tangible and memorable way for the child.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

When we play, in all we do,
Let's remember this verse, oh so true:
Don't copy what's wrong, but follow what's right,
For doing good brings God's love and light!

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of 3 John 1:11 is "Do What's Right" by Rick Altizer. The song encourages children to choose to do what is good and right, just like the verse teaches us. Another wonderful song is "This Little Light of Mine," which reminds kids to let their light shine by doing good and following God's ways. Both songs can help reinforce the important message of choosing good over evil in a fun and engaging way for children.

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