Lesson: 3 John 1:15 (Ages 9-11)

📖 3 John 1:15 – Ages 9-11

Explanation

This verse from 3 John 1:15 is like sending a warm hug through a letter. Imagine you have a friend who lives far away, and you write them a letter. In that letter, you would want to send them your love and good wishes, right?

In the Bible, John is doing something similar. He is writing to his friend Gaius and sending him good wishes. When John says, "Peace be with you," he is saying, "I hope you have peace in your heart and in everything you do."

Then, John sends greetings from other friends. It's like saying, "Hey Gaius, our friends are thinking of you and sending their love too!" Lastly, John tells Gaius to greet each friend by name. This shows how important it is to remember and care for each individual friend.

So, this verse teaches us the importance of sharing peace, sending love to friends, and remembering to greet each person with kindness and care. Just like how we would want to make our friends feel special and loved, John is reminding us to do the same for others.

Kid's Story

There was a happy little squirrel named Sammy who loved playing with his forest friends. One day, he found a note tucked under a tree that read, "Peace be with you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."

Sammy thought about what this message meant. He realized that it was important to greet his friends by their names to show them love and kindness. So, the next day, he went around the forest, saying hello to all his friends by their names.

His friends were so surprised and happy that Sammy remembered each of their names. They felt special and loved. From that day on, Sammy made sure to greet his friends by name every time he saw them. And the forest was filled with even more laughter and joy because of Sammy's thoughtful gesture.

Prayer Prompt

Heavenly Father, thank you for your peace that you give us. Help us to greet our friends with kindness and love, just as you have shown us. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think it means to have peace with others?
2. Why is greeting our friends important?
3. How can we show kindness to our friends by greeting them by name?
4. How do you feel when someone greets you by name?
5. How can we spread peace and kindness to others through our words and actions?

Life Application

This verse from 3 John 1:15 reminds us to greet others warmly and personally. Children can apply this message by making an effort to greet their friends and family members by name, showing that they care about and value them. They can also practice spreading peace by being kind and loving towards others, creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere wherever they go. By following this verse, children can make a difference in their homes, schools, and friendships by showing love, respect, and friendship to everyone they meet.

Craft or Activity

To help children understand and remember the message of 3 John 1:15, you can have them create a "Friendship Tree." Provide each child with a template of a tree trunk and branches on a piece of paper. Ask them to write the names of their friends on paper leaves, cut them out, and glue them onto the branches of the tree. Encourage them to decorate the tree with symbols of peace, such as doves or olive branches. As they work on this craft, you can discuss how important it is to greet our friends and wish peace upon them, just as the verse teaches us.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

"Peace be with you, friends so true,
Greet each one by name, don't be blue.
Spread love and joy, make everyone smile,
In 3 John 1:15, let's go the extra mile!"

Songs or Videos

One Christian song that relates to the message of 3 John 1:15 is "The Fruit of the Spirit" by Go Fish. This song talks about the importance of showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which all contribute to building strong friendships and relationships.

Another great song is "Peace Like a River" by The Rizers. This song emphasizes the peace that God gives us, which can help us in our relationships with friends and others around us. It reminds us that God's peace is always with us, just like the message in 3 John 1:15 - "Peace be with you."

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