Paul's Letter About Love

8/26/2024

Paul's Letters About Love by Jennifer Tolbert

When Paul's ship finally arrived in Rome, Paul found himself placed under arrest of the Roman government. As he awaited his trial, he used his time to write letters to the churches he had visited to teach and encourage them.

Many of those letters can now be found as books of the Bible. The letter he sent to the church in Ephesus is what we call the book of Ephesians.

In his letter to the Corinthians, we find the description of the Armor of God. Paul, probably inspired by the Roman guards who stood watch over him, used this to illustrate how we should prepare to battle the spiritual forces of darkness.

Key Themes:
1. God's power is stronger than the devil's power.
2. When I put on the armor of God, I am equipped to face any trial that may come.
3. There are two kingdoms-God's and Satan's. We should choose to stand for God's kingdom.

Memory Verse

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
I Corinthians 9:22

Songs

1,2,3 The Devil's After Me
Books of the New Testament
Be Careful Little Eyes
This Little Light of Mine
There is a Flag that Flies in the Castle of My Heart
I'm in the Lord's Army
My God is So Big
I Am A C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
Saint's Medley

Story

HideBegin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time

Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Showing Love Object Lesson
Supplies: Batteries, Battery-operated toys, flashlights, radio, etc.
SAY: Does everyone see what I have in my hand? It's a battery, and it's something I bet all of you depend on every day. Batteries are little power packs that let us run all these things without having to be plugged into a stationary power source. We use batteries in all kinds of devices: cell phones, iPods, wireless microphones, toys. Even cars run on batteries. What other things can you think of that require batteries?
There's nothing more frustrating than playing with your favorite toy or talking on the cell phone when all of a sudden - the battery dies! It doesn't matter if it's the coolest, flashiest toy or the most expensive phone available. If the battery goes dead, it's completely useless.
Batteries remind me of something Paul wrote about love. In 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1- 3, Paul said, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
As you grow up, you're going to discover the talents that God has given you. You can be the greatest singer, the smartest teacher, the most brilliant preacher. But as you do, remember this battery. And remember that without love, you are no better than a dead cell phone.
Source: ChildrensMinistr Deals.com

2. Love Scavenger Hunt from MeaningfulMama
Supplies: Printable
Print or write verses about love on heart shaped pieces of paper. Hide them around the room. Let each child take a turn finding a heart. Read the scripture on each heart to get your mind's thinking about everything the Bible says about love.

3. Spreading God's Love Object Lesson by Creative Bible Study
Supplies: piece of paper towel for each student, plain pen, red markers, cups or bowls of water
The point we want to get across to children using this lesson is that - first our hearts are empty without God's love and second that God means for us to share His love with others!

Story: When Paul finally made it to Rome, he found himself in chains. However, even though Caesar kept Paul in prison, he could not stop Paul from teaching others about Jesus. Through his letters, Paul ministered to the new Christians and his words still teach and encourage us today.

SHOW the story Paul's Letter About Love or read I Corinthians 13:1-3 in the Bible. For older children, you may want to share more about what happened to Paul between the shipwreck and prison. You can find that information here.
EMPHASIZE that: