Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
Mia visits the museum with her class and learns to love her neighbor as she loves herself.
Start Lesson
Large Group Instructions
Countdown From 10
Rules
WelcomeMaterials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2)
Host and Co-Host enter dressed in overalls.
Host
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! Look at all these wonderful neighbors who are here with us today.
Co-Host
We learned last week that anyone can be our neighbor. That means we want to show love to everyone we meet.
Host
Let’s start today with a fun game. Everyone, stand up. In this game, you must do everything you see me do. If I move this leg, copy me, and move your leg. If I make a silly face, copy me, and make that same silly face.
Co-Host
I’ll help you copy our friend, Jr. Conductors. Whenever (Host) says, “Freeze,” we have to freeze our faces and bodies and wait until he/she says unfreeze.
Play the game. Move different parts of your body and make silly faces for the kids to copy. At various times, shout, “Freeze,” and encourage the kids to stay frozen in that exact position.
Host
Clap for yourselves! You did a great job copying what I did. Today we get to hear about how to show love to others by treating our neighbors the way we want to be treated.
Co-Host
First, everyone, shout, “Choo-choo!”
Engage 1Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
It sounds like Jack is not being very nice to Mia. Do you think that she should be mean back to Jack to show him how it feels?
Host
No, that doesn’t sound right. I can understand why Mia is upset, but our Big Point teaches us to make a different choice. Let’s stand and practice the Big Point again,
Host
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself!
Co-Host
Let’s look at some pictures and decide if that is how we would like for someone to show us that they love us.
Host
What does that hand look like it’s going to do? It looks like a pinch. Can you make pinching fingers? Do you like to be pinched? Me neither. Rub your arm and say, “Ow!” So, if we don’t like being pinched, would it be a wise idea to pinch others? No.
Co-Host
What does that look like? It looks like clapping. Let’s all clap together. Do you like it when other people clap for you because you did a good job? Me, too. Could clapping be a way to show love? I think so.
Host
What is that kid doing? I agree, that kid is yelling. Do you like it when someone yells at you? Let’s all put our hands over our ears to block out the yelling. Do you think yelling is a way to show love? No.
Co-Host
Does it look like that kid is snatching a toy away or sharing? I think the kid is sharing. Do you like it when others share with you? I do. Is sharing a way to show love? Nod your head, “Yes.”
Host
Jesus wants us to love others by doing the same things that make us feel loved. Let’s see if Mia chooses to show love or be mean to Jack.
Engage 2Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Scale, (6-8) Items of Equal and Different Weight, Table
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Do you think that Mia is being kind to Jack? Not at all.
Host
Even though Jack wasn’t kind to her, the right choice is for Mia to follow our Big Point. Let’s stand and say the Big Point again,
Host
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself!
Co-Host
I liked the verse that Engineer Kelly shared from the Bible. Leviticus 19:18 (NIrV) says, “Do not try to get even…Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Host
Can I show you something interesting, Jr. Conductors? (Show the scale) This is called a scale. There are two sides. You can place an item on each side, and if they weigh the same then the two sides will be even. If one side is heavier, then it will sink, and the other side will go up.
Co-Host
Let’s try it and see if you can decide which items will be even and which ones will sink.
Display different items. Ask the kids to guess which items will weigh the same and which ones will be heavier or lighter. Choose different kinds of items based on the size of the scale that you use.
Host
Some people think that if someone is mean to you, then you should be mean back to them. If one person is mean and the other person is mean, it does seem even. (Place two items on the scale that weigh the same) But Jesus asks us to be different.
Place two items of different weights on the scale.
Co-Host
God wants us to love others even if they aren’t nice to us and to love them like we want to be loved.
Host
It’s okay to be kind to someone who isn’t kind to you. It’s ok to be different. The Bible says that God will help us when we make the wise choice. Let’s stand up and worship our God, who loves us.
Big Story
Optional, play soft instrumental music.
Raise your hand if you’re going to be kind to someone. Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. This is a great time to ask Jesus to help you love other people, even if they aren’t kind to you. You can pray and talk to Jesus right where you sit. You could say, Dear Jesus, help me love others. Now, this one’s harder. You may need to ask Jesus to help you love someone who has been mean to you. Do that now. (Pause) Now, I’ll pray for all of us. (Pray)
Engage 3Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Heart Shaped Balloons
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
I’m so glad that Mia decided to show kindness to Jack.
Host
She made a wise choice and showed Jack a great example of our Big Point. Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself!
Co-Host
That’s what King David did when he helped Mephibosheth by taking good care of him.
Host
You can tell your family about what you learned about King David when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Have each person in your family share what makes them feel loved and how they can share love with others in your family.
Co-Host
Let’s choose some friends to play a game with us. We have some balloons that are shaped like hearts. In this game our friends will use their hands to keep the balloons bouncing in the air. It’ll take lots of help. Be sure to bounce them to everyone on stage to share the fun.
Choose some kids to come on stage and play a game. The object is to work together to keep one or two balloons bouncing in the air. Heart-shaped balloons can be found online, but you can substitute regular red balloons if needed. The time limit for the game is at the Host and Co-Host’s discretion.
Host
That was fun. You shared love with each other. Jr. Conductors, remember our Big Point
Host
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself!
Big Review
Did our Big Point say Love Your Neighbor A Little or Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?
Let’s pass a high-five all the way around the circle. I’ll start by high fiving the Jr. Conductor next to me. Then he/she will high-five the person next to him/her. Let’s keep going and share the kindness. (High-five around the circle) Why was Mia upset with Jack? He was mean to her How did Mia act when she was the line leader? She was mean back Did Mia learn to use the Big Point? Yes
Let’s use both of our hands to make numbers. I’ll show you what to make and you try it. Then we’ll decide if our hands match and are even or if they don’t. (Use your hands to show the same or different numbers and have the kids decide which it is) Leviticus 19:18 (NIrV) says, “Do not try to get (kind / even) Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Let’s rub our ankles, like they hurt. (Rub your ankle) What was wrong with Mephibosheth in our Big Story? His legs were hurt, and he couldn’t walk Who helped Mephibosheth, even though Mephibosheth’s grandfather had been mean to him? King David How was King David kind to Mephibosheth? He gave him back his land and he let him eat the king’s good food
What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do? Name a way that you like to be loved & how you could love others
Clean Up
