I Can Show Love To All

Host

Welcome to Summer To The Max at the Movies! This week is about the movie “The Game Plan.” It stars The Rock as a football player who learns to become a dad when his eight year-old daughter shows up unexpectedly.

Co-host

I love football, and the season will begin soon. Why don’t we do a little game of football drills to get ready for this football-themed day?

Host

Drills help you develop skills that you need to use in the game. This first drill is called a shuffle and switch. This teaches you how to move quickly like you would if you were running the ball or trying to tackle.

Co-host

To run this drill, you must start at the first pool noodle. Look straight and shuffle down the noodle. Then run to the next pool noodle and shuffle down again. When you’ve hit all the noodles, run to the cone.

Host

The last drill is a quarterback accuracy drill. The object of this game is to land as many footballs as you can in the target.

Co-host

That was a lot of fun. Playing football requires a lot of practice and a solid plan.

Host

That’s the same with being a Christian. We’ve learned this summer how to grow as a follower of Jesus. The good things we can add that we read about in the Bible give us a solid plan for our lives. We need everyone to help us count down from three, and then we’ll read the Big Point.

Host

Let’s all say it together, I Can Show Love To All! Love is one of the most important things you can add to your faith. If you try to live the Christian life without love, you won’t succeed.

Co-host

It would be like trying to play football without a football. Love for others is part of everything we do. It encourages us to use all the good things we’ve added to our lives to help others.

Host

It doesn’t matter who it is; whether the person is a friend, stranger, or even an enemy, we can still show that person love.

Host

Let’s say the Big Point again together,

Host

I Can Show Love To All! The Rock’s character in The Game Plan was a famous football player who mainly thought about himself and what he wanted.

Co-host

But when his character met his daughter, Madison, his heart changed. Instead of thinking only of himself, he actually loved and cared about others. That’s what helped their team win the big game.

Host

It was like Madison’s love first for her dad inspired him to change. That reminds me of something we read about love in the Bible.

 Co-host

We need everyone to count down from three, and then we’ll read the verse.

Host

“We love because He loved us first.” (1 John 4:19 NIrV) Let me show you how this truth works in our lives. Without Jesus and His love for us, we’d be empty on the inside. (Show the empty side of the can)

Co-host

That would be awful. Look, there’s nothing to draw from. There’s no love to power you up. It’s hard to love others if you don’t have love inside. That love comes from God.

Host

As much as we’d like to think we could create all that love on our own, we can’t. Just look at the world around us. People who try to do things without God often make a bigger mess of the world. That’s why we need His love inside of us.

Co-host

God’s love for us gives us the power and the inspiration to love others. He shows us how to love properly. The good news is that He already loves us. All we need to do is recognize God’s love and respond by saying “Yes” to Jesus.

Host

When that happens, suddenly, your heart is filled with love for others. That love shines through as you show it with your words and deeds.

Co-host

Your love for others will help those people choose to say “Yes” to Jesus.

Host

That’s why love for others is so important. It’s not just something you do for friends and family. This love is for everyone. Jesus demonstrated that when he showed love and forgiveness for the very soldiers who nailed Him to the cross.

Co-host

Let’s check out Peter’s story to learn how he showed the love Jesus gave him.

Host

Peter likely gave his life to show God’s love. That’s how much he cared about others. Peter’s sacrifice has even helped us sitting her today. Loving others that much begins with saying “Yes” to Jesus.

If you have never said, “Yes, I want Jesus to forgive me, be my best friend, and I will follow Him for the rest of my life,” then today is your day! I’d like everyone to close their eyes and bow their heads so no one is distracted. If you have already said “Yes” to Jesus, you believe that He is alive, and you are His friend and follower, give me a thumbs up. That’s awesome. You can put your hands down. If you’ve never said “Yes” to Jesus before, and you want to say “Yes” to Him right now, ask Him to forgive you, and tell Him you want to live your life differently, raise your hand. We’re going to pray all together. Those of you who are already friends and followers of Jesus can join in, too. Repeat after me, and let’s pray... 

Dear God, I know everyone needs a Savior, and I know I can’t save myself. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and God raised You from the dead.

Right now, I say you are my Lord, my Savior, and the One who forgives me. Thank you, Jesus, that You are my best friend and leader of my life, because I’ve said “Yes” to You. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time today, I want you to share that good news with someone. When we break into Small Groups, you can join a special Small Group just for kids who said, “Yes” for the first time. Look for the special sign as we break later.

Co-host

It’s crazy to think that Peter might have traveled all the way from Israel to the big city of Rome. That was the most important city in Peter’s world, and it was almost completely full of people who didn’t know Jesus. I’m glad he loved them that much.

Host

That brings us to this week’s Big Do.

Host

Choose a way to show someone love, like one of your neighbors or someone else in the community. You could leave them a kind note, bake a sweet treat, or even do a chore around their house.

Co-host

Don’t forget our Big Point,

Co-host

I Can Show Love To All!

Host

Let’s connect in our small groups and discuss today’s lesson.

• How did Peter show love for other people he didn’t know? He prayed for Aeneas to be healed and walk. He prayed for Tabitha to come back to life. He visited Rome and gave his life to share the truth about Jesus with the Roman citizens.

• What are some ways you can share love with others this upcoming school year, even to kids you don’t know very well or ones who haven’t been nice?