Welcome back to Pebbles, Rocks and Topz – we hope you’ve had a great week!
Last week, we heard the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus was teaching people about loving our neighbours as much as we love ourselves. Remember, our neighbours are everyone, not just the people we live near! When Jesus had finished telling the story of the Good Samaritan, he told his listeners that they should go and do the same – to go and love everyone, even the people we don’t like, or the ones that others want to avoid.
Today, we’re going to find out about how the early church followed Jesus’ instruction to love other people. Watch this short video – What is the Church? – or read about it in Acts 4:32-37.
Talk about it
What did the first church do to love their neighbours? Why were there no needy people in the church?
Has anyone ever shared something with you? What was it? How did it make you feel?
What have you shared with other people? Is it easy to share? Why or why not?
How do you think God feels when we share things with other people?
Act on it!
God still uses the church to do amazing things! When we love other people and share with them, it’s a great way to show them Jesus. Talk with your family about some things you could do this week to love your neighbours. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Make a card to cheer someone up – deliver it when you go on your daily walk!
- Make a heart garland. Hang in in your house to remind you to love God and your neighbour, or make it to give to someone else to let them know you love them.
- Make a kindness tree – write down the kind, loving things that you and your family do this week and add them to the tree each day.
- Say kind words to people in your family.
- Share your toys.
- Phone a friend or someone in your family to let them know that you’re thinking about them.
- Help make dinner.
- Print these heart bookmarks – colour them and give them to your neighbours, family or friends.
How many other ways can you think of to love your neighbour? We’d love to hear your suggestions – ask your parents to leave a comment at the bottom with all your ideas, or email rocksandtopz@forefront.org.uk so we can share your suggestions next week!
Pray
It’s not always easy to share – sometimes we want to keep things for ourselves. But the bible tells us that God loves it when we give things to other people!
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Thank God for all the good things you enjoy and ask him to help you share them with others.
Sing
This song, The Greatest Commandment, is the one we shared last week. See if you can join in with the words and any actions you made up last week!
Quiz
The answers to these questions can all be found in the video – answer as many as you can, then take another look at the video to see if you were right!
- What is the church?
- How did the early church put others first?
- What would they do if someone needed something?
- How did Joseph share?
- Why did the people share?
- How did Jesus put other people first?
- What happened when other people saw how people in the church lived?
Game
Help Your Neighbour is a fun game played with cards numbered 2 – 12 and a pair of dice. Find a free printable version and full instructions here.
Spot the kindness
Watch this video. How many different ways can you see people being kind and helpful to their neighbours?
Quiz answers
- What is the church? The people who have made Jesus the leader of their lives.
- How did the early church put others first? They shared their meals and their time and everything!
- What would they do if someone needed something? They shared what they had and sold things to use the money to help other people.
- How did Joseph share? He sold a field then brought the money to the church to help people who needed it.
- Why did the people share? Because they wanted to live like Jesus.
- How did Jesus put other people first? He died on the cross and went up to heaven.
- What happened when other people saw how people in the church lived? They wanted to follow Jesus too.