ACTIVITY Ideas:
Cut out hearts from various types of paper... Talk about all the ways that God shows us love. John wanted us to understand God's love and wrote about it often.
Ask your child to imagine that he or she wants to give a special message to a friend who is far away. What can he or she do? (make a phone call or send an email, a text message, or a letter) Explain: “During Bible times a person had to write a letter. Today we are going to see what John said in one of his letters. Listen carefully to hear what he wanted to tell his friends.”
Dear children, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, lived on this earth. I have seen Him, heard Him, and touched Him with my own hands. I have experienced a great deal of joy in knowing Jesus, and I want you to have that same joy. God sent Jesus to live among us because He loves us. God even calls us His own children. Because God loves us, He wants us to love other people. Children, God does not want us to just say that we love Him; He wants us to show that love. Do you know how we can do that? We show our love for God by living as Jesus lived. If we see someone who needs something like clothes or food or a warm place to stay, we should help that person get what he or she needs. We show our love for God by helping other people. Another way we show our love for God is by obeying His commands. In all that we do we should try to please God. Remember to pray, dear children, because God hears us when we pray. Always put God first in your hearts. Your Pastor, John
Ask: “What are some things that John wanted his friends to know?” (We need to live like Jesus. This includes helping others and obeying God’s commandments.)
Practice writing a real letter to a friend or family member. Use real stationary and an envelope if you have it; if not, then use a piece of paper. Let your young child dictate a letter to a friend or family member. After a few phrases suggest that you include some of the important teachings from John’s letter. Talk together about some of the key points to include. Let him or her add any writing, a signature, or even a picture at the bottom of the letter. Address and mail the letter. It would be a great learning experience if the friend who receives the letter replies too!
If you didn't get these pages in the packets from Drive Thru Thursday... you can download, print and color these below.
Notice the list of "Names of God" that John references, post one each day somewhere in your house and do the suggested activity too! |