Bible Lesson: Love One Another

Help your students learn the memory verse I John 4:7 — “Let us love one another.” Before your lesson, cut a big heart from red poster board and a small heart from red paper. Mark your Bible at the Bible Words with the small heart. Post the large heart on a wall or bulletin board at the children’s eye level. Bring blueberry muffins for each child. Make them from a mix or use the recipe below. (Make sure to have extra muffins for visitors and helpers.)

During class, point to the large heart. Ask, What word do you think of when you see a heart? Say, Here in the Bible it says, “Let us love.” Do you know whom the Bible tells us to love? Read the whole verse. Say, We can begin by loving everyone in the room.

Give each child a piece of paper and crayons or markers. Let the children draw self-portraits. Let each child tape her picture near the heart. As each child does this, say the Bible Words. Substitute the child’s name for “one another.” When all the pictures have been posted around the heart, have the children say the Bible Words together. During the lesson, compliment those children who use kind words and thoughtful actions toward the others.

Have the children wash their hands. Now bring out the muffins along with napkins and small paper plates. Serve water or juice to drink. Say a prayer of thanks for the snack. Also thank God for His love for each person. Let each child choose a muffin and hand it to the person on his right. Talk about how when we show respect and kindness to others, we are showing love to each other. Say the memory verse once more as the children finish eating.

For more lesson ideas, take a look at Bible Foundations Sunday School Curriculum, available for Preschool, Early Elementary, and Upper Elementary.


Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix 8 ounces vanilla yogurt or sour cream with one egg (if you omit the egg, add 1/4 cup water), 1/4 cup orange juice, two tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, and one teaspoon vanilla flavoring. Mix well.

In another bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. Make a well in the center. Add wet ingredients and stir just until moist. Gently fold in one cup fresh or frozen blueberries.

Spoon batter evenly into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle sugar on top of each muffin. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit five minutes. Use a knife to loosen muffins from sides of pan. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Yield: one dozen muffins.