In this lesson, children learn that God loves them and that we show love by how we act toward others, not only by the words we say. It suits children aged about 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God loves us so much that we are his children. Because of his love, we show love to others by helping them and telling the truth with our actions.
Memory Verse
1 John 3:18
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out, palms up, like you are offering a gift. Then gently place one hand on your heart. Say “Let’s love in deed,” and do the motion together so the children remember that love is shown by what we do.
The Story: 1 John 3 for Kids
A long time ago, the apostle John wrote a letter to his dear friends who were following Jesus. He wanted them to know how much God loves them. He told them to look and see how great God’s love is, because God calls us his children. Their names were not written on a list in the world, but God knew them well.
John wanted his friends to be like Jesus, who is pure and good. He said that when we keep our eyes on Jesus, we want to become cleaner and kinder every day. Sin is doing the wrong thing, and Jesus came to take sin away. He is never sinful, and his followers try to live like him too.
Then John told a sad story about a man named Cain. Cain was jealous of his brother Abel, because God liked Abel’s gift and Cain’s heart was angry. Cain hurt his brother instead of loving him. John said that hating a brother is like the wrong path that Cain took. Love is the way God wants us to walk.
John reminded his friends that Jesus showed the greatest love of all. Jesus gave up his own life to save us. John said, “Since Jesus loved us that much, we should also love our brothers and sisters.” He wanted them to remember that love is more than saying nice words.
So John said, “Let’s love with our actions and in truth, not just with our tongues.” If a friend is hungry, we share our food. If a friend is sad, we sit with them. When we do this, we know we belong to God and are living in his love.
Read It Together
1 John 3:1
See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
(WEB)
Point out the word “children” and ask the children how it feels to know that God calls them his own. Notice that God’s love is so great that the world may not always understand it, and that is okay because God knows us.
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
(WEB)
Show the children that Jesus laid down his life for us, which is the clearest picture of love. Point out that this verse helps us understand what real love looks like when we act it out for others.
1 John 3:23
This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
(WEB)
Explain that God’s command is simple: believe in Jesus and love one another. Help the children see that these two things go together and that God gives us both a way to follow him every day.
Talk About It
- What is one way you can show someone love today without saying a word?
- Why do you think God wants us to love with our actions, not only with words?
- How did Cain treat his brother, and what could he have done differently?
- What does it mean that God calls us his children, and how does that make you feel?
- When you see a friend who is sad or in need, what can you do to help?
Activity Ideas
Heart and Hands Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child trace one hand on the paper and draw a heart in the middle of the palm. Ask them to write or draw one way they can help someone this week. Hang the pictures where the family or class can see them as a reminder to love in deed.
Helping Hands Relay
Gather a few soft toys or cups and set up two teams on opposite sides of the room. Each child must carry an item across the room using only their hands, then hand it to the next player with a kind word. Talk afterward about how easy it is to help when we work together, just as love is shown through action.
Love in Action Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper strips, and a pen. Ask each child to write one loving action they will do at home, such as setting the table or sharing a toy. Fold the strips and place them in the jar. Each day, draw one out and do that action together as a family.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage teaches that God’s love is the source of our identity as his children, and that genuine love is proven through self-giving action, not just speech. It also links love with holiness, as the believer’s hope in Christ shapes how they live. John presents Cain as an example of hatred that leads to violence, showing that inward attitudes matter as much as outward deeds.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the idea that feelings of guilt always mean God is angry, since verse 20 speaks of God being greater than our hearts. Children can grow anxious if told they must never sin, so frame the lesson around God’s love and forgiveness, and remind them that Jesus helps us grow.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank you for loving us so much that we are called your children. Help us love our friends and family with our actions and with the truth. Show us one way to help someone today. Help us remember that you love us always. Amen.
