"Just as I have Loved You" Sunday School Lesson from John 15:9-17

This free Bible lesson is based on John 15:9-17 when Jesus commands His followers to love others just as He has loved them. It is designed for children’s church or Sunday School. Please modify as best fits your ministry.
If your church follows the Revised Common Lectionary, this teaching plan would correspond to Year B – 6th Sunday of Easter, Gospel Reading – John 15:9-17.
Lesson – Just as I have Loved You

Supplies – Bible
What does it mean to love someone?
Those were some good answers.  Let’s see what the Bible has to say about love.  {read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7}
Well know we know ways to  love others.  Like being kind to them, or forgiving them.  But that doesn’t tell us everything about love.
Who are supposed to love?  And how much?  I think we need to look again.  {read John 15:12}
Wow, so we learned two things there.  Can anyone tell me what they were?

1. God commands us to love each other.  And by each other, He means everyone.
2. God commands us to love exactly like He loves.

That’s pretty big, don’t you think?  I mean, is that even possible?!?
Truthfully the answer is no.  We are all sinners who mess up, but God is pure and never makes any mistakes.  But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be trying.  This is what God asks us to do.
So let’s try this out.  I am going to need a bunch of volunteers today, so I hope you are ready.
Volunteer #1, I am going to give you a quick story, and I want you to tell me what you say or do.
You are getting ready to go to a birthday party but your parents forgot and now you are going to be really late.  What would you do or say?
Would anyone else react that way?  I think most people would be really upset.  We might even yell or cry or stomp away.  But is that what God asks us to do?
In 1 Corinthians it says love is patient.  That means we should stay calm and wait without complaining or arguing.  So now what you do or say?
Volunteer #2. You see a new kid at school that no one will talk to or play with.  What would you say or do?
Would any of you do the same thing?  In 1 Corinthians it says that love is kind, so we should nice, loving, and accepting to the the new kid, even if other people aren’t.
Volunteer #3.  You have awards at school and your best friend wins tons of awards, while you get none.  What would you do?
The Bible says that love does not envy.  That means that instead of wanting those awards for ourselves, we should celebrate with our friend for all the great things they have.
Volunteer #4.  What if YOU were the one getting all of those awards while your best friend got none?
I think this would be pretty difficult, but the Bible says love does not boast and is not proud.  That means that you should be grateful for the things you do have, but never use them to make others feel bad or to show off.
Volunteer #5.  What would you if you found out that someone in school had an embarrassing secret?
Most people like to hear about embarrassing things because they think they are funny.  But what about the person you are laughing at?  The Bible says love does not dishonor others, which means we shouldn’t make fun of people or make them look bad.
Volunteer #6.  What would you do if you got a HUGE candy bar and your brother/sister asked if you would share?
It can be hard with brothers and sisters.  Usually they are the ones that we have the hardest time with!  But God says that love is not selfish, so you should think of others more than yourself.
Volunteer #7.  What would you do if someone pushed you?
You may want to push them back and say something mean, but God says love is not easily angered.
Volunteer #8.  If someone stole your bike and then broke it, would you forgive them?
Forgiveness is hard for everyone, but we are still called to be forgiving.  The Bible says that love keeps no record of wrong.
Volunteer #9.  If you broke the TV, would you tell your parents it was you, or would you blame it on the dog?
Who likes getting in trouble?  Not me!  But does that make it ok to tell a lie?  Nope.  The Bible tells us that love rejoices in truth.
The Bible has a whole lot to teach us about love.  And it’s not the yucky, mushy, gushy kind of love.  It’s the love that makes others just as important as you.  It’s the love that gives, serves, and spreads God’s joy and hope.
And love never fails.
Activity A – Just as I have Loved You – Bible Verse Challenge
Supplies – Bibles
Verse – John 15:12
Pass out Bibles to students. Bibles should be closed and sitting on the table face up in front of each child. When you say go, have the kids look up this week’s Bible verse. As each child finds the verse, have them stick one finger on the verse and quietly raise their other hand. The first one to find the verse gets to read it to the rest of the class.
Help younger kids and new kids find the verse by following these steps.
Look in the Table of Contents for the book you are looking for. Make an effort to show them if it is found in the Old Testament or New Testament to help them in the future. Then open the Bible to the page number listed in the Table of Contents.
Show them the large numbers in the text, known as the chapters. Flip through pages until you find the large chapter number you are looking for.
Then scan through the text with them pointing out the smaller verse numbers until the correct number is found.
Activity B – Just as I have Loved You – I Love You More Than

Supplies – none
Sit the class in a circle to play this memory game.  Start by saying “I love you more than…” followed by something beginning with the letter A.  Then the person to your right says “I love you more than…” repeating your item, and then adding another item beginning with the letter B.  Continue around the circle in this manor, counting someone out if they can’t remember all of the previous items.  The game ends when there is only one player left or you reach the end of the alphabet.
Closing Prayer – Just as I have Loved You

Before leaving, ask for a volunteer to pray for the class, and encourage them to ask God to help us love one another just as He loves us.