For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son

(John 3:16a)

Lesson 6

God is Love

Elementary

Verse: “God is love” (1 John 4:8b).

Focus: God loves all the little children of the world.

Practical Application: Consider bringing a book about or pictures of children from around the world. Although children come from different countries, speak different languages, dress differently, and have different hair, eyes, and skin color, each one is special to God and God loves them just as God loves you.

Intermediate

Verse: “But Jesus said, Allow the little children and do not prevent them from coming to Me” (Matthew 19:14a).

Focus: God’s nature is love, and therefore His love is unconditional. God loves everyone, even the unlovable ones.

Practical Application: Consider asking the children, “We love those who love us but what about those who are mean to us or different from us?” God loves everyone including those who are not
like us or those who do not always obey Him.

Advanced

Verses: “[H]aving loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the uttermost” (John 13:1b). Or, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a).

Focus: God loves mankind (the world), and He loves mankind to the uttermost. His great love caused Him to give His only begotten Son to die for man so that man’s sin could be forgiven.

Practical Application: Consider presenting the following example: We may love our brother or sister but would we give him or her our most precious thing? How about someone who doesn’t like
us or someone we don’t like—would we share something precious with them? God loves all mankind to the extent that He gave His only begotten Son to die for man that man’s sin could be forgiven.