THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
What is the greatest commandment?
Love
“...God is ______.”
Love (1 John 4:16)
God loves us no matter what we do. Is that conditional or unconditional love?
Unconditional
We should forgive those who wronged us, just as ______ forgave us.
God (He forgave us when we sinned against Him)
A new student is sitting by themselves at lunch while you are with your friends. What does love tell you to do?
Leave the comfort of your group and go sit with them.
Who said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment”?
Jesus (Matthew 22:37-38)
“Love is from ______...”
God (1 John 4:7)
Loving our friends because they love us back, help us, or have fun with us. Is that conditional or unconditional love?
Conditional
How can people look at us and know that we are Christians?
We are overflowing with love.
Your friend is having a hard time and keeps asking you to explain the same thing again. How can you show love?
Be patient with them and help them.
What did God do that showed us the greatest action of love?
God became man (God incarnate), and Jesus was crucified on the cross for us.
“If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am ______.”
Nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Why does Jesus love us?
Because we are His creation.
Name an animal that moves in a group or colony and has a leader.
Any one: bees, ants, wasps, termites, or mole-rats.
Maria is only nice to Sofia because Sofia shares her snacks and they have fun together. Is this Agape or Philia love?
Philia: conditional love, because Maria loves Sofia for what she gets back.
Why do we love God?
Because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
“...whoever loves has been ______ of God and ______ God.”
Born... knows (1 John 4:7)
When God tells us to love, which type of love is He talking about?
Agape (selfless, unconditional love)
God says if you only love your friends, you are no greater than who? Why?
Thieves, because even thieves love their friends.
Your little brother breaks something of yours and says he is sorry. What should you do, and why?
Forgive him, just as God forgave us when we sinned against Him.
What are the first two commandments?
1) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 2) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18)
“...he who ______ in love ______ in God, and God in him.”
Abides... abides (1 John 4:16)
What are the two main types of love, and what does each one mean?
Agape: selfless/divine love (unconditional). Philia: friendship/brotherly love (conditional).
Why would a lesson about love show a picture of a locust?
Locusts move together in swarms without an apparent king. We are like locusts: we move together in love, following Christ, our unseen King.
A classmate was mean to you yesterday, and today they need help. Which type of love helps them anyway, and why?
Agape: unconditional love. We love them even if they don’t love us back, just like God loves us no matter what we do.