Lesson 6

Goodness

Once God’s Spirit is at work within us, it produces the wonderful fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Energy Release!

Introduction

What is goodness? Goodness models Christ’s actions of love, humility, and forgiveness. It shows integrity, honesty, and compassion towards others. It is only possible through God’s power at work in our heart. I love the reminder in our verse this week that it is God at work in us that fulfills His good purpose. It’s all Him, not us. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." [Philippians 2:13, NIV] Not only can we see God’s goodness displayed through the way He loves, guides, and cares for us, but we can also see it everyday in creation. Creation reflects God—His nature, character, and goodness.

Activities

Activity 1 "Goodness on the Inside Banana Object Lesson"

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials needed from the cart:

bananas (one per child)
Pens or Sharpie Markers (Depending on your kids ages and your bravery level with letting them use permanent markers).

Get the details by clicking here!

Directions:

Pass out a banana to each child.
Instruct everyone to decorate the outside of their banana. *Note, you can really have fun with this. They could decorate them to be a bad guy and relate it to God providing his goodness to someone who isn't use to being good if that person becomes saved. You could just have them decorate them as a happy banana and talk about how even people that try their best need God's gift of goodness in their lives because hard things happen in life.
Once everyone is finished decorating, peel open the bananas. Talk about how what we see on the outside appearance of a person doesn’t show us what is on the inside (in their heart). Only God sees our hearts & only the Holy Spirit working inside of us can create goodness in our heart. If someone opens up a banana that has brown spots, that’s a great opportunity to reiterate how what’s on the outside doesn’t always show us what’s on the inside.

Relation to Goodness: When we allow God into our lives He fills us with His goodness regardless of what happens on the outside of our lives. He always gives us His goodness so that we can forgive others, love other, be kind to others and show God's love to others.

Activity 2 "Taste and See That the Lord is Good Paint Activity"

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials needed from the cart:

Taste & See Printable
Cardstock
Lemons, Limes, Oranges, or Grapefruit
Paint
Plates
Knife (to cut fruit in half)

Get the details by clicking here!

Directions:

Print out the Taste & See Printable on cardstock.
Cut the citrus fruit of your choice in half.
Squeeze paint onto a plate.
Dip the fruit in the paint and then stamp it on the paper.
Let dry completely before hanging up.

Relation to Goodness: Here is a good opportunity to connect the Fruit of the Spirit with the fruit used to paint. This may help the kids remember that Goodness is a Fruit of the Spirit! Also, while kids are painting around the scripture take time to talk about the scripture "Taste and see that the Lord is good". Ask the kids what they think that may mean! Make sure to connect that God is ALWAYS good to us and that we when we devote our lives to Him he will give us His goodness so that we can live our lives through Him.

Activity 3 "Shining Goodness"

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials needed from the cart:

Construction Paper
Markers and/or crayons
Scissors

Get the details by clicking here!

Directions and relation to Goodness:

Jesus teaches in Mark 10:18, "No one is good but God alone." "Good" is such an all-purpose term, especially for children, that it loses any real sense of meaning. To help children better understand what it means that God is good, have them cut out large yellow or orange circles and inch-wide strips of paper. Brainstorm together synonyms of good and specific examples of God's goodness. Write one idea on each strip and glue the strips around the edge of the circle as sun rays. Write a caption in the middle of the sun such as, "I know God is good because …" or "God's goodness is a shining light."

Activity 4 "Salty or Sweet"

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials needed from the cart:

Salt
Sugar
Plates or pieces of construction paper

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Directions and relation to Goodness:

Have the kids taste the one that they think is "good". Some kids may pick the sugar... some may pick the salt! Talk about how bad the salt tasted and how it makes them feel to think they are going to taste the good, sweet sugar and instead they get the salt. Relate this to being a Christian! Tell them that as christians we are expected to show God's goodness to others. That is what God expects! Ask them if there are ways they have been "salty" (or maybe haven't shown God's goodness in their life). Ask them if there are ways they have been "sweet" (showing God's goodness in their life). We should daily strive to show God's goodness.

goodness Special Delivery.pdf

Activity 5 "Paper Airplane"

Time: 5-10 minutes

Materials needed from the cart:

Paper airplane template
Crayons

Get the details by clicking here!

Directions: Have the kids color their paper airplane and then help them fold it. While they are coloring read the story the following story to the kids about the early church:

In today's story we find out what happens when Jesus' followers form the early church and begin to do God's work. Let's read about it from the Bible. As we read, think about how the very first church compares to our church today.

"Acts 2:42–47 (NIV): 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32–37 (NIV): 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Follow up questions:

Do you wish you had been part of this church? Explain.
What made these people want to take such good care of each other?
What are some good things from God you can share that you can't touch or feel? (Words of encouragement; the Good News about Jesus; promises to pray for someone.)

Wrap It Up!

-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more about God's Goodness? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family about Goodness.

-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.

-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).

Worship

Last Minute Filler Ideas

-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.

-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)