Lesson

I’ve got another Bible verse to share, and if you know it, say it with me, ok?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 NIV

I thought some of you might know that one.  John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses in the whole Bible.  But I wonder, does knowing the words mean you know what means and how important it really is?

This really is a great verse to know.  It tells us Jesus’s whole purpose in just a few short words.  So let’s take a minute to really learn what Jesus was saying.

“For God so loved the world…”  Do you believe that?  That God really does love the world.  The WHOLE world.  The good, bad, rich, poor, young, old, sick, healthy, angry, and joyful.  God loves us all.  He loves those who love Him, and He loves those who hate Him.

Do you know why that is so important?  It means you don’t have to earn God’s love.  He already loves you, and there is absolutely nothing you could do that would change His love.

Whew, that makes me feel better!  We all sin sometimes, but it is so nice to know that God will still love us even when do mess up.

Ok, next section.  “…that He gave His one and only Son,…”

If you ever think that maybe God doesn’t love you, just think about this part.  God loved you so much that He gave up His own Son for you.  God knew we needed a perfect sacrifice, and He knew His Son Jesus was the only one who be that sacrifice.

And why do we need that perfect sacrifice?  That’s in our next section.

“…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

With that perfect sacrifice we can live forever with God.  And that’s God biggest wish.  He wants nothing more than for you to live with Him in heaven.  Yes, YOU!

God loves YOU so much that He was willing to send His Son Jesus as YOUR sacrifice, so YOU could live in heaven with Him.  YOU!

Have you ever really thought about that verse like that?  It becomes more than just words I’ve memorized; it’s REAL.

Raise your right hand if you are happy to know God loves you.  Keep it up!  Raise your left hand if you are happy Jesus took your place as a sacrifice.  Keep it up!  Now wave those hands if you want to live in heaven with God and Jesus forever and ever and ever.  Woohoo!

And how do we get there?  That is in the verse too!  All we have to do is believe in God.  We don’t have to be perfect, or grown up, or super smart, we just have to believe in God, put our faith and trust in Him, and love Him in return.

God loves YOU.  YOU love God.

Directions

1. Have the kids use the watercolor or paint to swirl and paint a "globe" on a the plate or white piece of paper.
2. Have them cut out a heart from the red paper and write the memory verse on it. 

Directions

1.  Have the kids get into teams.
2.  Each team can write out the memory verse and tear it up into pieces so that each piece has one word of the memory verse on it. 
3. Have each team place their pile at one end of the room and line up at the other end. 
4. When you say go, each team will send one person at a time to retrieve a part of the scripture and bring it back to their team. The first team to retrieve all pieces and place them in order to create the memory verse wins!

Directions

1. Have one player facing the wall. Everyone else should line up behind them on the other side of the room.

2. The idea of the game is for the players to sneak up and tap the person facing the wall on the shoulder.

3. The person may turn around at any time, and anyone seen moving, must return to the start.

4. Remind them how Nicodemus didn’t want to get caught talking to Jesus.