Hey youngins! Today we will be talking about what we look like to God. To help us, we will be reading a scripture from the book of Galatians. This verse describes what we look like before the eyes of God, when we choose to live in His light.
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:22-23
This week, we will focus on the first two “fruits of the spirit,” which are: Love & Joy. For starters, what do you think “fruits of the spirit” means?
The fruits of the spirit are 9 key characteristics [qualities] or attributes [traits] that one attains [gains, achieves, possesses] when they choose to live in the light of the Lord [live in agreement with the Holy Spirit].
What do you guys think love means? How would you describe it?
Love [Agape], as described in the Bible, is considered a selfless, unconditional love for others, as God loves us, His children. It is a kind of love that you can SEE, not just TALK ABOUT. What are some things that someone can do that SHOW they love you, without them having to say it?
For example…what about feeding someone? Can that be considered showing love, without having to say the words, “I love you?” Or how about clothing someone? Sheltering someone [giving them a place to live]? Would these all be forms of love that can be SEEN, NOT just talked about?
God calls His children to love others as He loves us. We may not HEAR God say the words “I love you,” but we can SEE His love for us through His actions and BLESSINGS.
The next fruit of the spirit is joy. Can anyone tell me what they think the word joy means? How would you guys describe it to a friend?
Joy, as described in the Bible, is a deep, inner happiness or state of well-being, no matter what goes on in the world around us. True joy is considered to be a reflection of God’s presence and peace. Can anyone name some examples of what joy looks like?
How about, joy during a storm? Have any of you ever been stuck in the house, in the dark, during a really bad thunderstorm? [The storm outside is so bad that it’s caused a blackout, and everyone is forced to have to stay indoors for safety.] What are some things that one could do to show joy during this time?
What about…play a game? Would that be considered a sign of joy? If so, can anyone tell us how?
Playing a game during a storm can be a reflection of joy, because even through uncertainty, you are still experiencing HAPPINESS. The thunder and the rain does not affect your state of well-being. It is merely…background noise.
Living in agreement with the Holy Spirit can be challenging sometimes because, well, we live in an unpredictable, uncontrollable world. However, when you choose to walk in God’s light, He will equip [prepare, provide] you with the things you need to be successful in your walk. How will you choose to walk in love and joy today?
Interactive Activity: Divide the letters of “LOVE & JOY” [& sign included] evenly amongst the group and encourage each child to design their assigned letter(s) to their liking. These letters will then be collected and used at a later date for the creation of a “bigger picture” activity.
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