Bible Passage
7th Sunday after Epiphany (Luke 6:27-38)

 

Jesus was with his disciples and a great crowd of people.  Jesus taught them some important things about love.

Watch the video to find out what Jesus taught them:

 

Jesus said Love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.  Don’t judge others.  Forgive others.  Jesus was asking us to do a hard thing.  He explained that if we love only those who love us, it’s not a big deal because anyone can do that.  But it is God’s way to love everyone.

Jesus was inviting us to live as we are:  children of God and to deal with others in the same way that God deals with us:  with mercy, generosity, grace, and love.

God loves us.  No matter what, God loves us.  Jesus died on the cross and rose to new life and we share in that new life here and now and for all eternity.

God wants us to love everyone, just like God does.  Not just people we like, but everyone.  That includes people who look different or act different or think different than us.  Everyone. Really.

What it doesn’t mean, though, is that God wants us to let others hurt or abuse us.  If that happens, God doesn’t want that because God wants everyone to be loved.  If someone is hurting us or bullying us or abusing us, we should tell a trusted adult.

Jesus once said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Jesus calls us to the way of love.

Discuss

  • What does it feel like to be loved?
  • Who are some of the people who love you?
  • Who are some of the people in our world today who most need love?

 

Song

I’ll Do My Best.  Go Fish Guys.  (Go ahead and do the motions!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8URE4T4_U8

 

Activity

The link below is a reading of the book Rufus and His Angry Tail.  In the story, we see how Rufus deals with his anger with Ava.  Rufus turns to God in prayer and it works well for Rufus.  We should remember, however, that if someone is abusing us, we should also tell a trusted adult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYCfihRmvpM

 

Activity

This simple heart craft was designed for Valentine’s Day, which was last week, but it can be a good reminder of Jesus’ call to the way of love.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, you invite us to the way of love.  Help us to love others.  Amen.

 

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday as we continue through this COVID wilderness.  Contact him at [email protected].