Lesson 3: Choose Kindness.
Passage: Matthew 5:38-42 - Jesus taught that while the Law of Moses called for justice through the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” his followers are called to a higher standard of non-violence and radical grace. Instead of retaliating against those who wrong them, they should turn the other cheek, give more than what is asked, and go the extra mile when compelled to do so. He also urged his followers to be generous to those who ask and a willingness to lend without refusal.
Big Idea: Jesus’ way is peace.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome Activity: — All Leaders
Have one leader greet the children with the iPad roster outside the classroom door. Check-in the children in your classroom as they arrive.
Have another leader invite the children in to sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Introduce yourselves.
Leader: “Good morning friends! It’s so nice to see you! We are glad you are here today. We are going to play a little game to get started today.
Warm Up Activity: Bubbles Everywhere — Activity Leader
The Activity Leader will bubble guns to blow bubbles everywhere around the room while the kids try to pop as many bubbles as they can. Then, for the second round, the Leader will instruct the kids not to pop any bubbles, but to freeze in place and watch the bubbles float around. The Leader will then explain that sometimes in life we should take action while at other times we should practice patience and self-control. This could also be done as Freeze Dance.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are going to learn more about what Jesus taught his followers.
First, we learned that we can spread God’s goodness and love in the world like sprinkling salt on food or shining a light in the dark. Then we learned about always telling the truth and saying what we mean.
Today we’re going to learn about what we should do if someone else is not so nice to us.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Lesson 3: Choose Kindness from Lesson Plan Playlist
Follow Up Questions — Bible Story Leader
Does anyone remember what Jesus said about what we should do if someone is not nice to us? Should we be mean back?
What are some things we can do instead?
Do you think we can still be kind to people who aren’t kind to us? What do you think might happen if we did that?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you for teaching us that we can be kind to people even if they aren’t kind to us, just like Jesus did. Please teach us to share, to help others, and to choose love and kindness instead of fighting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Leader: Alright friends I think we should get up and move around a bit before our craft can everybody stand up?
Body Break Activity: — Sing & Dance
Play ‘Toddler Worship Thank-you’ from Worship Playlist.
Encourage Children to sing and do the actions
After the song finishes head to the craft tables for the activity.
Activity: Popsicles tissue paper and glue craft.
Kids will use tissue paper squares and glue to create popsicles on their pages.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Dismiss children manually with Roster iPad and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — All Leaders
Welcome the children to the front of the classroom.
Manually Check-in each child using the iPad Roster. Introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Freeze dance
Select Freeze dance video from activity playlist.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are continuing our series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is when he taught people from the side of a mountain.
So far, we’ve learned about how Jesus said we are like salt and light when we spread God’s goodness and love in the world, like sprinkling salt on food or like shining a light in the dark. We also learned that Jesus taught us not to make promises like “I swear I’ll do this” or “I swear I won’t do that”, but to speak truthfully and say what we mean.
Today we’ll be learning about what Jesus said we should do if someone is mean or does something wrong towards us.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…Video Lesson — Play Lesson 3: Turning the other cheek from lesson playlist.
Follow Up Questions — Bible Story Leader
Does anyone remember what Jesus said about what we should do if someone hurts us? Should we fight them and try to hurt them back?
What are some ideas of things you can you do instead?
Do you think that we can still be kind to people who aren’t kind to us? What do you think might happen if we do that?
What if someone keeps hurting you or doing the same thing again and again? What do you think is the best thing to do in that situation?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you for Jesus’ teaching about turning the other cheek and being kind to people who aren’t kind to us. Please show us how to follow your ways and be people who are peaceful and kind, so that we can be a good example and others might be able to see you through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Kindness craft
Kids will use tissue paper, markers and glue to create their craft.
Dismissal: Use the iPad Roster to dismiss children making sure each child leaves with their care-givers.
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Welcome — All Leaders
Welcome the kids to class, ask how their week was.
Check them into class using the iPad roster.
Warm Up Activity: Count to Ten — Activity Leader
Kids will sit or stand in a circle. The group will count to ten or twenty with only one person saying a number at a time (not in order, but randomly).
If two or more people speak at the same time, counting must start again from the beginning.
Leader’s notes:
It’s fine for one person to say a number twice in one round, but not in succession.
They should try doing this without eye contact.
An option is to try doing this while everyone is facing away from one another or with their eyes closed.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are continuing our series on the Sermon on the Mount, which is all about the teachings that Jesus gave to his followers from a mountainside.
Does anyone remember what some of those teachings were that we learned so far?
First, we learned that Jesus said we are like salt and light when we spread God’s goodness and love in the world (like sprinkling salt on food or shining a light in the dark).
Then, we learned about how we shouldn’t make promises or oaths, but instead, we should speak truthfully and say what we mean.
Today we’re going to learn about what Jesus taught his followers to do when someone hurts or wrongs them in some way.
Read: Matthew 5:38-42
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Play Lesson 3: Choosing Kindness from playlist
Follow Up Questions — Bible Story Leader
What do you think Jesus meant when he said that we should turn the other cheek? Do you think we should just let people hurt us and not protect ourselves?
What can learn from both Jesus’ example and his teaching together?
Do you think Jesus’ standards for us are pretty high? Do you think these teachings would be easy or difficult for you to follow?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you for Jesus’ teachings that challenge us to live as people of peace. Although it’s not always easy to turn the other cheek or go the extra mile, help us to follow Jesus’ words and example and become more like him each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Comic Strip — Activity Leader
Kids will create a comic strip based on the theme Bible passage they read in class earlier. They can choose to illustrate all parts of the verse or choose just one (ie. turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, etc.).
Dismissal: Using the iPad roster manually dismiss each child making sure they leave with their care-giver.
For Parents
Follow-up questions.
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What do you usually do when someone isn’t being nice to you?
What did Jesus say we should do?
Is it easy or hard to be kind to someone who isn’t kind to you?
What do you think is the best thing to do instead of fighting back? (Ask them to stop, talking to an adult that you trust)
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
Has someone ever done something hurtful to you? How did you react?
What does Jesus teach us is the right thing to do in this situation?
Do you think it’s easy to be kind to someone who isn’t kind to you?
What do you think is a better way to solve a problem you have with someone instead of fighting back?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
Have you ever wanted to get someone back for hurting you? What did you do in that situation?
What do you think about Jesus’ teaching about turning the other cheek? Did he practice what he preached?
Do you think Jesus wants us to let people hurt us without doing anything about it?
What are some healthier ways we can respond instead of fighting back?
