22 MARCH 2020

Lesson Summary for the Teacher

“The Unloved Woman”

Bible Reference:
John 8:2-11

Story Focus: Jesus is our friend even when no one else is. What about the woman who was dragged out and condemned in public by her accusers? We call her the unloved woman because that’s what she was. A woman who knew little of what true love really is. Yes, she had made bad choices. Yes, she was guilty. And this made people look down on her. But it wasn’t that way with Jesus. Jesus loved her and wanted to be her friend, no matter what.

Worship (Sing It)

Story (Tell It)

WHAT YOU NEED: A playground ball, a lunch box or bag, a toy car, a box, and a Bible. (Enters carrying a Bible and box with props and sets the box on the table.)

STORY TELLER: “Hi, friends! Today’s true story from the Bible begins with a woman.

“This woman was very sad. Can you show me your very sad face? (Pause.) So sad! This woman was sad because she didn’t have any friends. She’d made a lot of bad choices and now no one wanted to be her friend. Wouldn’t that make you sad?

(Hold up the playground ball.)
“What if you had no friends to play with at the park? It’s not so fun to throw a ball to yourself.

(Hold up the lunch box.)
“What if you had no friends to sit with you while you have a snack? Silent snack? That’s no fun.

(Hold up the toy car.)
“What if you had no one to play cars with? Everybody knows it’s way more fun to race cars with someone else. Not having any friends would be so sad.

(Walk back to front of the stage, leaving the props in the box or on the table.)
“One day, Jesus was teaching a bunch of people. Suddenly, some men who didn’t like the woman brought her to Jesus and said, ‘Jesus, this woman has done bad things! She deserves to be punished!’

“What do you think? Do you think Jesus loved her and wanted to be her friend? (Pause.) Yes! Jesus did love her and wanted to be her friend. Instead of punishing her, Jesus asked the men, ‘Have you ever done bad things? Have you  ever made bad choices? Step forward if you’re perfect and have never done bad things or done anything wrong.’

“Can you guess what happened? No one stepped forward because none of them were perfect. Jesus told the woman that He would be her friend. He told her that He loved her no matter what and that she should stop making bad choices.

(Stand behind the table and pick up the ball again.)
“Tell me, friends, will Jesus be our friend even when we don’t have anyone to play with?

(Hold up the lunch box and toy car.)
“Will Jesus love you when you need to finish your snack or play with your cars on your own? (Pause.) Of course.

Will Jesus love us no matter what? (Pause.) Yes! Jesus will always love us. Jesus wants to be our friend forever. So tell me:
Who does Jesus love?”

CHILDREN AND STORY TELLER: “Jesus loves everyone.”
STORY TELLER: (Walk to the right side of the stage.) “Friends on this side, who does Jesus love?”
CHILDREN AND STORY TELLER: “Jesus loves everyone.”
STORY TELLER: (Walk to the left side of the stage.) “Friends on this side, who does Jesus love?”
CHILDREN AND STORY TELLER: “Jesus loves everyone.”
STORY TELLER: “That’s right! I don’t ever want you to forget that Jesus loves everyone. Let’s tell God how happy
we are that Jesus loves everyone.”

Story (Practice It)

Memory Verse

“Love each other as I have loved you.” JOHN 15:12, NIV

Bottom Line

Jesus loves everyone.

Group (Link It)

JESUS LOVES EVERYONE!

WHAT YOU NEED: “Everyone” Activity Page, cardstock, and washable markers

WHAT YOU DO:
BEFORE THE ACTIVITY: Copy the “Everyone” Activity Page onto cardstock (one page per child). Set the washable markers on the table.
DURING THE ACTIVITY: Pass out an “Everyone” Activity Page to each child. Point out the hearts on the page. Encourage the children to use the markers to trace all the hearts on the page. Use the dialogue below to talk about how Jesus loves everyone as they’re working.

WHAT YOU SAY:
BEFORE THE ACTIVITY: “Do you see the hearts on your page? Let’s use the markers to trace all the hearts! These hearts remind me of what we’re learning this month. Who does Jesus love? (Pause.) Yes! Jesus loves everyone! See all the people in the center of this heart? They remind me, too, that Jesus loves everyone.”
AFTER THE ACTIVITY: “Right here it says: Love each other as I have loved you, John 15:12. Jesus loves you and He loves me. He loves the woman from our Bible story today who didn’t have any friends. He loves EVERYONE! Who does Jesus love? Jesus loves everyone.”