1st John 4:10

Wednesday:	1st John 4:10
Bible Lesson:	Raised from the Dead

Introduction: Love

Today's verse talks about an act of love. In the Bible, love is an action, something you do for another person. Love in the Bible isn't just nice feelings, though you may have nice feelings also. But Love is more than that: it's a promise that you don't break, that doesn't go away, something you do because you have decided to show love for someone.

Explanation: Reference

In this act is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son, a payment for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

[Show the verse and read it aloud.]

Who in the verse showed love? Was it us? No. It was God. How did God show love for us? He sent his Son. Who's that? Jesus, the Christ. Why did he send Jesus? Because he loved us, yes, but why did Jesus have to come? To pay for our sins, so that we could go to heaven and be with God forever.

Why did we need someone to pay for our sins, so that we could go to heaven? Because the wage of sin is death, and sin and death cannot enter heaven. How did Jesus pay for our sins? He had to die. Wow, that's really a strong love. Have you ever loved someone enough to die for them? God did.

Game: Covered Words

Show the posterboard of the verse. Read the verse together twice, then begin covering words, one at a time, and read the verse after each, filling in the covered words. Cover unimportant words first, saving nouns and verbs for last. When all the words are covered, cover the reference and have the children say the whole thing a couple more times.

Announcement: Verse Points

Read announcement about saying the verse the next day:

Tomorrow, when you come to Bible School, if you can say your memory verse without looking, you can earn 100 points for your team's score. Each person who can say the verse can earn 100 points. So, if you want to help your team win more points, go home and practice your verse a few times. Don't forget the reference! On your way out the door tonight, you will be given a slip of paper with your verse on it. Don't lose it, because if you learn your verse, your team gets 100 more points!

You can say your verse for points tomorrow when you check in at the registration table.