1 John 5:3-4

Tuesday:	Commanding Officer
Bible Lesson:	We should obey Christ. (The Centurion's Servant)
Memory Verse:	1st John 5:3-4, This is love for God: to obey his commands; and his commands are not burdensome.

If there is extra time, you can review the verse from the previous day.

Introduction: Loving God

How many of you love God? How do you know that you love God?

Explanation: 1^st John 5:3-4

[Show the verse and read it aloud.]

What can you do that can show that you love him? (Accept answers.) This verse says that if we love God, we will obey his commands. What are some of God's commands? (Accept answers.) Now, if we're obeying God, should we be whining and complaining about it? ("Oh, it was so hard today, I had to tell the truth!") Our verse says that God's commands are not burdensome: they're not too hard, because we want to do them, because we love God. We shouldn't have to whine and complain about obeying.

Game: Popcorn

Whoever the teacher points to with the ruler/pointer/whatever has to “pop up” like popcorn (i.e., stand up quickly out of their seat) and say the next word of the verse. Leave the poster displayed at first, then after a while cover it up. Go through the verse this way until time expires. Make sure to point to all the children so that everyone participates, but don't go in order; jump around so that they never know when it's going to come to them.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.