When we love like Jesus, we don’t judge people based on the color of their skin or any other trait. Use this Martin Luther King Jr. Day Sunday school lesson to teach about Christlike love.
This MLK Day, explore Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4. Children will discover how God loves and values all people.
Learn To Love Like Jesus: MLK Day Message
Scripture: John 4:1-26
You’ll need:
The Samaritan Woman
Say: This week we celebrate the birthday of a great man. Martin Luther King Jr. understood that God values all people and that our differences make us all special. Martin Luther King taught that God created all people in a unique and beautiful way. He knew that differences can bring people together instead of keep us apart. He tried to treat people as Jesus did.
Open your Bible to John 4:1-26, and show the children the words.
Say: The Bible tells how some people treated others from a country named Samaria. Have kids find a partner and stand back to back. It’s kind of like how you’re standing. They wanted nothing to do with Samaritans. They turned their backs on each other.
But not Jesus. He treated all people with love. Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman. He told her that God loved her no matter who she was or what she had done, and she could live forever with him! She was so happy, she told other people from Samaria. Because of her, lots of people heard about our awesome God who loves everyone!
Have kids turn to face their partners and hug or give a high-five.
Say: That’s how God wants us to treat everyone.
God Loves Everyone
Ask:
- Have you ever felt different from everyone else? When?
Say: What if God had made all of us the same? The same colors, the same talents, the same personalities? Pretty boring, huh? Have kids stand back to back with their partners again. We all have felt different at one time or another. Maybe it was in a good way—like you were the only one who got an A+ on the big math test. Or maybe you’re the only one in your family who can play a musical instrument.
But maybe you’ve felt different before because of something not so great. Maybe you were the “new kid.” Or maybe all your friends have brand-new bikes while you’re stuck riding a hand-me-down bike.