Curriculum
Playing Favorites
Memory Verse:
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” (James 2:1)
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus wants us to love Him and others well. He calls us to be kind and treat others with love—even those who are tough to love. We can overcome our own selfishness when we show love to others.
Scripture Summary
James wrote this letter to first-century Christians who were living in Gentile communities. He wanted to encourage them and also call them to right living as part of their devotion to Jesus. One of the themes in James is the law of love. Through our actions, we can show that our faith is real.
We are not to show favoritism. Naturally, there are friends that we’re more drawn to or have more in common with, but our intentional acts of love should be for everyone. James gives an example of giving the best seats to those who are rich while telling a poor person to just stand in a corner. But Jesus’ message turned everything upside down. The last will be first. The poor, not the rich, will inherit the kingdom.
Showing favoritism is a sin. Instead, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This includes all of our neighbors, friends, and those in our community.
We’ve all heard the phrase “Actions speak louder than words.” While he didn’t put more weight on either one, James said that faith and actions go hand in hand. No one is a follower of Christ in words only.
True faith transforms our entire lives, including our actions. And the Holy Spirit can produce fruit through us as evidence of our faith and His work in our lives.
Why Is This Important
God loves us and invites us into His family. The same is true for everyone around us. He wants us to love others as He loved us—in word and action. We can be kind to our friends and those we don’t know well.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:5-7, NLT)
My head and my heart don’t always communicate with each other well. I know certain things in my head as they’re logical, and I know them to be true. But, my heart is slower to embrace certain things. In fact, whether or not God has favorites is one of those very topics.
I can get trapped in comparison. A quick scroll through my Facebook feed shows the highlights of others’ lives—pics of a recent family vacation; all family members smiling in one picture; updates of friendships; news of career advancement; and, of course, a delicious, colorful, fully balanced homemade meal.
If I’m not careful, this quick glance can easily turn into wondering if everyone else is God’s favorite. Because I’m also looking at my own piles of dirty laundry, unpaid bills, ignored texts, empty seats at the dinner table, and an unfilled wish list.
I’m quick to ask, “Why me?” when things aren’t going my way. But when was the last time I asked the same question when blown away by God’s goodness? Take time to read the passage above again, slowly. And then list three incredible blessings that God has provided for you. Don’t worry, no one else will see the list. Be honest. They can be huge or small things. And they don’t have to be the typical things people list or even things you “should” list. Go ahead and list those things now.
“This is what God does. He gives His best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.” (Matthew 5:45, The Message)
So, I guess God does have favorites. You’re His favorite. I’m His favorite. Your best friend is His favorite, and the kiddo in your classroom who is toughest to love is His favorite, too.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for choosing me as Your favorite. I know that You have showered me with blessings, and I pray that You help me see and remember them. I want to share Your blessings and Your good news with others today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Bibles, “Pinwheel” handout, Colored pencils or crayons, Scissors, Straws, Pushpins, Masking tape
Get Ready: Watch the Playing Favorites How-to video to learn how to make the pinwheel.
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” (James 2:1)
Lead kids in these steps:
- Invite kids to open their Bibles to James 2:1.
- Invite several kids to read the verse aloud.
- Pass out the “Pinwheel” handouts. Invite kids to color each section (which features a phrase from the Bible memory verse) in a different color.
- Follow these directions to make a pinwheel:
- Use scissors to cut along the dotted lines on the pinwheel handout, both around the square and from each diagonal point to the center circle.
- Fold in toward the center dot every point on the handout that features a dot, and gather the points tightly in the center with your hands.
- Stick the pushpin through the paper layers in the center as you hold all the gathered points together.
- While holding the pushpin with the gathered points tightly in one hand, use your other hand to push the remainder of the pin through a straw.
- Bend the back of the pushpin down at a 90-degree angle so that it is in a safe position and won’t poke you.
- Use a piece of masking tape to secure the pin on the straw.
- Invite kids to blow on their pinwheels and say the Bible memory verse aloud as it spins around.
SAY: Just like each petal of your pinwheel is different, each of us is different. Being different doesn’t make us better or worse than each other. We are all special to God, and that is why this verse from God’s Word tells us not to show favoritism.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bibles, Paper, Pens, Envelopes
- Invite kids to open their Bibles to James 2:1-10.
- Read the passage aloud.
- Next, invite kids to address an envelope to themselves by writing their names in the middle.
- Instruct kids to take a piece of paper and pretend they are James writing a present-day letter to people about not playing favorites. Encourage them to be creative with their letters and use examples.
- After children complete their letters, collect them.
- Send each child a letter from another classmate “in the mail” by stuffing a letter from a different child inside each child’s envelope as a reminder of today’s lesson.
- If time allows, you can read each letter to the class.
SAY: Great job on your letters! Sometimes we think because the Bible was written a while ago, it doesn’t matter today. God’s Word is always true, and this important reminder can help us to not show favoritism, just like James instructed in the Bible. When you get home, read your letter from a classmate reminding you of the truth we learned today: Don’t show favoritism.
Snack
Gospel M&M’s
You’ll Need: Paper plates, Napkins, M&M’s
Follow these steps for the “Gospel M&M’s” snack:
- Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, and a handful of M&M’s, making sure each child gets at least one of each color.
- Tell the kids that each color is different but represents an important part of the Gospel story.
- Explain the Gospel story while sharing that the blue candies stand for our sins that make God sad, red candies stand for Jesus’ blood that washes away our sins, green candies stand for growth in Christ, brown candies stand for baptism (or when we decide to ask Jesus into our hearts), and yellow candies stand for heaven.
- Children can enjoy eating each color of their M&M’s as you read off what each color represents.
SAY: The great news of the Gospel story is that God doesn’t play favorites. He loves you enough that he sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for your sins, no matter who you are. That’s great news!
Game
Tug of War
You’ll Need: Long rope
To play the “Tug of War” game, have kids follow these steps:
- Divide the children up, ensuring that there is a mix of tall and short children for each side.
- Let children know that ALL of their sizes are very important to this tug of war game.
- Play several rounds, mixing up the teams, keeping a variety of sizes on either side.
ASK:
- Is there a time when you saw someone treated badly because they were different from others? Explain how that made you feel.
- Why is it important for the church to be made up of all kinds of different people?
SAY: Great job working together and using all your unique strengths to play tug of war. Each one of you were important to your team’s success!
Craft
Colorful Heart Chain
You’ll Need: Paper in various colors and patterns, Scissors, Markers, Ribbon, Hole punch
Follow these steps to make the “Colorful Heart Chain” craft:
- Spread out the various kinds of paper in the center of a table where all the children can reach them. Give each child a long piece of ribbon.
- Instruct children to cut out different-size heart shapes and pinch a hole on each side. Assist children who need help hole-punching.
- Explain that all the hearts are different, but they are all very important to the heart chain the kids will be making.
- By pulling the ribbon through the holes, children will link their hearts together to make a long chain.
- Help children tie a big knot or bow at each end of their ribbons so their hearts don’t fall off.
- Children can write words or draw pictures on their hearts that are in- spired from today’s Bible lesson after they’ve completed the chain.
SAY: I love the variety of your hearts and the words and images you made that were inspired by today’s Bible lesson. When you look at your heart chains, remember that we can share Jesus’ love by not showing favoritism.
ASK:
- When is it hard for you to not play favorites? Why?
- What is one way you can make people feel loved and special, even if they are different from you?
Prayer
Musical Prayers
You’ll Need: Music, Chairs (1 less than the number of kids)
- Play musical chairs.
- The child who doesn’t end up with a chair goes to the center of the circle, and the leader will lead kids in prayer for that child.
- Play several rounds, always with one less chair.
PRAY: Dear God, we learned today that we should not play favorites. Help us to love everyone and treat them equally with love and kindness. Thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
