Curriculum

We Are One

We Are One Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Jesus and God are one—they have true unity. And they share that unity, a connectedness, with all believers to show the world God’s love.

Scripture Summary

There are many accounts of Jesus praying to God the Father—as He preached, in the garden, and on the cross. In this passage, Jesus had just taught about using His name in prayer. Like any good teacher, He then modeled prayer for those around Him. Jesus prayed for Himself as He knew the final steps of His ministry. Jesus prayed for His disciples because He knew they would continue to spread the gospel.

And Jesus prayed for future believers—including you and me. Jesus desired for the disciples and all believers to be one, a united front against the world. He used the example of God the Father and Jesus being one, each being within each other, and how this unity would confirm that God sent Jesus.

There’s truly strength in numbers. But those numbers need to have a common purpose. No one is strong alone, but when believers stand together, their strength exponentially multiplies.

And unity doesn’t mean constant agreement. Surely there will be disagreement among believers in and outside of the church. But God’s love and glory bring us all together into greater unity with Him. And through this unity, others will see that God did, in fact, send Jesus, come to know Him, and experience that the body of believers is one.

Why Is This Important

Following Christ is so much more than joining a club. While the church community is a beautiful thing, God’s love and His unity with and through us compels others to know and love Him, too.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song decades ago called “The Family of God.” The familiar hymn describes the beauty of belonging in God’s divine family. The song was inspired by a young father who experienced a tragic accident at work as a mechanic.

Gloria reflects, “Ron was alive but was not expected to make it through the night. Within minutes a chain of telephone calls alerted the family of God, and the whole church began to pray for Ron. Little groups, bigger groups, in homes, at the church, over the phone.” Ron made it through that first important milestone, and the body of Christ rejoiced. Bill and Gloria penned the new song soon after:

"You will notice we say “brother and sister” ’round here.

It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near; When one has a heartache we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.

I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I’m part of the family, the family of God."

Take some time to read the lyrics above multiple times, and reflect on these questions:

  • What word or phrase stands out to you about the family of God?
  • In what way does that word or phrase describe your experience in the family of God?
  • How does the song above differ from your own family? How is it similar?
  • In what way can you actively participate in the family of God today?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for inviting me into Your family. There’s a beautiful unity with You, Your Son, and other believers. I’m so thankful I belong in your family. Please help me share Your family with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles, Paper, Pen

Get Ready: Write the verse in large print on a piece of paper. Make one copy for every four kids in your group. Cut each group’s verse into pieces, and hide the pieces in one area of the room, away from where another group’s pieces are.

“I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23)

Have kids learn the Bible memory verse in this way:

  • Divide the class into groups of four.
  • Have kids in each group open their Bibles to John 17:22-23 and read the passage aloud.
  • Explain that since they’re learning about being united in Jesus, they’re going to hold hands with their group members without letting go. They’ll have to find the parts of the Bible memory verse and put them together.
  • Point each group to where the memory verse pieces are hidden.
  • Allow time for kids to complete the task.
  • When all groups are done, say the Bible memory verse aloud together.
  • Repeat several times.

ASK:

  • What about working in a group made this task easier? What made it more difficult?
  • What makes it easy or difficult for you to try to be united in Christ with others?
  • How might Jesus’ loving example guide you?

SAY: Jesus loves each of you so much, and He loves when we all work together to show His love to others.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Paper, Bulletin board paper, Markers

SAY: Today we’re learning that Jesus prayed to God that His friends would be united. So what does that mean for us?

Follow these steps:

  • Divide the class into small groups.
  • Read aloud John 17:20-26 or have kids take turns reading parts of it.
  • Use this illustration from author Watchman Nee in “The Normal Christian Life.”
    • Hold up a Bible and a piece of paper.
    • Have kids acknowledge that they’re separate.
    • Explain that the Bible represents Jesus and the paper represents them.
    • Place several sheets of paper into the Bible so they are not visible.

SAY: Now this shows you and me in Christ. We are not Christ, but we are in Him. If I were to mail this Bible to a different place, the paper would go with it. The paper can- not stay here while the Bible goes somewhere else, right?

  • Invite kids’ reactions.
  • Have groups work on their own to look up and read the following verses:
  • Romans 8:10
  • Galatians 2:20
  • Invite groups to talk about what they think it means to be united in Christ.
  • Have kids work together in their groups to create a picture or design on bulletin board paper to show what they learned.
  • Allow time for groups to share with the whole class.

ASK:

  • Why do you think being united in Christ is important?
  • How could you work together with someone to show love to the world?

SAY: When we believe in Jesus, He lives in us, and we’re in His family. He wants us to love like He did so the world can see His love. And when we remember His love, we can share it with others, too.

Snack

Love Sandwiches

You’ll Need: Graham crackers, Marshmallow fluff, Strawberries, Paper plates, Plastic knives

Get Ready: Cut strawberries into thin slices to resemble hearts by cutting a V-shape out of the top where the stem was.

Follow these steps for the “Love Sandwiches” snack:

  • Have kids clean their hands.
  • Remind kids they’re learning to be united in Jesus’ love, and when they’re united with others, the world sees how wonderful Jesus’ love is.
  • Invite kids to make Love Sandwiches by spreading marshmallow fluff on their graham crackers and adding heart-shaped strawberries.
  • Enjoy!

SAY: Jesus’ love is so good. He wants everyone to join in. And when others see how wonderful His love is, they’ll be excited to join in, too.

Game

Love Blob

SAY: Today we’re learning to join together in Jesus’ love, so let’s practice inviting one another into love with our game.

Follow these steps to play this version of Blob Tag:

  • Designate someone to be “It.”
  • When It tags someone, that person joins hands with It to form a blob.
  • Together, the two of them tag others. Each time someone is tagged, they must join the Love Blob by holding hands or holding on to the shoulder of another player.
  • Play until everyone has joined the Love Blob.
  • Repeat as time allows.

SAY: Love is contagious when we all work together to share Jesus’ love. That’s why Jesus wants us to be united in love; when others see our love, they’ll want to join Jesus’ family, too.

Craft

The Loving Family Portrait

You’ll Need: “The Loving Family Portrait” handouts, Crayons, Clear contact paper, Child-safe scissors, Velcro sticky-back, tape

To make the craft, have kids follow these steps:

  • Remind kids of the Bible passage and that all who believe in Jesus are part of His loving family.
  • Explain to kids that they’re going to make a family portrait that shows some of God’s family.
  • Give each child a handout.
  • Have kids color in the frames.
  • Have kids cut off any unnecessary parts of the handout.
  • Help kids use the contact paper to cover their handouts completely.
  • With the Velcro sticky-back tape still together, have kids remove the backing on one side and stick it into the inside of their frame in differ- ent places. (They’ll later remove the other backing and stick photos of Christians they know to it. Cut extra pieces of Velcro tape to send home with kids.)
  • Explain to kids that they can rotate pictures on the frame so they can focus on praying for different people at different times. For example, if kids are struggling to love their siblings, they can add photos of their siblings as a reminder to pray for God’s help in being loving toward their siblings.

SAY: Take home your Loving Family Portrait as a reminder to work together with your friends and family to love. Others who see your love will see Jesus shining through.

Prayer

Family Prayers

You’ll Need: Loving Family Portraits from the craft 

Lead kids to pray in this way:

  • Have kids form a circle.
  • Remind kids how Jesus wants them to work together with their friends and families to show Jesus’ love.
  • Allow time for kids to silently pray for some of the Christians that they’ll be adding to their family portraits.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us a family in Jesus. Help us to love one another so the world can see Jesus’ love. In Jesus’ name, amen.