Love God and Others

I don't know for sure, but I think there have probably been more songs written about love than about anything else in the world. Here’s a list of some of my favorites: "Love Makes the World Go Round," "Love and Marriage," and "When I Fall in Love." 

Oh, I almost forgot one of the best love songs ever written. I’m sure all of you know this song! If you know it, sing along with me. But I also have a challenge for you: Everytime you hear the word “love” on this song, make a heart shape out of your hands. (Demonstrate making a heart shape with your hands.)

Here it goes:

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
They are weak but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

What a wonderful song about Jesus' love for us. In today's Bible lesson, Jesus teaches another very important lesson about love. I want you to help me again. Every time you hear the word “love,” make a heart shape with your hands.

People were always amazed at the teachings of Jesus. One day a crowd was gathered around Jesus when a man who was an expert in religious law tried to trap Jesus with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?"

Jesus answered, "'Love (pause) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,' this is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love  (pause) your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."  In other words, Jesus was saying that if we could love  (pause) God and love  (pause) others, we would not have any trouble keeping the other 10 commandments.

Let's ask God to help us to love (pause) as we ought.

Dear God, help us to love  (pause) You with all of our heart and to love  (pause) our neighbors as we love  (pause) ourselves. In Jesus' name, amen.