Session 5Week of October 11, 2020

Christmas • Session 1

LOVE GOD AND OTHERSMARK 12:28-34

BEFORE WILDLIFE: 1. Read the Lesson Summary2. Select & Prepare which session starter & activity you will use.

Please Note: Some Session Starters and Activities require supplies, some of which are included in your Wildlife Kit. Some include pages that will need to be printed off ahead of time. If your group is interested in a Wildlife Kit, please contact your campus’ Community Life Pastor.

DURING WILDLIFE: 1. Lead the Session Starter you elected to use2. Show the Bible Story Video to the group3. Read the Bible Story to the group4. Lead the Activity you elected to use5. Pray with the group

AFTER WILDLIFE: Optional Activities provided in the back of this leader guide.

Wildlife Leader Guide

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Christmas • Session 1

LESSON SUMMARY

Read this lesson summary before you lead Wildlife:

Moving forward in our Christian life can seem difficult at times because it feels like there is much to focus on (reading the Bible, praying, fasting, worshiping, giving, sharing Christ with others, etc.). The sheer amount of information in the Bible related to obeying and following God can be overwhelming. In the Old Testament alone, teachers of the law counted 613 individual statutes in the law, 365 negative and 248 positive. How do we know which ones matter most for us as Christians today? Thankfully, Jesus did that work for us. When Jesus was asked what commandment is greatest, He answered simply: to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. “Neighbor” may refer to all fellow men and women, people within your daily sphere, or literally, the people who live beside you. The power and genius of the Great Commandment is that it’s so simple and yet extremely powerful when acted on. The smartest thing that we can do collectively to impact our city is to live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbors. What might our neighborhoods look like if we actually did? We can only do a few things really well—let’s make sure that one of them is the thing that Jesus said matters most. Love for God and love for others are intertwined. Taken in proper order, if a person loves God completely then the result is a love for God’s people as well. Jesus redefined the Jewish concept of neighbor. To the Jews a neighbor was another Jew to the exclusion of non-Jewish people. Jesus, however, defined your neighbor as anyone you come in contact with who has needs (see Luke 10:25-37). Jesus added that a believer should love others as yourself. Certainly Jesus never promoted self-love. As sinners, however, people do watch out for themselves. Love for other people should equal or exceed concern for yourself.Jesus noted that the scribe answered intelligently. His answer revealed the openness and humility of the scribe. Jesus commended the man as being not far from the kingdom of God. The scribe demonstrated a willingness to be attuned to God’s greater purpose. Jesus seemed to see God at work in the man’s life. When God is at work in our lives, it is evidenced by the way we love Him and love others.

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Session Starter

YOU’LL NEED:• Index cards or

sticky notes• Markers

YOU’LL NEED:• Hand mirror (at

least 1)• Paper• Pencils

Christmas • Session 1

Session StarterOPTION 1: Mind Your Manners Ask kids to help you name different manners they may use, such as saying please and thank you. Record the manners on separate index cards then display them for kids to see. Invite children to put the manners in order, from the most important one to the least important manner. Allow kids time to discuss the order and work together to “rank” the importance of each manner.SAY: “You really cannot say which manner is

the most important, but in today’s story, Jesus was asked a question that He could answer about what was most important.”

OPTION 2: Mirror Image Distribute paper and pencils. Read aloud one of these nonsense phrases: our watery car; two distracted mustaches; gerbil with hiccups; a cuddly refrigerator; kiss a fuzzy cookie.Challenge kids to transcribe it backward so they can read the phrase in a mirror. Lead kids to check their work with the mirrors you brought.Let kids try again, using one of the phrases listed above or silly words of their own. Share that the goal of this session is to help kids become “mirror images” of Jesus’ love and kindness to others.

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The Bible Story

Show this video to the group.https://vimeo.com/432933246

Read the following Bible story to the group:

Love God and OthersMark 12:28-34

One day, several religious teachers were asking Jesus questions. He listened to their questions and gave good answers to them. Another teacher saw what was going on and came to ask Jesus his own question. The man asked Jesus, “What is the most important commandment of all?”

Jesus answered and told Him, “The most important command is to Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Jesus then said the second most important command is to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said there are no more important commands than these two.

The man agreed with Jesus’ answers to his question. Jesus saw that the man was wise and told the man that he was not far from the kingdom of heaven. After this, no one else asked Jesus questions at that time.

Christmas • Session 1

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Apply The Story

Christmas • Session 1

Activity choiceOPTION 1: Follow the Leader, Find the Leader Invite kids to stand in a circle.Choose one volunteer to close his eyes. Point to one child in the circle to be the leader.Explain that everyone must follow the leader’s actions without giving away who the leader is. Instruct the leader to do several movements for the others to follow.Invite the volunteer to open his eyes to watch and guess who the leader is. Play several times, giving each child a turn to be the leader.SAY: “We should always follow and obey Jesus. We are to

love God and love people.”

OPTION 2: Paper Plate HeartsFold a piece of paper in half and cut out half a heart shape. Open the paper to reveal the heart shape. Trace this heart shape onto each paper plate. Cut out the shape of the heart. Prepare one plate per child. Option: If you don’t have access to yarn needles, tape up the tip of the yarn well for this activity. Ask: “What did Jesus say was the most important commandment?” Distribute plates and hole punches. Guide kids to punch holes around the perimeter of the heart outline/cut out inside the paper plate. Provide kids with yarn needles, tape, and yarn. Demonstrate how to thread the yarn on the needle and run it through one hole. Use tape to secure the end of the yarn on the back side of the paper plate.Thread the yarn through the holes until all the holes

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YOU’LL NEED:• Paper plates (1

per child)• Hole punch• Paper• Scissors• Yarn• Yarn needles• Permanent

marker• Tape

Christmas • Session 1

ACTIVITIES Continued...

have had yarn threaded through them. Cut the yarn and secure it to the back of the plate. Encourage kids to place the paper plate heart somewhere to remind them of the importance to show love to God or give the heart to someone to remind them that you love that person. SAY: “Why do you think showing love to God is so important

that Jesus named it the most important commandment of all?”

Ask kids to say with you today’s important message: “Love God. Love Others.”

Pray with the groupPray and ask God to help the kids follow His commands even

when it seems difficult to do so.

AFTER WILDLIFEOPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

After WildLife Options:1. Read “The Gospel: God’s Plan For Me” page to the group.2. Provide copies of any printable activities (i.e. activity / coloring page3. Provide copies of printable Family Meeting Take Home Sheet.

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If time, use this page to review the Gospel with the group.

The Gospel: God’s Plan for MeAsk kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means “good news.” It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids.

God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean.

We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23)

God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It’s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9.

Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God’s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18.

We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus.

Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus.

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TM

The WildernessUNIT 6 • Session 1 • Older Kids Activity Pages

Instructions: Write each commandment

about loving God in the first heart. Write

the commandments about loving others

in the second heart.

The Ten Commandments

Do not have other gods

besides Me.

Do not make an idol for

yourself.

Do not misuse the name of

the LORD your God.

Remember the Sabbath

day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and

mother.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not give false testimony

against your neighbor.

Do not covet.

© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.

Jerome, it’s time

for breakfast.

My new phone is so

great. I can text all

the time. Jerome, you

need a new phone.

Jerome, have you

seen my baseball?

Why did God give His people the Ten

Commandments? God is holy and wants His

people to be holy.

TM

The WildernessUNIT 6 • Session 1 • Older Kids Activity Pages

Instructions: Below each picture, write which commandment Jerome needs to remember.

© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.

LOVE GOD AND OTHERS LIFEPOINT CHURCH

LOVE GOD AND OTHERSMARK 12:28-34OCTOBER 11, 2020

MAIN SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:28-341.

SUMMARY: One day, several religious teachers were asking Jesus questions. He listened to their questions and gave good answers to them. Another teacher saw what was going on and came to ask Jesus his own question. The man asked Jesus, “What is the most important commandment of all?” Jesus answered and told Him, “The most important command is to Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Jesus then said the second most important command is to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said there are no more important commands than these two.

The man agreed with Jesus’ answers to his question. Jesus saw that the man was wise and told the man that he was not far from the kingdom of heaven. After this, no one else asked Jesus questions at that time.2.

3.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What question did the man ask Jesus? (What is the most important commandment of all?)

2. How did Jesus answer? (Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength)

3. What did Jesus say was the second most important commandment? (Love your neighbor as yourself)

4.