Showing Our Love for Jesus (Upper Elementary)

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How many of you have a pet? What kind of pet do you have? (Give the children a chance to answer.) When I was a child, I had a pet parakeet named Pete. I spent hours playing with Pete and even taught him to talk. He would say, "Pete's a pretty bird. Pretty boy, pretty boy." We usually left the door to Pete's cage open during the day. When I walked in the door after school, Pete would fly to me and land on my shoulder. I loved that bird! Do you know how I showed Pete that I loved him? I took care of him. I made sure that his cage was kept clean. I made sure that he had plenty of food and water. One of the most important ways I showed my love was by spending time with him.

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Now, if I came over to your house and watched you and your pet together, how could I tell that you love your pet? What kind of things do you do to show your love? (Give the children a chance to answer: petting, feeding, grooming, bathing, walking, etc.) It is important to remember that it isn't enough to say you love your pet. Loving isn't something you say, it is something you show by the things you do. It is the way you act toward someone or something.

Think about this: Have you ever had a friend who said they were your best friend, but then they never wanted to hang out with you? Or maybe they said nice things to your face but talked badly about you behind your back? How did that make you feel? (Allow responses.) Actions speak louder than words, don't they? The same is true with our love for Jesus.

Now, let me ask you a bigger question. Do you love Jesus? How does Jesus know that you love him? What can you do to show Jesus that you love him? This is a question that even adults struggle with sometimes!

In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus gives his disciples the answer to that question. Jesus said, "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them." (John 14:21)

It isn't enough just to say we love Jesus. Instead, we have to show God our love by DOING the right things – just like you show your love to your pets and your parents and your friends. But here's something amazing: when we show our love for Jesus through our actions, He promises to show His love back to us in even greater ways!

So, what are some specific things we can do to show our love for Jesus? The Bible is a good place to find the answer. Let's look at some ways, and think about how each one might look different as you get older and face new challenges:

Love one another (John 13:34-35) - This means more than just being nice. It means standing up for kids who are being bullied, including someone who feels left out, or helping a classmate who's struggling with homework even when it's inconvenient for you.
Worship him (Luke 4:8) - Worship isn't just singing songs on Sunday. It's also choosing to honor God with your time, like turning off your video games to help your family, or choosing to watch shows and listen to music that honor God.
Tell others about Jesus (Acts 1:8) - You don't have to preach on a street corner! You can share Jesus by living differently – being honest when others cheat, being kind when others are mean, or simply inviting a friend to church or youth group.
Talk to him daily in prayer (Matthew 26:41) - Prayer isn't just asking God for things. It's also thanking Him, confessing when you've messed up, and asking for wisdom when you face tough decisions at school or with friends.
Read his Word (Psalm 119:11) - The Bible isn't just an old book. It's God's instruction manual for life! When you're dealing with friendship drama, family problems, or difficult choices, God's Word has answers.
Forgive others as He forgives us (Matthew 6:15) - This is probably one of the hardest things on this list. When someone hurts you or embarrasses you, choosing to forgive them shows Jesus that His love is working in your heart.

Let's think about this together: Which of these is easiest for you? Which one is the most challenging? (Allow discussion.) Remember, showing love for Jesus isn't about being perfect – it's about trying, failing sometimes, asking for forgiveness, and trying again. That's what growing in faith looks like!

Here's a challenge for this week: Pick one of these six ways and focus on it. Maybe you'll choose to pray every morning before school, or maybe you'll look for one way each day to show love to someone who's hard to love. At the end of the week, think about how it felt to show Jesus your love through your actions.

Heavenly Father, we are quick to tell you that we love you — but we know that we need to show our love too. Help us to show our love for you through our actions — just as you show your love for us every single day. Give us courage when it's hard, wisdom when we're confused, and strength when we want to give up. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.