Note to parent or teacher: This 40- to 60-minute lesson plan is the first of a five-part series of lesson plans that highlight the various aspects of the lesson objective “God’s Law of Love” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: God’s Law of Love- a–h).

Read “Love, the Greatest Commandment, Introduction.”

Read Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

Discover with your child why Jesus considered the most important commandment to be to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

• Look up 1 John 4:7–12.
• Explain how loving God connects us with His love for others, giving opportunity for that love to motivate us in how we live and how we treat others.

Explore why Jesus said that loving your neighbor as yourself is related to loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

• “Neighbor” includes not just people who live next door, but people we have contact with or influence.
• Look up 1 John 4:19–21.
• Listen to “Audio: Love Is of God.”

Review “Crazily Cool Card Set: God’s Law of Love,” Matthew 22:37–40. (Note: Consider printing the full page out for reviewing and coloring.)

Read “Off the Charts.”

Read “Love, the Greatest Commandment, Part 1: Give God First Place.”

Discuss how giving God first place includes taking time to study how Jesus showed us through His own life the ways to live and act, and then learning to put His teachings into action in our lives.

Listen to “Audio: Be Ye Kind.”

Read “John 1:1–14.”

Review “Crazily Cool Card Set: Love,” 1 John 4:7–8. (Note: Optionally, print the full page out for reviewing and coloring.)

Read “Jesus Lived Love.”

Read “Standing on God’s Word: Guidance” and “Standing on God’s Word: The Light.”

Color (or review) “Coloring Page: A Key to a Beautiful Life… .”