John 15:9-17, NRSV

⁹“Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that you will have the same joy that I have. I also want your joy to be complete. ¹²Here is my command. Love one another, just as I have loved you ³No one has greater love than the one who gives their life for their friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I do not call you slaves anymore. Slaves do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last. I also appointed you so that the Father will give you what you ask for. He will give you whatever you ask for in my name. ¹⁷Here is my command. Love one another.

Object:

A piece of paper that reads “143.” You could even provide a small piece of paper for each child with the number “143” written on it.

Message:

Last week, we talked about the fruit of the Spirit. On the count of three, shout out one of the fruits you remember. Ready? One, two, three… (Allow children to shout out.) Wow! That’s impressive. I heard so many fruits of the Spirit called out.

Today, I want to focus on the first of the fruits. Love is the first one on the list, and it was one that I heard the loudest just a moment ago. Today, I want to answer the question, “How shall we love?”

I wonder what love looks like. Can you see it? What does love sound like? Can you hear it?

You can see love, and you can hear love too! How can you see and hear love? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right; you can see and hear love in the ways loving people act and talk to one another. Love gives people the strength to be patient with one another. Remember, patience is another of the fruits of the Spirit that is PRO-duced, which we talked about last week. Love can help people treat others with kindness. Kindness is another fruit of the Spirit! Love keeps people from bragging or being rude. Can you give me another example of how love can be seen and heard in your life? (Allow children to provide examples.)

One of my favorite people on television is Mr. Rogers. Do you know who Mr. Rogers is? Have you seen an episode of his television program, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood? Maybe you have seen the cartoon that is related to his program, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood? Did you know that in real life, Mr. Rogers was a minister? Did you know that his favorite number was 143? (Hold up the sign with the number 143 printed on it.) “Why 143?” you might be wondering. The number “143” was his code for saying “I love you.” Let me explain, there is only one letter in the word “I.” Then there are four letters in the word “love.” Can you then guess, how many letters are in the word, “you?” That’s right, there are (1), (4), (3) letters when we spell out the statement “I love you.” So, Mr. Rogers used this code to simply tell the world, “I Love You.” (If you have an individual piece of paper for each child, hand it out here.) To help you remember 143, I have a piece of paper with the number printed on it for you to keep.

Today’s scripture passage finds Jesus telling his followers about the greatest command of all. Do you know what a command is? (Allow children to respond.) A command is something that is required. It’s something you must do. I command you to do this. It is not an option. You must do this. Jesus speaks of the greatest command being love. Just as God loves us, we must love one another. When we love Jesus and show this love to others by the way we act, we will discover joy in our lives. It’s the same joy that Jesus demonstrated.

When someone’s heart is filled with this love, that person models love to others. That is love that is seen! I wonder if your heart is filled with that love. Can other people see the love in your life? Do they see love through your actions? Do they hear love when you speak?

Jesus speaks of the perfect love that only God can offer. God’s love is perfect. Some very loving people still fall short of this perfect love. But when our hearts are filled with God’s love, we find it much easier to find joy in our actions. Those actions come from a God who loves us so much. The love we have spills over into all that we say and do.

Jesus says to love one another. Mr. Rogers says, “143.” Live your lives by remaining connected to the vine, Jesus, and that will show and tell the world how much you love God. Just say it! Just show it!

Prayer:

God of perfect love, sometimes it is hard to be loving and giving. Please fill me with your love so that others can hear and see love in everything I say and do. Let me follow the commandment of loving one another. Let me show and tell the world your love. “143.” Amen.