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This topic is for posting lesson and workshop ideas for John 15: 9-17, "Love one another as I have loved you."  I was originally started by member "Tablefork."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This particular passage is not typically taught in Rotation churches so we don't have a lot on it. Why isn't it typically taught? Because in Rotation we spend 4 to 5 weeks in a row on a single story, and thus, have to prioritize which stories we teach in elementary Sunday School. Teaching about "love one another" is often accomplished through other stories as well. That means that this particular passage doesn't often make the final cut. If you think it should, then add your lessons and ideas in this post! 

John 15:9-17

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants] any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 

16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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There are several great memory verses in this passage: 

  1. "love one another, as I have loved you" 
  2. "lay down his life for his friends" 
  3. "you did not choose me, I chose you" 

Three amazing lesson subjects in one great passage.

And I love the part where Jesus says he calls us "friends" instead of servants. That could be another direction too.



Computer
 -- If I were doing this lesson in the computer lab, I'd pull out a copy of Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD and have the kids type the passage (in sections) into the Verse Editor, add their own comments and quiz to each verse, and then go to another work group's computer to use THEIR John 15 memory verse "unscramble" game and quiz.

For younger kids, I'd type in key phrases for them, instead of entire verses (depending on which verse they were working on) and have them unscramble those phrases. I've used Cal and Marty with 5 yr olds and they can do it WITH HELP. But your older kids will really go to town with the verse editor.

Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game software program is now available FREE OF CHARGE to download here at Rotation.org to the supporting members of Rotation.org. Learn more!



Video
 -- the GOSPEL OF JOHN  DVD does John word for word, so it would include this dramatic passage.



Art
 
--  for an art project idea.... three of these verses has a "flip side" our "two-part" quality to it, which could be written on two sides of a mobile/sun catcher. 

You didn't choose me -> I choose you
Love one another -> because I have loved you.
You are no longer servants -> but friends
There is no greater love -> than to lay down your life for a friend


<>< Neil

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Posting more ideas which I recently suggested to a member about

Games

John 15:9-17

(see copy of scripture I pasted in below).

1. I see each of these as a pantomime/charades game. There are four ideas in the passage (which I've briefly excerpted below). Write them on slips of paper (2 per verse) and pass them out. Have individuals act them out like a charade, BUT >> Don't let anyone yell out the answer. Make each person write down their answer and submit it.  You can do this in pairs or teams.

v9....ABIDE in my love...

v12....Love...as I have...  lay down your life for your friends....

v15....I call you my friends...

v16...You didn't choose me, I chose you

2. I see KEY words in each. Play a game of "How Few Can You Do" to get the kids to condense each section of verses into the shortest possible number of words that will still convey the meaning.  I've described this game elsewhere on the site. You tell them "do it in 10 words or less," then challenge them to do it in 6 or 7 or less. Kids write them and present them.

v9, for example, could be shortened to: "Father loved, I love, you love."

3.  When you isolate just the keywords in this passage, there are so MANY awesome words and phrases each of which can be "unpacked," illustrated or painted in a collage.   Joy, Lay down, Friends, Chosen, bear fruit....So Many Great Words!     The whole passage has a wonderful tone, full of love that can be expressed visually through art.


The passage:

John 15:9-17

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 1

I do not call you servants] any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 

16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 

Last edited by Luanne Payne

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