Be Kind
Read Ephesians 4:25-5:2.
Today is the 11th Sunday of Pentecost. During Pentecost, we grow closer to God and closer to one another.
In today’s second reading, from Ephesians, we read about ways we can live as Christians, ways that we called to live and which would give us the kind of life that God wants for us.
Watch today’s video and learn more:
Ephesians is a letter written to Christians who lived in the city of Ephesus. We read about how God wants them — and us — to live so that they will have the kind of life that God wants for them. Here are some of the things it says: Tell the truth about others. Don’t steal. If you get angry, don’t let your anger cause you to sin. Share with those in need. Don’t say things that hurt other people, but say things that help build up others. Forgive others as God forgives us. Be kind. Do things to help others and to better others. Live in love as Jesus loves us and gave himself to die on the cross for us and rose to new life giving us the gift of new life here and now and for all eternity.
In Ephesians it also says that we should be imitators of God. That means that we should do the things that God does. We should act the way that God does. That would mean that we should be kind and loving. There are times when we might get angry, and that’s OK, but even if we are angry, we can still be kind and loving towards others. That would be imitating God. And, of course, forgiving others would also be imitating others.
The Olympics are going on right now. The athletes who are competing have trained long and hard in order to have the skills they need to compete. They get better and better by practicing and training and through discipline. Doing all of the things that are suggested in Ephesians might seem hard, but the more we do them, the easier they get. The more we are kind and loving, the more natural it becomes…and the best part is that Jesus helps us in all we do.
Discuss
- What is a way you can be kind?
- When is it difficult for you to be kind?
- What does it mean for you to imitate God?
Song
Every Move I Make. CJ and Friends.
Activity
Consider ways in which you and your family can be kind to others. Consider making a fleece blanket and donating it to a homeless shelter, a domestic violence shelter, or to Project Linus (www.projectlinus.org). You can find instructions for making a tie fleece blanket (no sewing required) on the Project Linus website.
Geraldine’s Blanket by Holly Keller tells the story about how attached Geraldine become to her blanket. Watch the story being read here:
Activity
Download this Kindness Checklist for Kids and do as many of the suggested activities as you can!
Closing Prayer
God, help us imitate you. Help us forgive others as you forgive us. Help us love others as you forgive us. Help us be kind. Amen.
Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home. There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings. Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.