Love of Self

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the service module is to teach the children how to interact with others with love. For fourth graders it's important to make God real to them and show them how the Holy Spirit works through them. Every week of this module will focus on serving different aspects of their lives: week 1 -- love of self/pure love, week 2- love your elders, week 3-love your classmates/peers, week 4- love different cultures. Help them realize how their actions are a reflection of their love for others and themselves. Week 5 is the capstone week to review and serve together. Please read through all the lessons in this module in preparation for this lesson.

In this lesson, children will learn that it's important to love yourself because God created you unique to His likeness. More importantly, loving yourself will make you able to love others. And lastly, children will learn how to separate self-love from self focus.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

  • Show a set of 2 party favors, the first set includes items that are personalized with each of the guests' names and the second is just generic identical items.
  • Ask the kids, "Which party favor will be more special to you?".
  • Let them guess and answer
  • Explain that the personalized favor is the more special one because it has their name, so it's unique and it is thoughtful. On the other hand, the generic favors look identical so none of them has something special since they are all exactly the same.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Read together one or more of these Bible passages together with open Bibles.

Memory Verse

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." 1 Corinthians 12:4

  1. "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14
  2. "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."" Genesis 1:26
  3. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. Love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:37, 39
  4. "God has given us different gifts...." Romans 12:6-8
  5. "What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part So He has made many parts, but still, there is only one body." 1 Corin 12:19-20

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

  • God created every one of us to be unique like none other. He created us in His own image and according to His likeness. Everyone is unique, different and special in their look, thinking and skills. Hence, we are so valuable and precious we should love and take care of ourselves. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...'" Genesis 1:26
  • The first step to loving others is to value and love yourself. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. Love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:37, 39. Explain how the scripture put it clearly that someone should love themselves and then love others similarly. So you can only love others as much as you love yourself.
  • God has created each of us differently and given each unique experience that He will use for His glory. "God has given us different gifts...." Romans 12:6-8. (elaborate with examples and let the kids share their different skills, strengths)
  • God created us different for a purpose. We can confidently find God's purpose for us through sharing our differences and talents to help each other. We are part of the Body of Christ. "What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part So He has made many parts, but still, there is only one body." 1 Corin 12:19-20.
  • You are important because no one else can perform your exact role on the stage of life. (Other examples of different roles that complete each other to produce a great performance would be a band/choir, we need singers, drummers, piano players, sound technicians, light technicians, conductor... etc.)

We must learn how to separate self-love from self-focus

  • Self-Love
    • I look to God for my identity
      • I know my strengths
      • I realize my weaknesses
      • I can help others, so they can benefit from my knowledge
      • I take care of my physical body, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
      • I take care of my spiritual life, I love God and I want to know Him better
      • I take care of my emotional needs, knowing that God has a plan for me
  • Self-Focus
    • I judge my self-worth through comparing myself to others
      • I am better than my peer(s)
      • I never admit my weaknesses
      • I have to do everything myself, others don't know
      • I am the prettiest/most handsome
      • I am closer to God than others, I don't do like him/her
      • My emotions depend on how others treat me

(Share examples of actions that are stemming from self-love (see PowerPoint attached)

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

ACT WITH LOVE

When we have love for ourselves, we recognize that God loves us and made each one of us special and unique. We each have our own differences and talents that we use to share with one another. In this way, we can confidently find God's purpose for us. This self-love is not the same as self-focus or making ourselves most important over everyone else. Appropriate humility is having an accurate view of ourselves, and recognizes both our weaknesses and our strengths. We look to God for our identity rather than judging our self-worth through comparing ourselves to others.

God encourages us to take care of our physical bodies, our spiritual lives, and our emotional needs.

Give the children time to discuss this concept and share examples.

LIFE APPLICATION (Action) - 10 Minutes

  • Concrete examples: Write all the names of children on separate sheets of paper. Pass them around and have the children write the talents of their peers on them. Share your talents with others and how you can use them to help each other. (I like to paint -- I can paint pictures of saints, Bible scenes, or nature to decorate the SS class, I can teach others to paint an icon. I like to play soccer -- I can start a soccer drills practice and encourage others. I like to help -- I can help the teacher clean up.
  • Abstract examples: We should take care of ourselves because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and also because we take Holy Communion. We are to be careful of what we watch, what we say, what songs we listen to, what books we read. We should be careful and mindful of what we eat and drink. We follow the church guidelines on prayer, fasting, and confession.

Memorization- "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." 1 Corinthians 12:4

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Have the children read the Prayer after Communion, the Concluding Prayer of the Hours, or the Absolution of the 12th Hour to connect the concept.

Ask children how they will practice self-love. Make a vision board of talents. Recall memorable moments when the child was proud of something he/she did, said, or made. Use photos, write down memories, or draw images that remind you of your best current qualities. Bring in an example of your own vision board.

See additional resources attached.

SERVANT RESOURCES

See attached Powerpoint

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

When we have love for ourselves, we recognize that God loves us and made each one of us special and unique. We each have our own differences and talents that we use to share with one another. In this way, we can confidently find God's purpose for us. This self-love is not the same as self-focus or making ourselves most important over everyone else. Appropriate humility is having an accurate view of ourselves, and recognizes both our weaknesses and our strengths. We look to God for our identity rather than judging our self-worth through comparing ourselves to others. Teaching our children to be confident and realizing that their life purpose comes from the uniqueness God gave them is the goal. Enforce these concepts at home this week and model them in your own lives.

This week the children were asked to create their very own image board. Please help them with this task. Ask children how they will practice self-love. Make a vision board of talents. Recall memorable moments when your child was proud of something he/she did, said, or made. Use photos, write down memories, or draw images that remind you of your best current qualities. We will display them in class -- or hang it in their room to reinforce positive Godly thinking.

Memorization "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." 1 Corinthians 12:4

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 4 Week 1 Powerpoint.pdf