- Children understand that the Good Samaritan stopped to help the man beaten by thieves because he had love and sympathy for his fellow man. Jesus uses the parable to demonstrate what it means to love your neighbor. Small children understand helping someone who is hurt or who needs help. They can explain why God expects believers to care for others in the community and around the world. They simply trust that sending aid to those in poor areas or where natural disasters have occurred is something God honors.
- Matthew, Mark and Luke contain the story of Jesus blessing the children. Mark 10:13-16 describes Jesus rebuking the disciples for trying to shoo them away from him when parents brought them close for his blessing. Young children understand that Jesus held and blessed the children because he loved them as God loves each person. While they may not understand what it means to accept and believe with childlike faith, they can understand that children are important to God. They may equate God's love to the loving care and support of a parent.
- The parable of the lost sheep found in Luke 15:4-6 speaks of the care and concern God has for each person. Children understand that God seeks out people who are lost because of His great love. They equate that love and concern to their desire to find a beloved pet, toy or family member. They understand how happy they would be to find what was lost and would gladly share that news with friends and family members.
- In Luke 7:12-17, Jesus stops a funeral procession out of love and compassion for a grieving mother whose son had died. "The Message" version of the Bible says Jesus' heart broke for the woman. Jesus heals the man and returns him to his mother. Young children can understand how sad they would be if a family member or pet were to die. While they might not understand that the son was the source of financial support for the widowed mother, children would understand that verse 17 says his actions mean that God cares for our needs.
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