God Is Love Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Free, Ages 3–6)
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God loved us first!”
A friend of Jesus wrote a letter. He had seen Jesus with his own eyes. He had heard him talk. He had even touched him with his hands! Many Bible teachers think this friend was John.
Now he wrote to the friends of Jesus. He called them “My little children.” Even the grown-ups! He wrote so that their joy would be full.
He wrote, “See how great a love the Father has given to us. That we should be called children of God!” Children of God! That means you can belong to God’s own family.
Then he wrote some of the biggest words in the whole Bible. They are only three words long: “God is love.” Can you say them with me? God is love! Put your hands on your heart.
How do we know that God loves us? “God has sent his only born Son into the world. That we might live through him.” God sent Jesus, because he loves us. God loved us first!
He wrote this too. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” God did not wait for us to love him. He loved us first. He sent Jesus to take away our sins. Sin is when we do wrong things that make God sad.
And when we do wrong, Jesus is our helper with the Father. The letter calls him our “Counselor.” A counselor is someone who speaks up for you. God loved us first!
Then he wrote, “Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God.” Beloved means very, very loved. Can you give someone near you a hug?
He wrote, “No one has seen God at any time.” We cannot see God with our eyes. But he also wrote, “If we love one another, God remains in us.” Remains means stays. God stays with us!
He wrote that God gives us his Spirit. That is how we know that God is with us. The Father sent the Son “as the Savior of the world.” A savior is someone who saves. God loved us first!
He wrote, “We know and have believed the love which God has for us.” We know it, and we believe it. God loves us! And he said it again: “God is love.”
Then came more good words. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” Casts out means throws out. Like throwing a ball far, far away! Can you throw a pretend ball, far away?
He wrote, “We love him, because he first loved us.” It is a bit like a mommy and her new baby. The mommy loves the baby first. Then one day the baby smiles back!
He also wrote about our brothers and sisters. If we love God, we will love them too. Love for God and love for others go together.
God is love, and he loves you, tonight and every day. God loved us first!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you know that someone loves you?
- Who could you show God’s love to today?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a big heart. Inside it, draw the people you love.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“God is love” — 1 John 4:8 (God → point up high; is love → cross your hands over your heart)
Dear God, thank you that you are love. Thank you for loving me first and for sending Jesus. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God loved you first
Memory verse: “Beloved, let's love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” — 1 John 4:7 · WEB
The Bible story
Long ago, a kind old friend named John wrote a warm letter to teach children the biggest, gentlest secret of all: God is love, and His love never ends.
Talk about it
- What was the name of the kind old man who wrote the letter? — John
- What job did John have when he was young? — A fisherman
- Where does love come from, John wrote? — From God
- What was the big secret John wanted to share? — God is love
- Who loved us first of all? — God loved us first
- How did God show us His love? — He sent His Son
Where is Jesus in this story?
John explains exactly how God showed His love: “He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). Real love, John says, is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to take away our sins (1 John 4:10). The cross is the clearest picture of God's love for you.
What God wants to tell us
The most wonderful thing John ever learned is that God is love. God did not wait for us to be perfect or clever before He loved us. He loved us first, right from the very start, and He showed that love by sending Jesus. Because God has filled us up with so much love, we have plenty to share. Every time you are kind, gentle, and caring to someone, you are passing God's love along, like giving away sunshine that never runs out.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You that You are love and that You loved me first, before I even knew Your name. Thank You for sending Jesus to show me just how much You care. Please help me to share Your love with everyone around me today, with kind words and helping hands. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
