Love Is — The Greatest Gift Preschool Lesson
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: “Love is the best way of all.”
Paul had friends in the big, busy city of Corinth. They loved Jesus. They met together as a church. But some news came to Paul. Some people from the house of a woman named Chloe told him. His friends in Corinth were arguing with each other.
One said, “I follow Paul.” Another said, “I follow Apollos.” Some were jealous of each other. Some were proud of what they could do. It was a bit like children shouting, “Mine! Mine!”
Paul heard about it. So he wrote them a letter, with his friend Sosthenes. He wrote, “I show a most excellent way to you.” That means: I will show you the very best way. Love is the best way of all.
Paul wrote that someone might speak every language there is. They might even speak like the angels. But without love, they would only be a loud, clanging cymbal. Clang! Clang! Can you clap like a loud cymbal?
Someone might know everything. But without love, they would be nothing. Someone might give everything away. But without love, it would not help them at all.
Then Paul wrote what love is like. “Love is patient and is kind.” Patient means you can wait. Kind means you are good to others. Love is the best way of all.
“Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud.” To envy means to want what someone else has. To brag means to show off.
Paul wrote that love “doesn’t seek its own way.” That means love does not always have to be first. Love “is not provoked.” That means love does not get angry fast.
Love “takes no account of evil.” That means love does not keep a list of wrong things others did. Love forgives. Love “rejoices with the truth.” That means love is glad about what is true and right. Love is the best way of all.
Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” Endures means it keeps going, even when things are hard. Can you hold on tight with both hands? That is how love holds on.
And Paul wrote, “Love never fails.” That means love never stops. Love keeps on going.
Then Paul wrote about being little. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child. I felt as a child, I thought as a child.” Children grow up. And one day we will know God much better.
Paul wrote that now we see only a little. It is like looking in a dim mirror. But one day we will see God face to face. Can you look at someone’s face, nose to nose?
Last of all, Paul wrote, “But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three.” Can you count them on your fingers? Faith, hope, love! “The greatest of these is love.”
Near the end of his letter, Paul wrote this. “Let all that you do be done in love.”
Love is of God, and God loves you more than you can ever know. Love is the best way of all.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What does it look like when someone is patient and kind to you?
- Why do you think Paul said love is the greatest of the three?
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)
Color the 3 things that remain: faith, hope, and love.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Love is patient and is kind” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (Love → hands on your heart; patient → fold your hands and wait; kind → gently pat a friend’s shoulder)
Dear God, thank you that love comes from you. Thank you for loving me with a patient and kind love. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Love Is the Greatest Gift
Memory verse: “But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 · WEB
The Bible story
Paul writes a letter to friends who are quarreling, sharing God's beautiful secret — that love is patient, kind, and the greatest gift we can ever give.
Talk about it
- Who wrote the letter all about love? — Paul
- Where did Paul's friends live? — Corinth
- What were Paul's friends in Corinth doing wrong? — Quarreling with each other
- Paul said speaking without love is like what? — A clanging cymbal
- Paul wrote that love is NOT what? — Proud
- Paul wrote that love is patient and also...? — Kind
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). Then He did exactly that on the cross. John later wrote, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). Every line of the love chapter fits Jesus perfectly, and His love is for you.
What God wants to tell us
God shows us that love is the most important thing we can ever have or give. We do not need to be the cleverest, the loudest, or the best at everything. When we are patient, kind, and forgiving — just as God is with us — we are sharing the greatest gift of all. Every time you help, share, or forgive, God's own love shines out through you.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me more than I can even imagine. Help me to be patient and kind, to share and to forgive, just like You. When I forget, gently remind me that love is the greatest gift of all. Thank You for Jesus, who showed us perfect love. Amen.
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