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Children’s Sermon

John 13:31-35

“Love One Another As I Have Loved You”

May 18, 2025

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Lectionary Year C

Supplies: No supplies are needed.

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning!

This morning, I’d like to show you a fun and simple exercise move.

But first, I want you to show me the exercise move that you think I'm going to teach you.
So…think about the exercise moves that you know and then think about which one you think I’m going to teach you.
When I say “Go” – I’ll give you 10 seconds to show me the exercise you think I’ll teach you. We’ll see how close your guess is to my actual exercise move.
Any questions? [Pause] Ok, I think we’re ready to do this. Go ahead and stand up if you wish to participate.
I'll count to 10 for you while you show me my exercise move. Ready? Set? Go!
[count the ten seconds off]: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Yay! Well done! Thank you for doing that! That was great!
I think your exercise moves are more fun than mine. Here’s the move I was going to show you is this: How to jog in place.

The way to do that is to stand in one spot.
Then, you bring one knee up, nice and high.
Then you bring it down while you bring the other knee up.
Then you do it faster and faster until you're "running in place."

So, tell me, were you able to show me and others what I was going to teach you before I showed you the move?
No, not really...
Do you think that if I had gone FIRST, then you would've been better able to show me and others what my exercise move was?
Yes, I think so too.

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

In today's scripture story, Jesus is teaching his disciples a new rule. He tells them to, "Love one another as I have loved you."
A very important thing about this rule is that Jesus was already living that rule. He had already shown his disciples how to love one another because he had already been loving them.
And, because Jesus loved first, then the disciples were able to see and know what Jesus meant when he said, "As I have loved you."
Here are some of the loving actions that Jesus did for his disciples:

He invited them to be his students and he wanted to spend time with them.
He shared stories with them to help them better understand God.
He showed them how to how to talk and listen to God (what we call praying).

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

And you know what? If we read the stories about Jesus, then we, too, can see these same actions that Jesus showed his disciples
In this way, Jesus shows us how to be his students
And, because we can see how Jesus showed his love toward his disciples, then we can see how we are to love one another, just like Jesus loved his disciples.

As Jesus disciples, then, because Jesus loved us first, we know how to love others like Jesus loved us.

And that’s the good news for today. Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus…

…who shows your love…

…to his disciples…

…so that they and we can see…

…how to then share your love with others.

Thank you and Amen

Originally posted April 7, 2013
Updated on April 18, 2025
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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