For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Now Paul's letter turns a corner. He has told God's family how much they are loved — now he shows them how to love each other.
Today's Story
Paul says, “Now that you know how much God loves you, here is how to live.”
He says to be patient with each other, and gentle, and to put up with each other even when it is hard. Because God's family is supposed to fit together like one body — and no one wants a body where the hand is fighting the foot!
Then Paul gets really practical, the way a grown-up might at the dinner table.
He says: tell the truth, do not tell lies. It is okay to be mad, but do not let your mad turn mean. If you took something, give it back. Use your hands for helping, not hurting.
And watch your words! Do not let yucky, mean words come out of your mouth. Instead, say words that help other people and build them up, like adding bricks to a tower instead of knocking it down.
Then Paul says the part we never want to forget. He says: “Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you.”
God forgave us all of it. So we can forgive each other too.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Can you think of a time today when someone was kind to you? What did they do?
- Paul says our words can build people up or knock them down. What is a kind word you could say to someone tonight?
- Forgiving means letting go of being mad. Is there someone you need to forgive right now? What would it feel like to let it go?