Grade 12 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 12
Lesson Outline:
I. Love
A. Our lives can‟t reflect God‟s love unless we learn to love others
―He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now. He who
loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him‖ (1 John 2:9-
10).
―If someone says ‗I love God‘ and hates his brother he is a liar; for he who does not love his
brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?‖ (1 John 4:20).
Our Lord has given us a very easy prescription on the road to complete Love. He gave us our
brothers and sister so we can practice Loving those whom we can see so we can Love the
Unseen God, who Himself is Love and the source of Love.
Do people know you are Christian? Or those around you saw you as a ―religious fanatic.‖
There wasn‘t anything particularly different about your life other than it was spent at church
on Sundays
St. Paul saw that same type of attitude developing among the church in Corinth, which is why
he sent out this stern warning:
―If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal‖ (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Our walk with Christ doesn‘t set us apart if we don‘t have love. We‘re just an annoying noise
drifting through the air, unable to minister God‘s love to anyone.
The Lord Jesus even stressed this point: ―By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another‖ (John 13:35).
B. Love is the bond of unity
When we love people, we can soften their hearts and touch their lives in unique ways
―Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity‖ (Colossians 3:14).
Now, if there is a situation where you have to separate from your brother or sister then follow
the example of Abram who gave Lot the first choice and he accepted whatever is left over.
Review Genesis 13:1-13, in particular pay attention to verse 8: ―So Abram said to Lot: Please
let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for
we are brethren.‖
C. Love brings joy to our lives
The world would certainly be a lonely place without God‘s love. Without God, we have no
purpose, no meaning, and no destiny for our lives. Our lives would take on a whole new
meaning -no meaning at all. We would wander aimlessly through life, desiring for something
or someone to love us and give us hope and purpose for our lives. Many people who haven‘t
discovered the love of God are wandering around right now in search of this missing
ingredient to make their life complete.
―Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father‘s commandments
and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may remain in you
and that your joy may be made full‖ (John 15:9-11).
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