Exploring Catholic Social Teaching

LESSON PLAN
DAY THREE
Warm-Up
A. Read aloud to your students John 14:15, 21:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. …Whoever has my commandments and
observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.
B. Then ask your students the following questions:
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What does Jesus tell us loving Him involves? Keeping His commandments.
What are His commandments? “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
What do these Great Commandments have to do with the Ten Commandments? They are a
summary of the Ten Commandments (and, in fact, the whole of God’s Law).
Therefore, what should we do in order to love God? Follow all of His commandments — the
Great Commandments Jesus taught and all of the Ten Commandments.
C. Next, read aloud 1 John 4:20-21:
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not
love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the
commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
D. Then, ask your students the following questions:
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This Scripture passage comes from the first letter of John. What does John say makes one a
liar? Saying “I love God,” but hating one’s brother (or neighbor).
What will someone who loves God do? Love his neighbor.
E. Last, read aloud John 13:35:
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
F. Then ask your students the following question:
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A disciple is a student or follower of someone. Jesus had many disciples, and He calls us to
be His disciples. How will others know that we are Jesus’ disciples? By our love for another.
G. Explain to your students that our love for God is made known by our love for others. In fact, the
Bible makes it clear that we cannot love God without loving our neighbor. This is a requirement
of our Christian Faith. When we love our neighbor, we show our love for God. We make God’s
love for us known here on earth. Loving in this way helps to make us disciples of Jesus.
Activity and Assessment
A. Give your students a copy of Handout F: We Are Called to Love Assessment and have them
circle the correct answer to each question.
B. When your students have finished, review and discuss the correct answers.
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