Love God, Neighbor, Enemy
The instruction from Jesus to love God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind—and your neighbor as yourself—has come to be called the Great Commandment. And it is great! It is comprehensive. It is active. It is expansive. In the Love God, Neighbor, Enemy unit, we see that while enemies are not mentioned specifically, the call to love is extravagant.
Love of God and neighbor is not fully expressed if we are only loving when it is convenient or comfortable. Through the exploration of this practice, participants will learn how—from those who may be hard to love to those who we fear or who may do us harm—the imperative to love enemies, just as we love God or our neighbor, is throughout Scripture. This practice explores this call to love through action by serving a stranger, showing mercy, washing another’s feet, being courageous, and living peaceably.
Young Children Leader's Guide
This leader’s guide is for children ages 3–5. It contains helpful information for the leader, including information about young children, background information about the practice, a note about supplies, and other helpful information for each session. There are symbols for each activity within the session that allow a leader to see at a glance the type of activity and customize each session for their group of children. Each session includes resource pages and “Practicing the Practice at Home,” which may be copied, printed, or sent out electronically to participants. There are other helpful pieces for young children in the Congregational Guide.
Featured in the Young Children Leader’s Guide:
Team Mission 1: Love Extravagantly (Luke 6:27–36)
Team Mission 2: Serve a Stranger (1 Kings 17)
Team Mission 3: Show Mercy (1 Samuel 24)
Team Mission 4: Wash Another’s Feet (John 13:1–17)
Team Mission 5: Be Brave (Matthew 27:55–56; 28:1–9; Luke 24:9–11)
Team Mission 6: Live Peaceably (Romans 12:1–2, 9–21)
