The Church

Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:42-47

Our true story comes from a part of the Bible called Acts, which is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” An apostle is someone who is sent to teach others about Jesus.

Have you ever wondered what the very first church looked like? 


The first church had people like you because the church is a group of people who love Jesus and meet together.


One thing the very first church did when they met together was think of ways they could love like Jesus.


One of the ways the church loves like Jesus is by sharing what we have. We can share our lunch with a friend who doesn’t have any food. We can share our toys with friends when we play together. Sharing is loving like Jesus. 


Another way the church loves like Jesus is by giving clothes to people who need them. Helping others is loving like Jesus. 


Another way the church loves like Jesus is by praying together. Praying for each other is loving like Jesus. 


Another way the church loves like Jesus is by being kind to others and making them smile. Being kind is loving like Jesus.


All of these things are what the very first church was like. They loved like Jesus! And guess what? We can be the church, too, and think of ways to love like Jesus.


Every time we share our toys, we, love like Jesus!


Every time we are kind and make someone smile, we love like Jesus!


Every time we pray for others, we love like Jesus!


Every time we help someone, we love like Jesus!


All of these are ways we can be the church and love like Jesus! And when we love like Jesus, people will know that Jesus wants to be their friend forever!






Bible Verse: Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us. —Ephesians 5:2, NIV

Text Truth: We can love just as Jesus loves us.



Family Devotional

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
—Acts 2:42-47

In our Bible story, we learned how to walk like Jesus and love like Him! And everyone who follows Jesus and loves like Him makes the church! The best part is that Jesus wants to be our friend forever and help us love like Him.

Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us. —Ephesians 5:2, NIV

With your family, take a piece of paper and make a list of ways you can love people the way Jesus loves you. Think about all the ways you can love people. Have each family member write down a way to love people the way Jesus loves them. And make sure each family member writes their name next to what they write down.

Pray with your family. Allow any family members to pray if they wish. In your own words, say, “Dear God, Thank You for sending Jesus to love us and show us how to love others. Please help (say each family member’s name) and me (read the list your family made) and love like Jesus everywhere we go. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.” 

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Some story illustrations are in the Public Domain.

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