Big Idea:  The Holy Spirit helps us choose to be more like Jesus.

Bible Passage: Galatains 5:16-26

This week the kids learned that when we trust Jesus, He gives us His Holy Spirit and we are changed. Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Galatia and explained that it is God who changes us, from the inside out, to be more like Him.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to choose to live God's way -the best way. Instead of living like we did before we knew Jesus, we learn to say no to hatred, jealousy, anger, selfishness and greed. Instead we choose to live God's way and can choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.

Just like we know an apple tree is an apple tree because it grows apples, we know a follower of Jesus is a follower of Jesus because they grow these 'good fruits' of the Spirit.

Family Activity

We talked about using a traffic light to help us practice choosing these good fruits with the help of the Holy Spirit. Red means to 'Stop'. Orange/Yellow means 'Pray'. Green means to 'Choose." When we want to live God's way we can STOP, PRAY– for help from the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus- and CHOOSE love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Whenever you stop at traffic lights this week, remind children of this, and remind them again that it is the HOLY SPIRIT who gives us the power to live like Jesus, so we must ask for His help, every day. 

Extra fun – make a fruit salad together and see if you can remember all of the fruits that Paul talks about in his letter. As you cut up the fruits, talk about which fruit you like and don't like, and talk about 'Spiritual fruits' that are harder or easier for us to show. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you choose these things together.

See you Sunday!