September 3rd, 2023: Ye Are the Body of Christ

Welcome, dedicated parents and educators!

Today, we're thrilled to present a comprehensive lesson plan focused on 1st Corinthians 8-13. Within these chapters, we'll immerse ourselves in the teachings of Heavenly Father's guidance, exploring the beauty of our individual spiritual gifts, and discovering the profound significance of Christlike love.

In these passages, Paul discusses the concept of spiritual gifts and their diverse manifestations within the community. He emphasizes the importance of unity, highlighting that even though individuals possess distinct gifts, they are all parts of a single body, symbolizing the interconnectedness of believers within the Church. Love is a central theme throughout this section, with Paul's famous exposition on love in 1 Corinthians 13 underscoring its significance as a guiding principle for Christian conduct.

We invite you to prayerfully prepare to lead your young learners through these transformative lessons. While we provide a structured plan, always remember to be open to the promptings that might lead you to adapt and modify the lesson according to the unique needs of your students. 

1 Corinthians 8–13: “Ye Are the Body of Christ”

Supplies Needed:

• Red and Green Cards - One of Each for Each Child (Used in Part 2)
  Mine are made from cardstock, but if you're looking for something more durable, I recommend these, which are durable and come in many colors for future lessons
  
  
• Small, Gift Wrapped Object (Used in Part 3)
  Wrap a small object that was gifted to you and hold some importance or value to you
  
  
• Strips of Paper with Spiritual Gifts (Used in Part 3)
  Prior to the lesson, reach out to the children's parents. Have them provide you with two to three spiritual gifts they've noticed in their child. Write each of these gifts, along with any you would like to add, on it's own small strip of paper - approximately 1" X 4.25" (We recommend putting each child's gifts on different colored papers).
  
  
• Stapler or Tape (Used in Part 4)

Part 1: Introductions and Reminders

(2 minutes)

Remind the children of any upcoming special events or rewards. Provide a quick recap as to who Paul is and that we are currently studying the letters he wrote to the people in Corinth, an ancient city in Greece.

First time here? See what else to include in your introductions in our post here.

Part 2: The Holy Ghost Can Help Me Choose the Right

(5 minutes)

Begin by introducing the concept of temptation in kid-friendly terms. Explain to them that sometimes it can be hard for us to choose the right because of temptations.

Hand out red and green cards – red for wrong choices and green for right ones.

Read stories 1-4. Encourage them to hold up the red card when someone does something wrong and the green card when they choose right:

Story 1: The Lost Wallet

Emma was playing at the park when she stumbled upon a wallet on the bench. As she opened it, she saw money tucked inside. A mischievous idea crossed her mind – she could keep the money and buy herself something special. She felt a rush of excitement, thinking no one would know. So, she slipped the money into her pocket and continued playing.

Later that day, Emma bought a shiny new toy with the money. But as she played with her new toy, a feeling of guilt crept in. She thought about the person who lost the wallet and how they might need the money for something important. With a heavy heart, Emma realized that keeping the money wasn't the right choice.

She decided to return the wallet to the park, hoping the owner might come back to look for it. And sure enough, a worried-looking lady came rushing to the park, asking if anyone had found a wallet. Emma stepped forward and handed it back to her, explaining what happened. The lady's relieved smile and heartfelt thank-you filled Emma with a warm feeling that was even better than any toy she could have bought.

Story 2: The Broken Vase

Sophie was over at her friend's house, having a wonderful time playing games. But when she was trying to hide during hide-and-seek, she accidentally knocked over a beautiful vase, shattering it into pieces. She didn't want to get in trouble, and she felt the temptation to hide the accident and pretend it never happened.

Sophie quickly picked up the pieces and came up with a plan. She spread the broken pieces among different cupboards, trying to make them disappear. Then she had an even worse idea – she tried to flush some pieces down the toilet.

As she stood there, looking at the mess she'd made, a pang of guilt gnawed at her. Deep down, she knew this wasn't right. With a sigh, she stopped her cover-up and took a deep breath. Honesty seemed scarier than hiding, but she realized it was the only way to make things right.

Sophie went to her friend's parents and confessed what happened, explaining how she tried to hide the accident. To her surprise, they thanked her for being honest and assured her that accidents happen to everyone. Together, they cleaned up the mess and talked about the importance of taking responsibility.

Story 3: A Lost Puppy

Lily was walking home from school one sunny afternoon when she spotted something small and furry by the side of the road. As she got closer, she realized it was a lost puppy, looking scared and lonely. Excitement bubbled within her, and she felt a temptation to keep the adorable puppy all to herself.

But as she looked into the puppy's eyes, Lily imagined how worried its owner must be, wondering where their friend had gone.  Lily knew she couldn't just leave the puppy there. Instead, she scooped it up and cradled it gently in her arms, bringing it to her home. She filled a bowl with water, found some food, and gave the pup a cozy spot to rest. Lily took a picture of the puppy and posted it online, hoping to find its owner.

Before long, Lily received a message from a worried family – they had been searching everywhere for their beloved puppy! Lily arranged a meeting with the family. Seeing the joy on the family's faces, Lily knew she had made the right choice.

Story 4: The Stolen Bike

Jake walked down the busy street, his eyes catching sight of a shiny bike leaning against the wall of a store. His heart raced as a tempting thought crossed his mind – the bike was unattended, and nobody was watching. Maybe he could just take it. A thrill of excitement coursed through him as he imagined himself riding it. But as quickly as the thought came, another followed. Jake knew that stealing was wrong. He turned away from the bike and continued walking.

As he went further, he spotted a frustrated-looking boy looking around anxiously.  He approached the boy and asked what was wrong. The boy told Jake that he had lost his bike. He described the bike, and Jake knew it was the same one he had seen by the store.

Jake led him back to where the bike was, and asked the boy if this was his bike. The boy's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and relief as he nodded eagerly. The boy thanked him profusely, and Jake couldn't help but feel a warm feeling because he made the right choice.

Discuss how people felt after their choices – bad when they chose wrong and good when they chose right. Connect these feelings to the Holy Ghost's promptings.

Explain how the Holy Ghost can guide them to make right choices and prompt them to change course if they're headed in the wrong direction. Invite the children to briefly share a time when they chose right, even if it was tough at first.

Part 3: I Have Spiritual Gifts

(7 minutes)

Present the wrapped object you prepared. Encourage the children to reflect – have they ever received a gift that they loved? Invite them to share one of their cherished gifts. Select a child to unwrap the object you've presented. Explain why this particular gift is of great value to you.

Explain to the children that they each were given gifts that are even more special than the gifts that you have already mentioned and seen. Pass out the prepared strips of paper to each child, describing what the spiritual gift written on each strip means.

Draw a parallel between physical and spiritual gifts. While material presents often come from those who care about us, remind the children that these spiritual gifts are an expression of Heavenly Father's boundless love, and that Heavenly Father knows them and has blessed them with these unique abilities.

Part 4: I Have Different Gifts Than Others

(5 minutes)

Split the class into groups of two or three. Encourage them to compare their strips with those of their partners, identifying both similarities and differences. Discuss how not everyone has the same gifts, and while we may share some gifts with others, there are often many that we have that others do not, or ones others have that we do not. 

Place an object around 20 inches away from the children. Challenge the children to touch the object with their gifts without leaving their seats. Explain to them that even though it seems impossible to reach the object, if they combine their gifts and work together, they can reach the object from their seats.

Work with the children to create a paper chain out of the strips.  (Note that we recommend doing this with tape or a stapler so that the children do not have to wait for glue to dry. If using a stapler, it is recommended that a teacher staple the strips.) Once the strips of paper have all been attached, ash the children if they think their spiritual gifts can now reach the object.

Explain to them that because they worked together and all used their gifts, they could achieve the task that was too challenging to do alone. Similarly, Heavenly Father wants us to work with other people in our lives to accomplish difficult tasks.

Part 5: Jesus Wants Me to Love Everyone

(5 minutes)

Show images of diverse people and inquire if Jesus and Heavenly Father love them. Reinforce that they should love everyone, just as Jesus does. 

Mention how in the previous activity, it was our differences that allowed us to reach the object. Talk about how, even though the people in these pictures may look different, they are all loved children of God, and sometimes those differences can help in our lives.

Transition into discussing  how serving others is one way to show you love others. Once again show the images, but this time, ask the children what they could do to serve these different people.

Part 5: Conclusion

End the lesson by bearing your testimony and inviting a child to offer the closing prayer.

Encourage the children to reflect on the day's lesson with this week's journal prompt. Here are some examples that work well with this week's lesson:

• I can love everyone, just like Jesus.
• The Holy Ghost can help me know what's right.
• I am different than others, and that makes me special.
• I am blessed with spiritual gifts.
• I have been given many gifts.

Thanks for Reading!

As we wrap up this lesson plan, remember that teaching these young hearts isn't just about imparting knowledge; it's about fostering understanding, love, and a connection to their Heavenly Father. May this lesson spark a fire of curiosity and a desire to cultivate their spiritual gifts, make righteous choices, and show Christlike love to everyone they meet.

Stay tuned for more inspired lessons and ideas that will continue to enrich your journey as a gospel educator!