Single lesson
1 John 3: Children of God
1 John 3:1–10; 1 John 3:11–24
In this lesson, children will trace how 1 John connects being God’s children with trusting Jesus, doing what is right, and loving others in practical ways. The passage gives clear tests and warm encouragement.
Before you teach
This part of 1 John begins with the Father’s great love in calling believers children of God, then explains that God’s children are shown by righteousness and love. It continues with the message to love one another, points to Jesus’ love, and ends with confidence before God through believing in his Son and keeping his commandment.
Students will be able to name John’s main command in this passage and give one practical way to love others in deed and truth.
Welcome: God calls his people his children
5 minBegin by introducing the big idea from the opening verses. Read that the Father has given great love so that believers are called children of God. Notice that John says this is true now, and that this hope leads people to purify themselves. Ask children to listen for what God’s children are like in the rest of the reading.
1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:3
Read and explain: God’s children are shown by righteousness and love
7 minRead 1 John 3:4-10 in small parts. Explain simple terms from the text: sin is lawlessness, Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. John warns little children not to be led astray and says that doing righteousness and loving a brother help reveal who belongs to God.
1 John 3:4, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 3:10
Discuss: Love one another in deed and truth
7 minRead 1 John 3:11-18. Point out that John says the message from the beginning is to love one another. Contrast Cain’s evil action with Jesus laying down his life for us. Then focus on the practical example in the passage: seeing a brother in need and showing compassion. John says love must be more than words. It should be seen in deeds and truth.
1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:12, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 3:18
Make and respond: Reminder card for real love
7 minChildren choose a key verse from the passage, copy a short phrase onto a card, and add one realistic action they can do this week such as sharing, helping, or speaking kindly. Keep the examples general and tied to the text’s call to love in deed and truth. Invite each child to explain why their chosen verse matters in this passage.
1 John 3:18, 1 John 3:23
Closing: Believe in Jesus and love one another
4 minFinish by reading the closing verses. Explain that John joins two responses together: believe in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another. He also says believers can have boldness toward God and that God remains in those who keep his commandments. Review the lesson goal by asking children to say the command and one matching action.
1 John 3:21, 1 John 3:22, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 3:24
Questions to explore
According to 1 John 3:1-3, what has the Father given, and what hope changes how believers live now?
Look for the words about being called children of God now, and the hope that leads a person to purify himself.
1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:3
In 1 John 3:16-18, how does John move from Jesus’ example to one practical test of love?
Notice that Jesus laid down his life, then John gives an example about seeing someone in need and says love should be in deed and truth.
1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 3:18
What two things are joined together in God’s commandment in 1 John 3:23?
Read the verse carefully and list both parts of the commandment, not just one of them.
1 John 3:23
Make, think or respond
Deed and Truth Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
Try it together
- Read 1 John 3:18 and 1 John 3:23 aloud together.
- Each child chooses one short phrase from the passage to write on a card.
- On the other side, each child writes or draws one practical way to love someone this week.
- Children share their card with the group and say how their action fits the verse.
This activity helps children connect John’s command to love one another with a concrete response that matches deed and truth.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two verse choices only, such as 1 John 3:1 or 1 John 3:18, and let them draw the loving action instead of writing a sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare 1 John 3:10 with 1 John 3:23 and explain how righteousness, belief in Jesus, and love belong together in the passage.
An optional closing prayer
“Father, thank you for your great love. Please help us believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another in deed and truth. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 John 3
1 See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is.
3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him.
6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.
11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another—
12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
17 But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
19 And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him,
20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
21 Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;
22 so whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.