Fruit of the Spirit · Lesson 1
Fruit of the Spirit: Love
Luke 7:36-50; Galatians 5:22-23; John 13:34-35 New Testament PrincipleLove
When a woman who had done many wrong things came to Jesus, she washed His feet with her tears and poured out perfume, because He had forgiven her. Simon, the proud host, gave Jesus nothing. Love is the first fruit God's Spirit grows in us, and it grows when we know how much we are loved and forgiven.
Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. Jesus loved and forgave us first, so His Spirit grows love in us for God and for others.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”
John 13:34 BSB
Christ Connection · The gospel
In Jesus' story, a moneylender cancels two debts that could never be paid. Jesus is the One who cancels our debt. He didn't just wave it away; He paid it Himself on the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). "God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Love for God grows out of that forgiveness: "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
Luke 7:47-48; Romans 5:8; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 4:19
The Big Story · Redemption
Jesus came to cancel the debt of sin that no one could pay, and everyone He forgives is welcomed into God's family with love.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 49-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Grown, not glued
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): The 500 and the 50
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Fruit basket
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus loves me, so I love others.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Love grows, Color the love apple
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
A woman who had done many wrong things washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and Jesus forgave her. She loved Him so much because He forgave her so much. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. God grows it in us, and we show it by loving others.
Memory verse
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”
Adapted from John 13:34
Start here
Tape a paper apple on a chair. Ask, "Is this an apple tree now?" Then hold up a real apple. Say, "Real fruit grows. Today we start learning about the fruit God's Spirit grows in us. The first one is love!"
Bible story 6 min
A man named Simon asked Jesus to come for dinner. Simon was a Pharisee. He thought he was very good. But he did not give Jesus water to wash His feet. He did not give Him a kiss hello.
A woman in town heard Jesus was there. Everyone knew she had done many bad things. She came in with a jar of perfume. She knelt at Jesus' feet and cried. Her tears fell on His feet. She wiped them with her hair. She kissed His feet and poured perfume on them.
Simon thought, "Jesus should know she is bad!" Jesus knew what Simon thought. He told a story. "Two men owed money. One owed 500 coins. One owed 50. Neither could pay. So the man let them both off. Which one will love him more?"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Love in action 8 min
- Call out a situation ("Your sister spills your juice," "A new kid sits alone"). Kids act out a loving thing to do.
- After each one, everyone says, "Love one another!"
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
At Simon's dinner, a forgiven woman poured out her love on Jesus' feet while Simon, the proud host, gave Him nothing. Love is the first part of the fruit of the Spirit. It isn't something we glue on by trying harder. It grows in us as we understand how much Jesus loves and forgives us, and it shows up in action.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: What love looks like, Love in action cards
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
In Simon's house, a woman everyone called a sinner poured out lavish love on Jesus, while Simon, who thought he owed God little, gave Jesus nothing. Love is the first part of the fruit of the Spirit, and it isn't produced by willpower. It grows as the Spirit shows us how much we've been forgiven, and it gives itself away, even to the people hardest to love.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Simon or the woman?, My agape plan
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Love
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Jesus Blesses the ChildrenMark 10:13-16; Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17When people brought little children to Jesus, His disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was upset and said, "Let the little children come to Me." He took them in His arms and blessed them. Jesus loves children and welcomes everyone who comes to Him like a child.New TestamentLove
With Building BricksThe Good Samaritan: LoveLuke 10:25-37; 1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8An expert in God's law asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told a story. A man was walking down the road to Jericho when robbers beat him up and left him half dead. A priest came by, but he passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same. Then a Samaritan came. Jews and Samaritans didn't get along, but he stopped. He bandaged the man, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. He paid for everything. Then Jesus turned the question around. "Which one was a neighbor to the man?" Love doesn't ask, "Who do I have to love?" It asks, "Who can I love?" We love because God first loved us.New TestamentLove
God Shows No Favorites: Peter and CorneliusActs 10:1-48; Acts 11:18Cornelius was a Roman army officer who loved God, gave to the poor and prayed. An angel told him to send for Peter. At the same time, Peter had a vision of a sheet full of animals that Jewish law said not to eat. God said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Just then, Cornelius's men arrived. Peter went with them, even though Jews didn't usually visit Gentiles. He told Cornelius's household about Jesus, and while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on them. Peter said, "God does not show favoritism." God loves people from every nation, and we should too.New TestamentLove
Jesus the KingJesus Dies for UsLuke 23:13-49; Isaiah 53:4-6Jesus was innocent, but He let Himself be put on a cross. He forgave the people who hurt Him and died in our place, because He loves us.New TestamentLove
Jesus the KingThe Lost SonLuke 15:1-32Jesus told a story about a son who ran away and wasted everything, and a father who ran to welcome him home, showing how much God loves lost people.New TestamentLove
Seeing God's WorldMade for RelationshipsMatthew 22:34-40; Genesis 2:18-24; 1 John 4:19-21When someone asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, He gave two that belong together – love God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself. From the beginning God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." We were made for relationship with God and with each other.New TestamentLove