Fruit of the Spirit · Lesson 5
Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Luke 22:47-53; John 18:10-11; Luke 6:35-36; Ephesians 4:32 New Testament PrincipleKindness
When soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter swung a sword and cut off a servant's ear. Jesus said, "No more of this!" He touched the man's ear and healed him. His last healing before the cross was for someone who came to arrest Him. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. God is kind to us when we don't deserve it, so His Spirit helps us be kind to everyone, even people who are unkind to us.
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. God is kind to us when we don't deserve it, so we can be kind to everyone, even people who hurt us.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s love
Jesus healed the ear of a man who came to arrest Him. Hours later, on the cross, He prayed for the people who put Him there (Luke 23:34). That is God's kindness. "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy" (Titus 3:4-5). We were His enemies too, and He died for us (Romans 5:10). Our kindness to others grows from His kindness to us.
Titus 3:4-5; Romans 5:10; Luke 6:35; Luke 23:34
The Big Story · Redemption
Jesus went willingly to the cross to rescue His enemies and make them His friends.
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 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Payback or kindness?
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): Can you hear me now?
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Telephone kindness
- 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 is kind, so I am kind.
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: Kind hands, Color the kind friend
- 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
When men came to arrest Jesus, Peter cut off a servant's ear with a sword. Jesus said, "No more of this!" and healed the man's ear. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is kind even to people who are against Him, so His Spirit helps us be kind to everyone.
Start here
Do the bump demonstration. Ask, "What happens when we pay people back?" Say, "Today we'll see what Jesus did when someone came to hurt Him."
Bible story 6 min
It was night. Jesus was praying in a garden with His friends. Then they saw lights. A big crowd was coming with torches. Soldiers had swords and clubs. Judas was leading them. He had turned against Jesus.
"That's Him!" The men grabbed Jesus. Peter was scared and mad. He pulled out a sword and swung it. He cut off the ear of a servant named Malchus!
Jesus said, "No more of this!" He reached out and touched the man's ear. Right away, it was healed!
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Stop the payback 8 min
- Call out an unkind thing ("Someone cuts in line," "Someone calls you a name"). Kids first make a "payback" face. Then they freeze, put a hand on their heart and say a kind answer out loud.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
In the dark garden, with a mob grabbing Him, Jesus stopped Peter's sword and healed the ear of Malchus, a man who came to arrest Him. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. It isn't just being nice to nice people. It's God's kind of kindness, which stops payback and does good even to people who are against us.
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: Kind to enemies, Kindness cups
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, at home
- 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
As a mob seized Him in Gethsemane, Jesus stopped Peter's sword and healed Malchus, a man sent to arrest Him. It was His last healing before the cross. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. It is God's own kindness, which He showed to us while we were His enemies, flowing through us to the people who least deserve it.
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: God's kindness, our kindness, Stop the cycle
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, at school, at home
- 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 Kindness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Seeing God's WorldSalt and LightMatthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Long before, God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Christians don't hide from the world or blend into it. We do good and show Jesus' love so people see it and praise our Father in heaven.New TestamentKindness
With MusicKindness in a Song: David Plays the Harp for Saul1 Samuel 16:13-23; 1 Samuel 18:10-11; Ephesians 4:32King Saul was troubled and upset inside. God had chosen young David to be the next king, and God sent David to play the harp for Saul and help him feel better. David used God's gift to be kind, even to the king he would replace. God is kind to us, so we can be kind to others.Old TestamentKindness
Before He Finished Praying: Rebekah at the WellGenesis 24:1-67Abraham sent his oldest servant on a long journey to find a wife for his son Isaac from his relatives. When the servant reached the town with his ten camels, he prayed by the spring, "LORD, show kindness to my master." He asked God to show him the right young woman, one who would offer water to him and his camels too. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She gave him a drink and hurried to water all ten camels. The servant bowed and worshiped God, who had led him all the way. God is kind and keeps His promises, and He helps us be kind too.Old TestamentKindness
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 20:14-17King David remembered his promise to his best friend Jonathan. He found Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who couldn't walk, gave him back his family's land and invited him to eat at the king's table every day. God shows that same kindness to us, so we show kindness to others.Old TestamentKindness
With Building BricksJesus and Zacchaeus: KindnessLuke 19:1-10; Romans 2:4; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:4-5Zacchaeus was a rich chief tax collector in Jericho, and everyone knew he cheated people. When Jesus came to town, short Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus stopped, looked up and called him by name – "Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today!" The crowd grumbled, but Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus with joy. Jesus' kindness changed his heart, and he gave half of everything to the poor and paid back four times what he had cheated. Kindness means treating others with love, even people no one else wants, because Jesus was kind to us first.New TestamentKindness
The Church BeginsDorcas Helps PeopleActs 9:36-43; Mark 5:35-43Dorcas loved Jesus and was always doing kind things, like making clothes for widows. When she got sick and died, her friends sent for Peter. Peter prayed, and God brought Dorcas back to life, and many people believed in Jesus.New TestamentKindness