Joyful Moments in Christ

Love Your Enemies

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus calls his followers to love their enemies and show mercy, just as God is merciful to us.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will learn what Jesus taught about loving enemies.
2. Students will understand that God is merciful to both the good and the wicked.
3. Students will recognize that showing mercy reflects God’s character.
4. Students will be encouraged to practice love and kindness, even when it is difficult.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 45-60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

“Unexpected Kindness” Sharing Game

1. Ask students to share a time when someone was kind to them in an unexpected way.
2. If students are hesitant, share a personal example to get them started.
3. Write the examples on the board to highlight how surprising and powerful kindness can be.

This activity helps introduce the idea that Jesus calls us to show love even when it is least expected.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 6:27-36 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 6:27-36 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 6:27-36 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 6:27-36 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 6:27-36 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. What do you notice about the kind of love Jesus describes?
2. How is this different from what people normally do?
3. What does Jesus say about how God treats both good and bad people?
4. What does Jesus say we should be like if we are God’s children?

Teacher Background Notes

1. In Jesus’ time, many people believed it was acceptable to hate enemies and only love friends or family. Jesus taught something radically different.
2. Jesus’ command to love enemies does not mean ignoring justice but calls for a posture of mercy and kindness, even toward those who harm us.
3. Turning the other cheek does not encourage passivity in the face of violence; it points to the refusal to seek revenge.
4. The “Golden Rule” (v. 31) is central: treat others as you want to be treated.
5. God’s mercy is shown in that he gives common blessings like food, rain, and life even to the ungrateful and wicked (see Matthew 5:45).
6. This passage points to the gospel: we were once enemies of God, but through Christ, God showed mercy and brought us into his family.

Theological Insights

1. God’s mercy extends to both the righteous and the unrighteous.
2. Jesus’ followers are called to love differently from the world, reflecting God’s character.
3. Mercy means showing kindness even when it is undeserved.
4. Loving enemies demonstrates that we are children of the Most High God.
5. God rewards those who follow Christ’s example of love and mercy.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. Who does Jesus tell us to love in this passage?
2. What should we do for people who hate us or mistreat us?
3. What does Jesus mean when he says to treat others the way we want to be treated?
4. How does God show kindness to both good and bad people?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Why is it hard to love people who hurt us?
2. How can prayer help us love our enemies?
3. What is one way you can show kindness to someone this week?
4. How does it encourage you to know that God showed mercy to you when you were his enemy?

Suggested Activities

“Golden Rule” Skits

1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Give each group a scenario (e.g., a friend taking your toy, someone calling you a name).
3. Have them act out both the “world’s way” of responding and Jesus’ way.

This activity helps students practice applying the Golden Rule in real-life situations.

“Mercy Hands” Craft

1. Give students paper and markers. Have them trace their hands.
2. Inside each traced hand, write one way they can show mercy or kindness to someone this week.
3. Share ideas as a class.

This activity helps students make a personal plan for showing mercy.

“Love in Action” Challenge

1. Write simple acts of kindness on slips of paper (e.g., pray for someone, share a snack, write an encouraging note).
2. Let each student draw one challenge to complete during the week.

This activity encourages students to put Jesus’ teaching into practice outside the classroom.

Memory Verse

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing mercy to us through Jesus Christ, even when we were your enemies. Help us to love our enemies, to pray for those who hurt us, and to show mercy as you have shown mercy to us.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 6:27-36 here:

ELL Lesson 27: Luke 6:27-36 — Love Your Enemies

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.