3 Bible Stories That Teach Kids About Love

My daughter gets off the bus with a blank face. Maybe she’s tired or maybe it’s been a tough day at school. Kindergarten is just hard, folks.

She runs to me and I reach out my arms to welcome her. No matter what the day held, she’s home now. She’s mine.

I ask her about her day. What did you do? Who did you play with? Almost always these days, our conversation moves to the “mean girl.”

When her teacher first told us about the “mean girl” in our semester conference, I was surprised. My daughter had never mentioned an issue. Almost simultaneously though, she began to share about the girl who bullies her away from playing with others. She’s unleashed her fury on all the girls, not just mine.

I’m slowly getting over the fact that my daughter is in kindergarten and already dealing with a “mean girl” by focusing my energy on intentionally teaching her how NOT to be one and how to love one. Though I’m surprised and honestly annoyed that we are facing this issue, I am thankful the interaction is encouraging us to make love the theme in our conversations of faith.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, I’ve been looking for more ways to show my kids what the Bible says about love.

Three Bible Stories That Teach Kids About Love

1. Jesus loves us, and that helps us love others.

The Vine and the Branches (John 15:9-15)
Through Jesus’ illustration of the grapevine, we see our relationship with him as life-giving, nourishing and as imperative as the connection between the vine and branch. This simple, yet powerful picture is one your children can understand. Verse 9 encourages us to remain in his love. Love comes from a heart that is connected to Jesus. When we truly know him and understand his heart for us and for others, we will love well.

Related verse: We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

2. Love the unlovable.

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Even though he was known as a sinful, tax collector, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus the day he came to town. Use this story to help your child understand that unkind, unpleasant, unlovable people still want to be known and loved even though they don’t act like it. Jesus gives a wonderful example in this story of reaching out to someone who is unloved by many. He goes out of his way to reach out and Zacchaeus’ heart is changed by his love.

Related verse: Love others as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

3. Love those in need.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:26-37)
Jesus instructs us to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” When asked “Who is our neighbor?” he responds with this story we’ve all heard a thousand times in so many ways. The Good Samaritan is a foundational example of what it means to be a Christian. Our children need to be encouraged to notice those in need around them. Through this teaching, we can help foster a heart of compassion in our kids. We can teach them to see and then act when others are in need. In doing so, we are encouraging a love that puts others first.

Related verse: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)

Image Credit (Creative Commons)

What Bible stories are you using to teach your children to love well?

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. After 15 years in the music and publishing industries, Jessica came home to be with her two small children. Although the transition from the corporate world to the playground has been an adjustment, she is learning every day to access the grace available to us through Christ as she navigates the full time job of motherhood. She is the co-author of The Pregnancy Companion: A Faith-Filled Guide for Your Journey to Motherhood and The Baby Companion: A Faith-Filled Guide for Your Journey Through Baby’s First Year. Jessica lives in Nolensville, TN with her husband, Dave and two miracle babies, Hope (5) and Joshua (2).