1. Love Your Enemies Matthew 5: 44-48

2. In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, we hear about the way in which God loves people and about the importance of forgiving. “Love your enemies and pray for those who bully you. If you do this, you will be sons and daughters of God your Father in heaven.

3. God’s love is like the sun which rises each day and gives warmth and light to everyone, not just to good people.

4. God sends rain to water the earth and that rain falls on dishonest as well as honest people, on people who are fair as well as people who are mean.

5. Don’t just love people who love you. Is there anything special about that? Why, even sinful people do this. Don’t just talk to your friends, anyone can do that. No, I tell you, your love must be like God’s love.

6. God loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they do. You must not put any limits on your love, for the love of your Father in heaven is never ending, never changing. God loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they do. You must not put any limits on your love, for the love of your Father in heaven is never ending, never changing.” Matthew 5: 44-48

7. What this passage tells you about God’s love. How you feel as you read it. What makes it difficult to love our enemies? What do you think Jesus means? With your partner, discuss :

8. Love your enemies and pray for those who bully you. Jesus says we must love our enemies. What does that mean? Does it mean we must feel affection for them? No, it means that we must treat them as well as we treat people we like. We must be kind and respectful to them. We must put their needs before ours. We must not treat them badly.

9. God’s love is like the sun which rises each day and gives warmth and light to everyone, not just to good people. God sends rain to water the earth and that rain falls on dishonest as well as honest people, on people who are fair as well as people who are mean. Jesus teaches that to be like God, we have to do more than what comes naturally to us. We all love people who are nice to us. But it isn't easy to be nice to those who are mean to you. But that's what God did. He takes care of everyone, and sent His son to die for all, even though they did not all treat Him well.

10. Don’t just love people who love you. Is there anything special about that? Why, even sinful people do this. Don’t just talk to your friends, anyone can do that. No, I tell you, your love must be like God’s love. It is difficult for someone to continue being mean to you if you don't let it get you angry. It takes away their fun in it. So God's advice is not only the better way to handle the situation from His end, but from ours also.

11. Use the worksheet to read the passage again. Make a note of: Use the worksheet to read the passage again. Make a note of: what surprises you what makes you stop and think how you feel words or phrases you like what is important to you

12. Activities: 1. Make a list of all the positive things you can do to love your enemies. Design a poster to show how “God’s love is like the sun which rises each day and gives warmth and light to everyone, not just to good people.” Design a poster to show how “God’s love is like the sun which rises each day and gives warmth and light to everyone, not just to good people.” 2. Write a prayer asking God to help you be more loving toward your enemies and others. 3. Drama: in groups act out one of the stories from the sheet. Now try to make up a scene of your own to show how you could behave towards your enemies.