THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT CRAFT | GENTLENESS

GENTLENESS FRUIT BASKET Create this Gentleness Basket craft with your child to remind them that wants them to show gentleness to others. When we treat others with gentleness, we are showing God’s love to others. To help reinforce this teaching objective, your child will create this craft by being gentle and showing care with their hands. We can also be gentle in the things we do and say.

DIRECTIONS SUPPLIES NEEDED PREP 1. Print the Fruit Basket printable. • Option: Create your own fruit to cut out. Use the printable as a guide.

Fruit Basket Tape Crayons or DO printable markers 1. Give your child the Fruit Basket printable and help them carefully cut out the fruit. 2. Allow them to color the fruit. 3. Cut the paper plate into the shape of a Scissors Paper plate basket by cutting a hole in the center of the top half of the plate, making a handle. 4. Give your child the paper plate and allow TALKING POINTS them to color it. 5. Once they finish coloring, give your child • When were your hands gentle tape to gently tape each piece of fruit on while you made your craft? the back of the paper plate so the fruit is • What are some gentle words seen through the front of the basket. you can say? 6. Once finished, your child can gently carry • How can you be gentle when their fruit basket around, remembering that you play? when they are gentle, they can show God’s love to others.

Help M!"ly take #h! veg$i!s to the barn!

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT ACTIVITY | GENTLENESS

GENTLE CUP STACK

In this activity, your child will experience a tangible representation of the word gentle. As they do this activity, they will be gentle with their touch. As they stack the cups, you can talk with your child about the story and remember that was gentle with Paul.

DIRECTIONS

1. Gather the cups with your child and sit on the floor or at a table. SUPPLIES NEEDED 2. Tell your child that you are going to use the cups to build a pyramid which is like a standing triangle. 3. Explain that if we stack them too hard or fast,

they might fall. But if we are gentle and careful Cups

with what we do, we can stack them just right. Miniumum of 6 cups 4. Remind them that we can be gentle with

people, too, by using kind words to cheer

someone up who’s having a hard day or BIBLE CONNECTION

praying for someone when they’re sad. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

When we love Jesus, God gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us be gentle, just like Barnabas was kind and compassionate to Paul in the Bible story. Gentleness is a Fruit of the Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas Acts 9:26-31, 13:1-3, 15:36-41 Colored by:

on

Hey Parents! This week we learned about the Fruit of the Spirit of gentleness by looking at the life of Barnabas. Barnabas showed God’s gentleness toward Saul, giving him a chance when others were resistant to accept him because of his past. The Fruit of the Spirit of gentleness can be an immense gift to others. Gentleness is not just being timid or tender. It is being slow to anger, quick to forgive and accepting of those who are different than us. You are gentle when you show care and compassion toward others. Take some time to discuss the following questions with your child this week, reinforcing the importance of gentleness. 1. What does the word gentle mean? 2. Who should we show gentleness toward? 3. What is something you can do for someone today that shows them gentleness?

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TALK IT OVER | LESSON 4

Hey parents! This week your child learned about gentleness, which is a Fruit of the Spirit. They heard the Bible story of Paul and Barnabas, too! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson after they’ve watched the video service.

1. What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? 2. In the Bible story, who showed gentleness to Paul? Barnabas did. 3. At Skuppeton Farms, how did Melly show gentleness? Melly was gentle with all the animals. She was kind and helped them with what they needed. She and Megan were also gentle with the eggs! 4. When you belong to God’s family, who helps you show gentleness? The Holy Spirit! 5. How can you show gentleness? God helps us be kind and compassionate. If someone is having a bad day, you can help them, cheer them up, and pray for them. That’s just one way we can show gentleness. 6. Pray with your child and thank God for his love and gentleness. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can show gentleness by being kind and compassionate to others, too!

WEEK 4: BARNABAS, GENTLENESS

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:27)

Acts 9 Do you have anyone in your life with a calming presence? Someone who brings peace and kindness to any situation? Barnabas was one of these people. He had a gentle spirit. Barnabas showed God’s gentleness toward Saul, giving him a chance when others were resistant to accept him because of his past. In situations where people seemed agitated or angry, Barnabas had a calming matter.

The Fruit of the Spirit of gentleness can be an immense gift to others. Gentleness is not just being timid, tender, or placid. It is being slow to anger, quick to forgive and accepting of those who are different than us.

Part of our natural desire when we become Christians is the desire to be more like Christ. He infuses us with His gentle character and because of this, we are able to show that gentleness to others. Part of having gentleness is wisdom and knowing when it is time to take a step back before things get heated. Barnabas did this well when he had an argument with Paul. Even though they disagreed, he was able to move past it and continue sharing the gospel.

Gentleness is bringing peace to places of conflict, anger, or hurt. It is being careful not to harm or offend others, thinking before we act or speak, and showing compassion despite the circumstances. Gentleness is showing humility. It is thinking of ourselves less and choosing to think about how we can be kind and compassionate toward others.

Questions to think about: 1. Does someone come to mind when you think of gentleness? How are they gentle? 2. What is true, Biblical gentleness? 3. How can you respond the next time you are tempted to react in anger to your spouse, kids, etc.?