August 14–20

Romans 7–16

“Overcome Evil with Good”

As you read Romans 7–16, record any impressions you receive about how you can teach the children the truths in these chapters.

Invite Sharing

A few days in advance, invite one or more of the children to find a verse in Romans 7–16 that they can share with the class. You could invite their parents to help if necessary.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Romans 8:35–39

My Heavenly Father loves me.

How can you use Paul’s words to teach the children that Heavenly Father will always love them?

Possible Activities

• Help the children memorize the phrase “[Nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:39). Think about a way to illustrate this truth. For instance, you could bring two boards you have nailed together, one labeled “us” and the other “the love of God.” Let the children see if they can separate the boards.

• Show a picture of the sun, or invite the children to look out a window and see the sunshine. How is the sun like Heavenly Father’s love? Help the children see that although the sun is far away, it can help us feel warm. We can feel Heavenly Father’s love all the time, even though He is not physically with us. Sing together a song about Heavenly Father’s love, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29).

Children can help others learn about the Savior and have faith in Him. Storytime in Galilee, by Del Parson

Romans 10:17

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

As children hear the word of God and listen carefully to it, their faith in God will grow.

Possible Activities

• Read Romans 10:17 to the children, and show them pictures of settings in which they can hear the word of God (like family scripture study, church classes, or general conference; see this week’s activity page). Ask the children when they have heard God’s word.

• Tell a story about a child who listens to the word of God in various ways. While you are telling the story, blow up a balloon little by little to represent how the child’s faith grows each time he or she hears the word of God.

• To help the children understand that their faith can grow, help them sing “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97). As they sing, ask them to pretend to be seeds by crouching down. Every time they sing the word faith, have them rise up a little like a growing plant.

• Hide in the classroom a set of scriptures, a picture of the President of the Church, and a copy of the Friend magazine. Ask the children to find these things and share how each makes it possible for us to hear God’s word.

Romans 16:1–4

I can say thank you to those who help me.

Paul was grateful for the people who helped him. You can help the children notice the kind things others do for them and remember to thank them.

Possible Activities

• Explain that Paul was thankful for the help he received from a woman named Phebe and a married couple named Priscilla and Aquila (see Romans 16:1–4). Ask the children to draw pictures of Paul and these three people as you read these verses.

• Invite each child to share something nice that someone did for him or her recently. Help the children make thank-you cards for those people.

• Help the children learn how to say thank you in different languages. The song “Children All Over the World” (Children’s Songbook, 16–17) can help.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Romans 8:16–18

Heavenly Father wants me to prepare to receive all that He has.

Heavenly Father’s plan makes it possible for us to become like Him and inherit all that He has. This truth can inspire the children you teach to live the gospel more faithfully.

Possible Activities

• Read together Romans 8:16–18. What do we learn from these verses about who we are and who we can become? Explain that an “heir” is someone who inherits, or receives, what his or her parents have. Write on the board What do we need to do to inherit all that our Father in Heaven has? Sing together a song about obedience, such as “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65), looking for answers. What other answers can the children think of?

• Ask the children to think about a king who wants his sons and daughters to rule in his kingdom someday. Explain that Heavenly Father is like a king, and we are His royal sons and daughters. You could share the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France, found in Sister Elaine S. Dalton’s message “Remember Who You Are!” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 121). Why is it important to remember that we are children of Heavenly Father and born to someday be like Him? How does this truth affect the choices we make here on earth?

Romans 10:17

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Children have many opportunities to hear the word of God. Help them see how hearing God’s word can strengthen their faith.

Possible Activities

• Write the following sentence on the board: cometh by , and by the of . Ask the children to fill in the blanks after reading Romans 10:17. Share a time when someone taught a gospel truth that helped to strengthen your faith—perhaps you could share a favorite scripture or quotation from general conference. Invite the children to share their own experiences.

• Give one child a picture of the Savior healing someone and tell him or her not to let the other children see the picture. Ask the child to give clues to help the other children guess what the picture shows. How can we help others learn about the Savior so they can have faith in Him?

Romans 14:10, 13

“Let us not … judge one another.”

When children interact with others who make different choices than they do, they may be tempted to be judgmental. Consider how Paul’s counsel to the Romans can help them avoid such judgment.

Possible Activities

• Invite a child to read Romans 14:10, 13. Ask the other children to count how many times Paul used the word judge. What does it mean to judge someone? Why should we avoid judging others?

• Show a picture of someone, and ask the children what we know about this person only by looking at the picture. What are some things we don’t know about him or her? Why is the Lord the best one to judge this person? (see 1 Samuel 16:7).

Encourage Learning at Home

Ask the children to pick one activity you did as a class and do it with their families. Tell them that next week they can share what they did.

Improving Our Teaching

Give children opportunities to move. It is often difficult for children to sit attentively for long periods of time. From time to time, invite the children to stand for part of the class or sit on the floor rather than on their chairs.