How Deep Is His Love? A Sabbath School Lesson

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jeremiah 31:3

3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.

Zephaniah 3:17

17 The LORD your God in the middle of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing.

Ephesians 3:18-19

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Psalm 136:26

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity brags not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;

6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 3:1

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

Isaiah 54:10

10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is a wonderful lesson plan on the depth of God's love! Here's how we can enrich it with insights from Ellen White and additional biblical context to deepen the content. 💖

---

Sabbath School Lesson Plan: How Deep Is His Love?

Theme: How Deep Is His Love?

Scripture Focus: Romans 8:38–39

Time: 15–20 minutes

---

Introduction (2 minutes)

• Start with a quick question: “What’s the strongest thing you can think of? A storm? A mountain? Superglue? Gravity?”

• Say: “Today we’re going to learn about something even stronger than all of those—God’s love.”

• This infinite, exhaustless love is beyond human comprehension and expression.LDE 305.4+1 It is the very foundation of God's government and the core of a Christian's character.CSA 21.1+2

• God's love is a living spring, a positive and active principle that blesses others.1MCP 249.3

---

Step 1 – Read Together (3 minutes)

• Read Romans 8:38–39 aloud in two or three different translations.

• "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

• Ask:

• “What words or phrases stand out to you most?”

• “Why do you think Paul made such a long list?”

• Write down key words on a board or paper (death, life, angels, powers, height, depth, anything else in creation).

Key Point: Paul chose the most extreme examples possible to prove that nothing—absolutely nothing—can cut us off from God’s love. This truth brings assurance and steadfastness to the believer.1888 1532.1+4

---

Step 2 – Break It Down (3 minutes)

• Brief explanation: Paul wasn’t saying bad things won’t happen, but that even in the worst situations, God’s love holds on. Even when everything looks dark, we can patiently trust in God's love.3T 293.1+2

• Ask discussion questions:

• “Why do you think Paul used such extreme examples?”

• Paul wanted to convey that God's love is an "infinite, exhaustless love" that "tongue cannot utter; pen cannot portray it." Even after ages of study, we can never fully comprehend its "length and the breadth, the depth and the height."LDE 305.4+1

• This deep love is a "golden chain" binding us to God, surpassing all human understanding and wisdom.ST April 16, 1902, par. 1+1

• “Can you think of a time when it felt like God was far away? What helped you remember His love?”

• When we feel God is far away, we can look to Calvary. The cross speaks of the infinite compassion of our Heavenly Father, who "spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all."RH June 12, 1888, par. 8+1

• Just as Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus, He sympathizes with all our griefs and identifies His sorrows with ours.2SM 272.2 When we flee to the throne of grace, confess our sins, and believe in His forgiveness, we should not doubt His divine mercy or refuse the comfort of His infinite love.3SM 196.3

---

Step 3 – Activity: Separation Scenarios (5 minutes)

• Hand out slips of paper with challenges:

• Being bullied at school

• Failing a test

• Parents arguing

• Feeling lonely or left out

• Making a mistake you regret

• Worrying about the future

• Have each student read theirs aloud and answer:

• “Do you think this could separate someone from God’s love? Why or why not?”

• Even in our struggles and darkness, we must not lose sight of the light of Christ's love and the great redemption purchased at infinite cost.10MR 80.1 His invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," extends even to those who feel unworthy. Matthew 11:28-3010MR 80.1

• The promise is sure and steadfast: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed." Isaiah 54:104LtMs, Ms 35, 1886, par. 8

• God "knows the needs and the necessities of the feeblest of his flock" and "loves us with an everlasting love."GCB June 3, 1909, par. 2 "With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:84LtMs, Ms 35, 1886, par. 8 derived from Isaiah 54:8

• Wrap-Up Thought: Our feelings can tell us God is far away, but His Word promises He never leaves us.

• Even when feeling affliction and distress, we should not cast blame upon God, but believe in Him with all our heart, for "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1620LtMs, Lt 159, 1905, par. 9+1

---

Step 4 – Object Lesson Options (5 minutes)

Option A – The Rope & the Knot

• Show rope with knot.

• Explain: “The rope is your connection with God. The knot is His love—strong and unbreakable. Even if life pulls and twists, the knot keeps it together.”

• Let kids tug at the rope to see it still holds.

• This love is not merely an impulse or emotion, but a "divine principle, a permanent power" that only resides where Jesus reigns in the heart.1MCP 206.2+3 It is a steadfast love, "not easily shaken."2TT 205.3

• Love works not for profit or reward, yet it brings great gain and is "strong and mighty in its purpose to overcome great evils."2T 135.2+1

Option B – The Magnet & the Paperclips (alternative)

• Show magnet and clips.

• Explain: “The clips are like us; the magnet is God’s love. Even when scattered, the magnet pulls them back. That’s how God’s love works—always drawing us to Him.”

• God draws us to Him with "more than a mother's yearning sympathy for a wayward child."5BC 1133.2

• He allows trials to come upon us to cause us to return to Him with full purpose of heart, and when we return, He receives us with "loving assurances of pardon."13MR 364.3

---

Step 5 – Personal Reflection (2–3 minutes)

• Ask: “If you really believed nothing could separate you from God’s love, how might that change the way you live?”

• Believing this truth transforms character, making us "kind and courteous peace lovers and peacemakers."16MR 300.2+1 This deep work of truth keeps the soul "true and steadfast to God even in very bad circumstances."18MR 260.3

• It inspires us to pursue "holiness, which is wholeness to God," reflecting His image and working to bless our fellow men.14LtMs, Ms 63, 1899, par. 26+1

• Encourage honest answers (including doubts).

• Close with reassurance: God’s love is stronger than our doubts, failures, and fears.

• When we are "rooted and grounded in love," we can comprehend the "breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of Christ's love, which "passeth knowledge," and be "filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19ST April 11, 1895, par. 1+1

---

Supporting Scriptures (Optional handout or quick references)

• ** Jeremiah 31:3** – God’s love is everlasting.

• "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:22-26SS 218.6

• "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:34LtMs, Ms 35, 1886, par. 8+1

• ** Psalm 136:26** – His love endures forever.

• "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever."SpTA05 10.2 David, understanding God's bounties, wished that those who rejoice in a Savior's love would realize that all they possess is the Lord's and should be used for His glory.RH October 17, 1882, par. 7

• ** Ephesians 3:18–19** – Christ’s love is beyond measure.

• Paul prayed for the Ephesians "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19ST April 11, 1895, par. 1+1

• This love is "immeasurable," "like a vast ocean, without bottom or shore."15LtMs, Ms 58, 1900, par. 80

• ** John 3:16** – His love is proven in Jesus.

• "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:168LtMs, Ms 2, 1893, par. 5+1

• This was the beginning of a new life for fallen souls, a miracle greater than physical healing, curing the "spiritual malady which is unto death everlasting."TSB 256.3+2

• Christ came to this world "with the hoarded love of eternity," and the "whole ocean of divine love was flowing forth from its great center."16LtMs, Ms 47, 1901, par. 6

• ** 1 John 3:1** – We are His children.

• "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1 (derived from 1 John 3:1 "Can any human dignity equal this? What higher position can we occupy than to be called the sons of the infinite God?"T28 163.2

• "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12ST March 26, 1902, par. 6+1

• ** Isaiah 54:10** – His love is unshakable.

• "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:104LtMs, Ms 35, 1886, par. 8

• This promise is "sure and steadfast," a precious lesson to inspire faith.8LtMs, Ms 39, 1893, par. 1+1

• ** Zephaniah 3:17** – God delights in us.

• "The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 (derived from Zephaniah 3:17 God is pleased when His people make "the very highest demands on Him," trusting in His promises, that they may glorify His name.HLv 447.5

• ** 1 Corinthians 13:4–7** – His love is perfect.

• "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (derived from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

• This "true, Christ-like love" is an "expression of the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments" and is "brought into action in the life of every true believer."GH January 1, 1901, par. 3

• It is "the greatest and most grievous sin in the sight of God" to lack this "true Christ-like love for one another."13LtMs, Lt 186, 1898, par. 21

---

Closing Prayer (1 minute)

• “Thank You, Lord, that nothing can ever separate us from Your love. Help us remember this truth when life gets hard. Amen.” 🙏