Lessons from Lion King: Love

Introduction

Hey everybody! Who all celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday? What did you do? What is Valentine’s Day about? It’s about love! Today we’re going to be talking about LOVE! We’re going to be watching clips from the movie, The Lion King, and Simba, the main character, who is future King of the Pride Lands!

The very first clip we’re going to watch is a clip about the Circle of Life, which they think is a force that holds everything together! Love is like that, it holds everything together!

Let’s watch our first clip to see how love holds everything together.

Watch Clip 1 - Circle of Life

In the opening scene, Rafiki holds up Simba—the newborn cub—high above the Pride Lands. What we see is all of the animals coming to gather around the little Lion King. When we see all of the animals together we see that all of these animals are connected, every living creature depends on one another. This is the Circle of Life, a powerful force that surrounds them, helps them, and guides them along! God’s love is like that, it surrounds us, helps us, and guides us along our daily lives. Like Simba, we’re all part of something bigger and our lives make a difference on the lives of others! How we love and care for others makes a big difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

The Bible reminds us that there’s a love for us that makes a big difference in our lives. John 3:16 says:

Scripture Reference: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

God loved the world so much, that He sent His Son Jesus to care for us, to help us, to guide us. Love has responsibility for others! Simba has a responsibility to help the Pride Lands, and Jesus has the responsibility to care for us and the world.

We don’t have a Circle of Life, we have a Circle of Love! Our Circle of Love is that God loves us, and we love one another.

Let’s watch the Second Clip

Watch Clip 2 - Hakuna Matata

Simba grows up with Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him the carefree motto: “Hakuna Matata” (no worries). But true love isn’t about avoiding responsibilities—it’s about embracing them. Timon and Pumbaa’s friendship with Simba shows us that love calls us to care for one another, even when it’s inconvenient. As we navigate life’s challenges, we remember that God’s love helps us to face our responsibilities with courage and compassion.

We have to remember of who God created us to be, people who love others!

Let’s watch our last clip!

Watch Clip 3 - Remember Who You Are

Simba isn’t sure what all of this responsibility is about, but his dad Mufasa appears to Simba, urging him to remember who he is—a king. When we forget our identity—our purpose—we lose sight of our potential. But God whispers, “Remember who you are.” Love calls us back to how God made us. We’re meant to love others like God loved us through Jesus!

What’s one way we can show that we love someone this week?

Love is more than a feeling—it’s a force that changes the world around us. At the end of the movie, Simba is now on the throne as King over the Pride Lines, he embraced his responsibility to care for and love these people. Let’s be like Simba, let’s do our job to love and care for others! Remember the circle of love: God loves us, and we love one another. Let’s live out this love in our families, schools, and communities.

Let’s pray!