There are several great memory verses in this passage: 

1. "love one another, as I have loved you" 
2. "lay down his life for his friends" 
3. "you did not choose me, I chose you" 

Three amazing lesson subjects in one great passage.

And I love the part where Jesus says he calls us "friends" instead of servants. That could be another direction too.

Computer -- If I were doing this lesson in the computer lab, I'd pull out a copy of Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD and have the kids type the passage (in sections) into the Verse Editor, add their own comments and quiz to each verse, and then go to another work group's computer to use THEIR John 15 memory verse "unscramble" game and quiz.

For younger kids, I'd type in key phrases for them, instead of entire verses (depending on which verse they were working on) and have them unscramble those phrases. I've used Cal and Marty with 5 yr olds and they can do it WITH HELP. But your older kids will really go to town with the verse editor.

Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game software program is now available FREE OF CHARGE to download here at Rotation.org to the supporting members of Rotation.org. Learn more!

Video -- the GOSPEL OF JOHN  DVD does John word for word, so it would include this dramatic passage.

Art --  for an art project idea.... three of these verses has a "flip side" our "two-part" quality to it, which could be written on two sides of a mobile/sun catcher. 

You didn't choose me -> I choose you
Love one another -> because I have loved you.
You are no longer servants -> but friends
There is no greater love -> than to lay down your life for a friend

<>< Neil

Posting more ideas which I recently suggested to a member about

Games

John 15:9-17

(see copy of scripture I pasted in below).

1. I see each of these as a pantomime/charades game. There are four ideas in the passage (which I've briefly excerpted below). Write them on slips of paper (2 per verse) and pass them out. Have individuals act them out like a charade, BUT >> Don't let anyone yell out the answer. Make each person write down their answer and submit it.  You can do this in pairs or teams.

v9....ABIDE in my love...

v12....Love...as I have...  lay down your life for your friends....

v15....I call you my friends...

v16...You didn't choose me, I chose you

2. I see KEY words in each. Play a game of "How Few Can You Do" to get the kids to condense each section of verses into the shortest possible number of words that will still convey the meaning.  I've described this game elsewhere on the site. You tell them "do it in 10 words or less," then challenge them to do it in 6 or 7 or less. Kids write them and present them.

v9, for example, could be shortened to: "Father loved, I love, you love."

3.  When you isolate just the keywords in this passage, there are so MANY awesome words and phrases each of which can be "unpacked," illustrated or painted in a collage.   Joy, Lay down, Friends, Chosen, bear fruit....So Many Great Words!     The whole passage has a wonderful tone, full of love that can be expressed visually through art.

The passage: