The Golden Rule

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

SAY: Even though there are many ways we can treat others how we want to be treated, I can think of three main ways kids can do that: by caring for others when they’re sick or sad, by welcoming others and not leaving anyone out, and by being kind and encouraging. I thought of a few ways to remind us of these as we practice our verse together.

Have kids stand in a circle and practice the verse in this way:

• Have them repeat the full verse after you.
• Then have kids turn to the right so everyone is facing someone’s back. Have everyone give the person in front of them a pat on the back as they repeat the verse together.
• Explain this is a reminder to care for others.
• Next, have kids say the verse and give a high-five to as many other kids as possible in one minute.
• Explain this is a reminder to welcome everyone.
• Finally, have kids stand in a circle again. Smile and say the verse to a child while making eye contact. That child will smile and make eye contact with another child in the circle and say the verse. Kids will continue to “pass” the verse in this way until everyone has said it at least once.
• Explain this is a reminder to be kind and encouraging to everyone.
• Repeat as time allows.

ASK:

• Why do you think Jesus tells us to do this?

SAY: Jesus teaches us to love others in this way for many reasons, but most of all He knows it’s what’s best for us and others. Let’s start practicing that today.

You’ll Need: Bibles, Props and costumes

SAY: Today we’re learning that Jesus said to love our enemies. Let’s read what He said. (Have kids open their Bibles, and then read aloud Luke 6:27-31.)

Today your task will be showing what loving your enemies might look like in a movie scene.

• Form groups of three to five kids each.
• Assign each group one of the following scenarios, and have each group come up with a movie scene (using the props and costumes) to demonstrate how they can react in the way Jesus tells us to. Encourage groups to get creative and add to their scenarios. It’s okay for more than one group to have the same scenario.
  • A classmate is taking school supplies from your desk.
  • A new child is introduced to your class, but he kind of smells.
  • A younger sibling wants to play with you and your friends.
  • A child is being bullied on the playground.
  • The class clown tells a joke about you.
• Have groups act out their movie scenes for one another.

ASK:

• What’s something you learned from a different group in this activity?

SAY: To love others well, we treat them how we want to be treated. Let’s look into more of what Jesus says about that. (Have kids open their Bibles, and then read aloud Luke 6:32-36.)

ASK:

• What are the benefits to you of loving others in this way?

Share a Snack

You’ll Need: 2 or 3 snacks that come in small pieces, 2 choices of drinks, 3-ounce cups

Follow these steps for the snacks:

• Have kids clean their hands.
• Show kids the choices.
• Form groups of three.
• Explain to kids that they’ll get to choose what they want, but someone else will get it for them.
• Invite one child in each group to ask the other two kids what their first choice of snack is, and then retrieve it.
• Have the second child in each group ask the other two kids what drink they’d like, and then retrieve it.
• Have the third child in each group get a drink for the child missing his or her drink and a snack for the child missing his or her snack.
• Enjoy!

It’s nice to be served by others. That’s why it’s a great idea to find ways to serve. Jesus said to treat others how we want to be treated, right? So get creative.

ASK:

• What are some other ways you might treat others how you want to be treated?

SAY: Treating others in this way is an honor, when we really think about how wonderful it can be to bless others.

Red Light, Green Light Game

SAY: Today we’re learning that loving someone well means treating them how we’d want to be treated. Let’s play a game to help us think about that.

Follow these steps to play Red Light, Green Light:

• Have everyone line up along one wall.
• Stand on the opposite wall facing the children.
• Explain that when you say, “Green light!” the kids can run toward you. When you say, “Yellow light!” they can walk toward you, and when you say, “Red light!” they must stop.
• Play until one child reaches you. Let that child lead next.
• Play as time allows.

SAY: As kids, you’re all learning what you do like and what you don’t like; you’re learning what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not. Like, if someone offers you a candy bar, you might say, “Green light!” But if someone offers you lima beans, you might say, “Red light!” (Invite children to voice things they might say “red light” or “green light” to.)

So part of treating others how we want to be treated is listening to others’ “yeses” and “nos” and responding how we’d want to be treated—by respecting what they need or want. For example, if we want to jump off a diving board but someone else doesn’t, we don’t push them to do it.

ASK:

• What are some other examples you can think of where you can treat others the you want to be treated with respect?

SAY: We can be great at loving others the way Jesus tells us to when we listen and pay attention to others. Let’s work on doing that this week.

Love One Another Bracelets

You’ll Need: Yarn, Scissors, “L,” “O,” and “A” letter beads, Colored beads, Tape

To make the “Love One Another Bracelets,” have kids follow these steps:

• Give kids each a strand of yarn long enough to fit around their wrist and tie in a bow.
• Have them tie a knot on one end of the yarn and use tape on the opposite end to make a needle to feed through the beads.
• Give each child one of each letter, and explain that they stand for “Love one another.”
• Have kids feed the beads onto the yarn, along with other colored beads.
• Help them put on their bracelets.

SAY: Wear your bracelets as a reminder to love one another using the Golden Rule.

Prayers for My Enemy

SAY: Today we’re learning to love our friends and our enemies. So often when we pray, we pray only for our friends, so today, let’s pray for people who we don’t get along with so well. Take a moment now to think of one or two people you might pray for that fit this description, and then we’ll pray. (Allow a moment for kids to think, and then start them out in prayer. Allow about a minute for the children to pray silent prayers for people they struggle to get along with.)

PRAY: Dear God, help us to treat others how we want us to be treated—even our enemies. In Jesus’ name, amen.