This Week’s Finish Line: I Can Respect Others because God Cares for Them!
In Mark 5:21-43, Jesus interacted with two people who couldn’t have been more different. Jairus was a wealthy leader whose daughter was dying. The sick woman was poor and alone. Despite coming from opposite sides of town, they were both in great need and had faith that Jesus was the only one who could help them. During small group, the kids looked at how Jesus respected both of these people by taking the time to care for them. Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are all created in God’s image. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 18 reminds us that God created us all uniquely and works through all of us. Nothing makes one person better than another in God’s eyes so we can show respect to everyone we meet.
Bring It Home: 3 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Show Respect to Others
1. Conversation Starters
Read Mark 5:21-43 together as a family. List out all the ways Jairus and the sick woman were different. How are they similar? How does Jesus take the time to show respect to both? We should view a person the same way God does which means each person deserves our respect, even if they are different from us. What people are hard for you to respect? How can remembering that God cares for everyone help you be respectful the next time you’re with them?
2. Show Respect by Taking Time to Care for Others!
Jesus took time out of his very busy life to stop and let the sick woman know that she mattered and He cared for her. As a family, think of a “Jairus” and a “Sick Woman” in your life that could use some encouragement. Come up with a way you can show how much you care about them this week. You could bake cookies, decorate a card or take time to play games with them to let them know that they matter to you. You will show them that you respect them by taking time to care about them, just like Jesus did!
3. Making a Game of Respect
Pick a game everyone in your family can play and play it together one night. During the game, encourage your kids when you see them showing respect for the other players. If one of the players does not show respect during the game, have them come up with one truth from the Bible that God says is true about everyone. Another option is to have them take a moment to think of something good about the person they didn’t respect.
Prayer: Psalm 139:1-12
Every single person that has ever lived was created uniquely by God and He knows everything about them. Ask God to let you see people the way He sees them so that even when you meet people who are difficult, you can still be respectful because you know God cares for everyone.