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The Golden Rule

To Remember: We should treat others as we want to be treated

Vocabulary
Love: putting others first

Lesson
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
God has always given His people guidance on how they should treat one another. We
tend to be selfish, unless trained otherwise. But God wants us to be considerate of others.
He said that we should treat others they way we would like to be treated. How do you
like to be treated? With respect, listened to, not interrupted, loved, share things with,
treated fairly, honest with, follow through on promises. If we like these things from
others, it is only natural that others would like us to treat them the same. Display and
discuss the iron rule, silver rule, golden rule. (Define on a chart: Iron Rule "Do unto
others before the do it to me." Silver Rule "Do unto others as they do unto me." Golden
Rule "Do unto others as I would have them do unto me."

SING: I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart

Love is not just a warm fuzzy feeling of affection, although it can include that. Love is
putting someone else first in your life; taking care of what they need before taking care of
your needs. The golden rule is love in action; treating others well, because others are as
important as you are. Jesus said that Christians' love and caring for each other would be
how the world identified us.
John 13:34,35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another.
True or False

1. God didn't always want people to love each other. F


2. We don't know how others want to be treated. F
3. Jesus cared for others more than himself. T
4. People around us can tell if we love one another. T
5. It is easy to be unselfish. F
6. The silver rule says: love those that love you. T
7. Loving others makes us like God. T

Activities

Discussion/Worksheet: Have students choose the "rule" applied in each of the examples
(iron, silver, gold)

1. When Cain killed Abel. iron


2. When Israelites took revenge on murderers in the Old Testament. silver
3. When Christ died for us. gold
4. When we hit back. silver
5. When we lie to keep from getting in trouble. iron
6. When we forgive. gold

Printable Worksheet: Unscramble a verse about the golden rule

Memory Work:

• Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to
you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
• PK "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Activities:

1. Think about how you like to be treated. Now choose one person you will make an
effort to treat like this in the coming week. (Picking someone who is difficult to
be around will make a significant difference in your week!)
2. Draw a picture of someone applying the "golden rule."
3. Act out the following scenarios, with both "silver" and "golden" responses.
Discuss how the golden response promotes peace and love, and reflects Christ.
o A fellow student makes fun of your outfit in the lunch line. How do you
handle it?
o You and a friend are telling your parents about your field trip. Your friend
interrupted you and took over the story. He's leaving out parts. What do
you do?
o You know someone who lies all the time. One day she asks you in you can
help her with a project on Friday. You know for a fact you could, but
you'd rather not. How to you respond?

Review Questions for gameboard

linguistic questions

1. Summarize the "golden rule". Treat others as you want them to treat you
2. Unscramble the word: veol (love)
3. Name the book where this lesson is taught. (Matthew, John)

activity questions

1. Act out someone who is not putting others first.


2. Draw a heart with your eyes shut.
3. Name something you will do this week for someone you don't like.

emotion questions

1. How do you feel when others let you pick first? special, happy
2. How do you feel when other people won't share with you? unhappy, disliked
3. How does God feel when we treat each other nice? happy, pleased

application questions

1. How should I treat those who don't like me? the same as my friends
2. In what ways has God treated you better than you deserve? he always provides for
us, he blesses us with more than we need, he sent his son to die for us
3. In what ways can you treat others "like yourself"? Share the best of what I have,
let them go first, treat them politely and kindly, help when needed

fact questions

1. Who treats us better than anyone else? God


2. Do we deserve God's mercy? no
3. Who should we show kindness to? everyone

review questions

1. Why should we treat others well? 1) to be like God, 2) to show we are his
children, 3) because we were treated well by God, 4) it is God's law
2. How do we determine how to treat others? We do what we'd like done to us
3. What example can we look to when we are uncertain how to act? Jesus

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