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Church and Respect

Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan.  Visit the Church and Respect Bible lesson plan Section for further ideas to supplement this. 

Introduction:

This lesson is about church and respect.  This lesson will teach why and how children are supposed to act in church and what it means to respect others (parents, leaders, and others).  By respecting others children are also respecting God and that makes him happy.  The struggle with this lesson is that the traditional church has become more casual and parents once knew what was expected of their children.  By understanding that the church is God's house should help the children understand how they are expected to act.

The message:  

Preschool thru Grade 1: When we respect others it makes God happy.
  
Grades 2 and 3: Respecting others honors God.

I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level.  For the younger children, the message is simple:  When we respect others it makes God happy.  Behaving for adults is important no matter where we are.  For the older children, we expand on this message and say: Respecting others honors God.  

Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson.  Send the Church and Respect Take Home Sheet  home with the children to encourage parents to reiterate the message during the week.  It includes a poster at the bottom that the children can color and hang on their wall or refrigerator. 

Preview of the lesson:

Some people like to do craft time first and story time second and some like to switch it around.  I like the first option, myself.

Always consider offering Church and Sunday School Coloring pages for children who aren't interested in participating in the group activity (or if you get done the group activities very quickly and need something to fill in the spare time).  Everyone has a need for "alone time" once in awhile.  Also, sending home the coloring pages with the Take Home sheet provides parents with much needed help in reinforcing the lessons.  You can make a nice little booklet each week with the take home sheet on top -- I promise that most parents will appreciate the effort!