DLTK's Sunday School Lessons
Church and Respect
by
Sunday School 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!
Description |
Time Allotted |
Supplies |
| Welcome! Receive name tags. Have the children use crayons, markers, yarn, feathers and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) that you have available to personalize their name tag. Sing the Learning our Names song |
10 to 15 minutes | Heart or Sunshine name tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape. |
Craft/Game time! Preschool thru Grade 1: Make the "Dressed for church" paper craft. Discuss with the class why people dress up to go to church. The craft is meant to be fun and to help the kids remember some ways that they can show respect in church. God doesn't look on the outside but he sees the inside and sometimes dressing nice helps as act nice. Grade 2 and 3: Complete the Manners and church worksheet. Allow the kids to color their own if you need to use time. Talk about some other ways they can be respectful in church (talking quietly, walking instead of running, taking turns to talk to the teacher, singing and listening in church, etc.) |
15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio |
Preschool thru Grade 1: Boy
or girl
template. printer, paper, scissors, glue, something to color
with. Grade 2 and 3: Manners and church worksheet template. printer, paper, something to color with. |
Bible Story Time: Preschool thru Grade 1: Read The Story of Church and Respect (or read from your own store bought children's bible). Grades 2 and 3: It's tough to know when it's the right time to start readings from the Bible, but if the children have been read a children's version of the story in the past, I believe this is a good age to introduce the King James (or your preferred) bible reading. |
10 minutes | The Coloring Pages can be distributed to the children so they are able to color at home, or during the story. |
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Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining ask the children how they can make God happy? Why is church so special? What are some ways that they can be good in Sunday school and at home? Grade 2 and 3: depending on the time remaining ask the children what it means to respect others? Why is it important to respect others at church? What are some ways they can respect others when they're away from church?
Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together" |
5 to 15 minutes | Brainstorm Board (chalkboard, whiteboard, poster board,...)
Words to: Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together"
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