YOUTH GROUP GAME ON RESPECT
Bible: 1 John 4:20
Bottom Line: When we respect each other, we honor the One who created us.
SUPPLIES
· Pack of gum
· A few pieces of paper
· Clipboard with paper and pen
GAME PREP
This game requires few supplies and no prep.
Divide students into two teams of equal size and have each team form a huddle.
Give a leader a clipboard with paper and pen to keep score throughout the game.
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Say: Raise your hand if you are the best!
Best at what? We are about to find out!
In my hand, I have a list of categories.
When I read one, you will choose one person from your team that you believe would be the best or someone who could win that category.
For example - The tallest person.
You would choose the tallest person on your team to come forward and be measured against the tallest person from the other team.
At the end of the game, the team that has earned the most points wins!
So, let’s get started.
LIST OF CATEGORIES
· The smallest shoe size
· The fastest runner
· The highest jumper
· The largest chewing gum bubble
· The tallest pinky finger
· The farthest length to throw a paper airplane
· The longest stare in a staring contest
· The shortest hair
· Wearing the most colors
· The most pictures on their cell phone
· The fastest talker (have them say their name three times)
Tally the points and declare one team as the winner.
TEACH
Say: When you know someone is really good at something, do you automatically show them respect based on what they can do?
For example, do people respect Lebron James because he’s a great basketball player or because of his admirable character?
Allow a few responses.
Do you respect the person in our game who had the longest pinky finger? Why or why not?
Allow a few more responses.
If I asked you to name people in our community who deserve respect, you most likely would mention those in authority, like: police officers, firefighters, politicians, teachers, a boss, and pastors.
We also know that it’s expected that you should respect parents and elders (people who are older than you.)
Some might say, “I show respect to people who show me respect.”
Raise your hand if you have ever said that before.
But when we take a look at what God says about treating others with respect, we learn that God wants everyone to treat each other with respect… no matter who they are.
None of us are perfect.
If respect is based on whether or not we deserve it, that might change from day to day or even from hour to hour based on the decisions we make.
Some of our actions might be respectable, and some of them are not.
So, what if we respect each other simply based on the fact that we were all created by the same Creator, who made us in His own image?
When we respect each other, we honor God.
Read: 1 John 4:20.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?
Ask: How are “love” and “respect” similar in meaning?
Allow a few responses from students.
So, now the question is… can you love someone without respecting them?
Or can you respect someone that you don’t love?
Dave Willis said, “Show respect even to people who don’t deserve it; not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.”
The way we treat others is an outward reflection of what is in our heart.
When God’s love fills your life, you can’t help but love others and put their needs above your own, even if they don’t deserve it.
If you are filled with pride and selfishness, you might believe that people have to prove themselves for you to respect them.
That would mean you are the judge of whether or not someone has demonstrated the qualities of a person who should be respected.
I want to wrap this up by asking you to look around the room.
Do you see someone who has hurt you?
Are you sitting beside your best friend?
Is it possible for you to treat both of those people like God treats each of us?
Yes. You can love others the way God loves us.
He sees us as His creation, and He cares about us.
Ask God to help you see others the same way He sees them.
He can give you unconditional love and respect for others that flows out of your life, and honors Him.