Lesson Objectives:

Teach children to look upon elders with reverence.

Find what the Scriptures have to say about the gray headed.

3 Practical ways to honor the elderly.

 

Materials:

Basket

Soft fruits: bananas, kiwi, peaches, grapes...

Respect for Elders Wordsheet for children 6-8 yrs. (PDF Link Found Below)

Lesson Ideas:
Why should we respect the elderly, whether it be parents, grandparents, or another? Simply because... showing respect for an older person acknowledges God's blessing for long life and the wisdom which comes with longevity.

Scripture tells us God required this reverence from the Israelites. For Deuteronomy 5:16 states: "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you." This principle holds true today whether it's a family member or not.

In essence, respect for the elderly is due if not for themselves, but ultimately for the love of God's will and the value He places on the gray headed ~

 

Teach children to stand up when an elder first comes into a room. Such as when an older person pays a visit to your home. Train children to show honor & courtesy by offering their seat.

 

Memory Verse Wordsheet:

Leviticus 19:32 "You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man and fear your God..."

Have your child trace each word in their best handwriting. Place their worksheet somewhere in your home where the whole family can be reminded of this simple command: Honor the Elderly.

 

Discuss with your children the meaning of this Bible verse. "Respect to the aged shows our obedience to God's will. Their strength and agility is fading, but they grow in wisdom, and experience. Elderly people can offer us prudent counsel when we take time to learn from them."

 

Activity Suggestion: Role play what your child might say as they rise up before an elder person. Additional verses to review: 1Timothy 5:1, & Proverbs 20:29.

 

To save and print this pdf wordsheet go here: Children's Bible Lesson - Elders.

Here are 3 fun ideas you can do to help your child think outside of themselves in honoring the presence of an older person.

 

You probably already know of a lonely senior citizen in your community.
Why not adopt him/her as your own ~ Nana or grand papa?

1) Start a new friendship this week. Have your child write a senior citizen an invitation to Sunday dinner. Or any other suitable upcoming event.

2) Deliver a "soft food" fruit basket to their home. Spend time with an older person, they may have wonderful historical accounts to share with your child!

3) Call an elderly person on the phone to ask... "My children and I are thinking about you ~ can we do something together this week?"

Memorization Tip:
For young children who can't read yet, you can read the selected text aloud to the child and have them repeat after you, word by word. Say the verse together a few times, then start leaving out words and see if they remember them. Drop one word at a time until your child can say the whole verse on their own.

 

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