 | Bring a special treat or surprise and pass out the
treat only to one group in the class. For example, give the treat only
to the ones wearing glasses or to everyone who is left handed or to everyone
wearing your favorite color, etc. Don't pick the group on the basis of
grades or talents or skills, etc. Explain that you are doing this
because you favor that group for whatever reason. |
| If you have a co-leader, you might have the co-leader
hand out the treats to everyone before you come into the room or while you
are distracted. Just make sure the children know not to open the
treats.
 |
When you come into the room, notice that everyone
has a treat and say that you are sorry but a mistake has been
made. Only those wearing glasses should have received the
treat. Ask everyone else to give back their treat. |
|
| As the children grumble and give back their treats,
ask them if what you did was fair. |
| Ask them what is wrong with playing favorites.
Is there a law against it? Let them try to convince you that
favoritism is not right. Remain unconvinced unless someone shows you
that the Bible says it is wrong. |
| Then make a deal with the children. Tell them
that if someone can show you in writing that favoritism is wrong, you will
give everyone the treat. |
| If you have a concordance of the New International
Version of the Bible, the children can look up the word
"favoritism" to find verses that say favoritism is not
right. Your co-leader can also help them find the verses. |
| The NIV Bible uses the word "favoritism" in the following verses.
|
"and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit." |
|
"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or
favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
Leviticus 19:15. |
|
"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does
not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and
do what is right.'" Acts 10:34-35. |
|
"For God does not show favoritism." Romans 2:11. |
|
"And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them,
since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,
and there is no favoritism with him." Ephesians 6:9. |
|
"Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no
favoritism." Colossians 3:25 . |
|
"I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect
angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing
out of favoritism." 1 Timothy 5:21. |
|
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't
show favoritism." James 2:1. |
|
"But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as
lawbreakers." James 2:9.
|
|
| After
the children use the Bible to convince you that favoritism is wrong, give
everyone the treat. |
