The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule," In everything do to others as you would have them do to you;" (Matt 7:12 (to;) NRSV), reminds us daily that it's not enough to keep from hurting our friends, neighbors, and even enemies. In every situation, we are to love as God loves, with compassion and forgiveness.

Kids and Sunday School Resources

Projects and Activities

Teaching the Golden Rule - Different ideas for teaching the golden rule: creating Golden Rule commandments, a list of the top ten biblical followers of the Golden Rule, etc.

Fun and Games

Break the Code - Golden Rule - Use the grid to decode the Golden Rule
Coloring Page - Do Unto Others
Coloring Page - Practicing Acts of Kindness
Coloring Page - Shep and Lily Living the Golden Rule
Coloring Page - The Golden Rule
Find the Hidden Qualities - Golden Rule - A word search of qualities we need to live the Golden Rule
The Golden Rule Caterpillar - Cut out the colored circles and put them in the correct order to write out the Golden Rule.
Golden Rule Maze - Help Susie find her puppy
Golden Rule Puzzle - Starting with the green arrow, draw a line connecting all the letters from the golden rule.
Good Samaritan Maze - Help the Good Samaritan bring the man in need of help to the city
Help Him Out - Guide the man through the maze to Jericho
Higher Ground - Decide how you would respond to 3 different situations
Living the Golden Rule - Use the code to reveal how each Bible character lived the Golden Rule.
Muddled Facts! - Read Luke 10:30-37 and correct the mistakes in what the rescued man said to the inn keeper
Order the Golden Rule - Cut out the words from the Golden Rule and put them in the right order.
Practicing Acts of Kindness - Fill in the missing lines to complete the picture
Right or Wrong? - Read the Good Samaritan and sort out what is right and wrong in the four sentences
Shep - Finding the Lost Bible - Help Shep find his Bible in the maze
Two Men Who Did Not Help (Good Samaritan) - Name the two men who saw the injured man but did not help
Two Men Who Did Not Help (Good Samaritan) - The man helped by the Good Samaritan was traveling from which city

Read a Story

The Good Samaritan
Read John 10:1-41; Luke 10:1-37

The Good Man (younger children)
The Good Shepherd (older children/teens)
Discussion Questions

The Golden Rule
Read Matthew 7:12 (to ;)

Shep and Lily Discuss the Golden Rule (younger children)
Discussion Questions

Listen to a Story

The Golden Rule - (told by Kevin Utz)

Holy Land Tours

Jericho to Jerusalem - Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, parable of the good Samaritan, the story of Jesus' birth, judges holding court at city gates, Abraham and Isaac sacrifice

Adult and Teen Resources

Articles — Everyday Living

Drop the Agenda - What would happen if we dropped our agenda and right there, in the moment of intensity, we loved?
Go and Do Likewise - What type of world do we want for our children? Are we following Jesus' command, "Go and do likewise?"

Guests — Everyday Living

Chris Jackson - President of Samuel Jackson, Inc. - Chris Jackson shares how he learned the Samuel Jackson business through tough times, practices the Golden Rule in a surprising way, removes distractions like Nehemiah, values gratitude as essential, and more.
Christi Savoy (Part 1) - Educator - Christi Savoy, an elementary school teacher, shares how she supports the purpose of education - building character - by using the Golden Rule and refusing to label students.
Nimo Patel (Part 3) - Hip-hop Musician, Humanitarian, Part 3-God and Music
Rachel Crandell – Retired Teacher, President of Monteverde Conservation League U.S. (MCLUS) - Rachel Crandell, retired teacher, President of the Monteverde Conservation League U.S., and author puts the Golden Rule into practice by taking care of our environment, protecting a Costa Rican rain forest, and helping others
Ray Villaman – Restaurant Owner - Ray Villaman, Restaurant Owner (Fireside Pizza Co.), shares insights regarding true responsibility, effective management, respect, confrontation, different views on customer service, charity, mistakes as opportunities for growth, the effects of trusting in God, and more.
Sarah Bell - Retired Librarian - Serving others and following the Golden Rule are necessary for success in life, claims Sarah, who served as a librarian.
Sharon Kay Moore – Co-Owner and President, Sunraay Electric, Inc. - Learn how partnering with God helped Sharon Kay Moore, co-Owner and President of Sunraay Electric, Inc., be a pioneer as a woman in a man's world.

Healing Messages — Everyday Living

Blessed are the Generous - A little boy learns to be generous by willingly giving his Christmas money to tsunami relief.

Book Reviews — Everyday Living

The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Pradervand - Blessing is universal; it is simply the law of the attraction of good. Read testimonials of blessing in Pierre Pradervand's "The Gentle Art of Blessing" and witness how an outpouring of good returns in a floodtide of love.

Books of the Bible — Bible Study

Genesis 4: Cain and Abel and the Generations that Followed

Relationships — Teen Time

See It From Their Perspective - Do you wish people understood you? Be the first to see things from their perspective!
The Sun Shines. We Love. - Can we be like the sun and shine love on everyone regardless of how they act?

Making a Difference — Teen Time

Be Open. Don't Judge - Being open to cultural differences such as meal-time and restaurant norms, makes us more accepting, less judgmental.
Giving Others a "Place to Be" - practicing the Golden Rule - Sarah Bell shares what she has learned about touching lives by living the Golden Rule.
A Horsemanship Program that Builds Character and Community - Nancy Humphrey Case's horsemanship programs build character, community, and changes lives through love
Practice Appreciation. It Feels Good. - Appreciating others actually helps us feel better, too. Here's how to bring joy.
What can you do for your country, your world--together? - Let's move toward togetherness so we can work in unity.

Questions & Answers — Teen Time

Prom Season - It's prom season, and I haven't been asked to the dance. I'm feeling down. What can I do, and how do I pray?