Home / Contact / Lessons / Art craft / Activities & Games / Teacher Corner / Resources / Great Links 

Iron Rule / Silver Rule / Golden Rule

The Golden Rule To Remember: We should treat others as we want to be treated by them.

Verse from the bible: Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Lesson:  God has always given His people guidance on how they should treat one another. We tend to be selfish, unless trained otherwise. But God wants us to be considerate of others. He said that we should treat others they way we would like to be treated. How do you like to be treated? With respect, listened to, not interrupted, loved, share things with, treated fairly, honest with, follow through on promises. If we like these things from others, it is only natural that others would like us to treat them the same.  Display and discuss the iron rule, silver rule, golden rule.  Define on a chart: Iron Rule: "Do to others before they do it to me." Silver Rule: "Do to others as they do it to me." Golden Rule: "Do to others as I would like them do to me."     Love is not just a warm fuzzy feeling of affection, although it can include that. Love is a verb of action. It means to do something. Putting yourself in their shoes and forgive them, even if they "don't deserve it". Love is putting someone else first in your life; taking care of what they need before taking care of your needs. The golden rule is love in action; treating others well, because others are as important as you are. Jesus said that Christians' love and caring for each other would be how the world identified us. John 13:34,35 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another.

  True or False:

1. God didn't always want people to love each other. F

2. We don't know how others want to be treated. F

3. Jesus cared for others more than himself. T

4. People around us can tell if we love one another. T

5. It is easy to be unselfish. F

6. The silver rule says: love those that love you. T

7. Loving others makes us like God. T

Discussion: Have students choose the "rule" applied in each of the examples (iron, silver, gold)

1. When Cain killed Abel.     ( iron )
2. When Israelites took revenge on murderers in the Old Testament.      ( silver )
3. When Christ died for us.   ( gold )
4. When we hit back. ( silver )
5. When we lie to keep from getting in trouble.     ( iron )
6. When we forgive.   ( gold )

Printable Worksheet: Unscramble a verse about the golden rule
 

Activities:

1. Think about how you like to be treated. Now choose one person you will make an effort to treat like this in the coming week. (Picking someone who is difficult to be around will make a significant difference in your week!)
2. Draw a picture of someone applying the "golden rule."
3. Act out the following scenarios, with both "silver" and "golden" responses. Discuss how the golden response promotes peace and love.
   • A fellow student makes fun of your outfit in the lunch line. How do you handle it?
   • You and a friend are telling your parents about your field trip. Your friend interrupted you and took over the story. He's leaving out parts. What do you do?
   • You know someone who lies all the time. One day she asks you in you can help her with a project on Friday. You know for a fact you could, but you'd rather not. How to you respond?

Review Questions for gameboard

 Vocabulary questions:

1.      Summarize the "golden rule". Treat others as you want them to treat you

2.      Unscramble the word:     veol     (love)

3.      Name the book where this lesson is taught.   (Matthew, John)

  Activity questions:

1.      Act out someone who is not putting others first.

2.      Draw a heart with your eyes shut.

3.      Name something you will do this week for someone you don't like.

  Emotion questions:

1.      How do you feel when others let you pick first? ( Special, happy )

2.      How do you feel when other people won't share with you? ( Unhappy, disliked )

3.      How does God feel when we treat each other nice? ( Happy, pleased )

Application questions:

1.      How should I treat those who don't like me? ( Tthe same as my friends )

2.      In what ways has God treated you better than you deserve?  ( He always provides for us, he blesses us with more than we need, he give us always a way for Salvation)

3.      In what ways can you treat others "like yourself"? ( Share the best of what I have, let them go first, treat them politely and kindly, help when needed )

Fact questions:

1.      Who treats us better than anyone else?   God

2.      Jesus was the one who initiated the Golden Rule?   Yes

3.      Who should we show kindness to? Everyone

Review questions:

1.      Why should we treat others well?

 1) to be like God, 2) to show we are his children, 3) because we were treated well by God, 4) it is God's law

2.      How do we determine how to treat others?

 We do what we'd like done to us

3.      What example can we look to when we are uncertain how to act?

  Jesus

Play our S.S.L. board game to review that lesson