Welcome the New Kid
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
Memory Verse
“The foreigners residing among you must be treated as native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (NIV)
What do you think it’s like to be a new kid at school? You’ve just moved to a new town. You don't know anybody. And you’re not exactly sure how things work at your new school. How could someone help you? What could someone do to make you feel welcomed?
In Leviticus 19:34, God commanded his people to “Love [the stranger] as yourself.” Later in the New Testament, Jesus pushed that idea further when he said that caring for a stranger is the same as caring for God himself!
What does caring for the stranger look like? It doesn’t have to be hard. Just say hello! You can be friendly to the new person who joins your team, comes into your classroom, or moves into your neighborhood. You can be kind to the stranger who dresses differently than what you’ve seen before. You can be open to exploring and enjoying a new-to-you culture, food, or experience. Share what you have and invite new friends to join in. Be a safe and welcoming person for those who need help.
Prayer
God, thank you for being my refuge and my strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Help me to be your follower by taking care of those who need my help. Amen.Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle-school for 27 years. Ron completed a M. Ed. degree in Teaching, Learning and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have three fantastic adult children and one grandchild and reside in Ontario.