Where's Your Manners? 2
When Miss Manners comes to town for a reality show about manners the kids all try to win the contest. But the winner is a surprise for everyone.
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Kindness, Respect for others.
1. Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” What does having good manners or bad manners say about a person? Does it have anything to do with being a Christian?
2. What would you do? You hear that Jesus is headed straight toward your house. Think about how exciting that is! You start to quickly clean rooms and prepare food. Your "to-do" list grows and grows. The excitement you first felt about Jesus coming to your house changes to worry because there is so much to do. Suddenly, you realize that you have not seen your younger sister who should be helping you. You search for her and find her sitting by Jesus, listening to him talk! Why does she get to sit there when there is so much to do? You are so angry that you go to Jesus and say, "Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” But then something strange happens. Jesus calmly looks at your sister and then at you. His answer surprises you. He tells you: "You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her." What does he mean? You realize that your preparations have taken away the joy of having Jesus in your home. Your good manners became more important than your guest. This happened to a woman in the Bible named Martha. You can read about Martha in Luke 10:38-42. As you listen to this episode, think about Jesus’ reaction.
After you listen
Quiz
Reflect
In this episode, Skink surprises everyone with his excellent manners. If Skink can learn good manners, anyone can! How about you? Are you good at showing others kindness, courtesy and respect? Manners aren’t just for special occasions or company. Manners should be something that you use all day every day with everyone you meet! That’s because using good manners shows that you care about someone and that shows respect. God wants us to treat others as we would like to be treated. That’s often called “the golden rule”.
Manners can also be contagious. When you remember to use manners with others, they will want to also use their manners with you and with others as well. It’s one of the easy ways to love your neighbor.
Want to dig deeper about loving your neighbor with manners? Read Mark 12:31 and Luke 6:31
Challenge
Make a manners game board. Draw a grid 4 x 4 (16 squares) on a sheet of paper. In each square, write one thing that can be done to show manners (eg. Saying please, saying thank you, holding the door for someone, giving a compliment, saying good morning to someone, saying hello to someone new, help someone with a job, etc.) Share your gameboard with your family. Give each family member a different color marker or crayon. As each person shows manners, they can make a mark in that square. After a day or two, look at how your family did. Discuss how easy or hard this was to do. How did you feel when you remembered to use your manners?
