ETHICAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value moral excellence as Christ's way, I choose to make decisions based on ethical principles.

How To Make Good Decisions

Respect Life

All life comes from God. It is sacred. God cares for the unborn child, the smallest bird, and the worst criminal.

Definition

Respect for Life related virtue: Tolerance

Respect for Life means to take care of your health, be considerate to the sick and maimed, consider safety and life of others

See flipchart

Amazing Grace, AYS, 4
He’s Able, AYS, 57
Living for Jesus, AYS, 124

Student Life Applications

Because I know all life comes from God I will:

Make decisions that protect life and make it more pleasant for everyone within my reach.
Speak up against practices which take life.
Respect the unborn child, considering his/her life as special as mine.
Respect the old, sick and mentally ill, protecting their lives.
Consider every living thing as a wonder of God’s creation even after the effects of sin.
Encourage prayerful consideration when my family plans to bring another life into the family.
Treat every living person, no matter what age, race, religion, gender, nationality or economic level as part of God’s family.
When I see anyone suffering, I will seek ways to help relieve their suffering.
Respect life, no matter what a person has said or done against me.
See in every person the potential of whom they would be through the grace of Jesus.

Bible, E.G. White

Matthew 10:29, 31 one shall not fall on the ground without your Father . . .ye are of more value
II Peter 3:9 Not willing that any should perish
Revelation 22:2 Leaves are for the healing of the nations

The people are to be instructed in regard to the needs of the physical organism and the value of healthful living as taught in the Scriptures, that the bodies which God has created may be presented to Him a living sacrifice, fitted to render Him acceptable service. 6T 224.

Reinforcing Stories

Great Stories for Kids, Book Two by Jerry D. Thomas. PPPA, Stories # 4, 5, 6. Book Three Story # 2

Student Activities

1. Visit a children’s hospital and sing for them or dress up like clowns and do some skits for them
2. Visit a home for the elderly and sing for them, take them some small gift.
3. Find a shelter for the homeless that has children and take some toiletries to them.
4. Make an offering for some public crippled beggar

Links to the Curriculum

Biology: Animals will fight to protect the life of their young so humanity should strive to preserve life.
Chemistry: As we research to find antibiotics to save lives, so Jesus presents the perfect cure for sin.
Health: Since God values life so much —John 3:16, we should take good care of our health.
Home Economics: The family should protect the lives of all its members as God protects His church.

Resources

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show that God respects life.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show respect for life.
Tell or write about when you showed respect for life like God would do.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone was not respecting life.
How do you think God feels when He sees people who have respect for life?
How do you feel when you show respect for life?
Tell two ways you that you can show respect for life.
What makes you want to be respectful of life?
What is the opposite of respect for life? Who makes us act that way?
Finish the sentence: We can have respect for life when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I have respect for life?
What difference does it make whether I have respect for life or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to have respect for life?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to have respect for life?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to have respect for life?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to have respect for life. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to have respect for life better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might have respect for life without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could have respect for life in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at having respect for life? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at being respectful of all life? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at having respect for life?
How often do you show respect for life? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people have respect for life? How have you joined in?High school:
Would you practice respect for life if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to respect for life and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to be have respect for life?
Are you proud to have respect for life and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against respect for life would you speak up to give the other side?
Can you say that having respect for life has become a habit? How often are you that way?
What effect do you think respect for life will have on your future life?
Do you see your family practicing respect for life others? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote respect for life in your family, friends, church, city, nation?