In today’s global society, it’s important to teach our children how to be citizens of the world. Not only does it help them find their place, but it teaches them to love and respect all of God’s people for their unique beauty and value.
Understanding global citizenship through the lens of the Bible opens children’s minds to the vast and amazing world God has created. Use the Bible games for kids below to help your children appreciate the intricacies of the wider world around them, understand their place within it, and learn how we are all interconnected through Jesus.
Walk in My Shoes
When something is unfamiliar, it might seem easy to pass judgement. But as Jesus tells us, it’s not until we truly understand what someone else is going through that we can see clearly life from their perspective.
God tells us that we shouldn’t judge. Instead, we should seek to understand their experiences, challenges, thoughts, and perspective. Give this activity a try to help teach your children to understand the lives of others and become better global citizens.
It is a reminder for us to practice empathy. Not only perceive or interpret what someone else is feeling or thinking, but also to let Jesus help us understand why.
Goal:
To guide your children in empathy and understanding for what the world looks like from another’s perspective
Teaching verses:
Matthew 7:1-5
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye
Romans 15:7
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
What you need:
- Shoes of various sizes from your home
Activity instructions:
Gather a few pairs of different types and sizes of shoes from your home. Have your child choose a pair that is not meant for them – one that is too large or too small, for example. After putting the shoes on, have your child walk around your home or yard for a few minutes, or perhaps complete an activity. Whatever they do, make sure they wear the shoes long enough to really get a feel for how they affect their movements. When you’re finished with the activity, ask your children the following:
- Why is it important not to judge others?
- Why do you think God doesn’t want us to judge others — even if they are nothing like us?
- What should we do instead of judging others?
- How have you seen other people be judged?
- How else can we “walk a mile” in someone else’s shoes?
Sharing Hope
As global citizens, it is our responsibility to have empathy for people whose challenges are different than ours. Because no matter our challenges, we must remember it’s the unconditional love and hope God provides that gets all of us through them.
God helps us learn this lesson in many ways. In fact, He sacrificed His only Son so that we would always have hope.
Use this activity to help your children learn the power of God’s hope in tough circumstances and teach them why perseverance is important when putting your faith in God.
Goal:
To help your children find a greater hope through God
Teaching verse:
Ephesians 3:16-9
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith —that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What you need:
- Index cards
- Markers
- Tape (optional)
Activity instructions:
Write the word “HOPE” on the front and a sentence about something that gives you hope on the back of several index cards. Then hide the cards throughout your home. Once you have hidden them, tell your child what you have done and ask them to look for them as they go about their day. When they find one, ask them to tell you about something that gives them hope. Then ask them the following questions:
- How can we help others find hope in God?
- What does God say about hope?
- How can we continue to trust God when hope is hard to find?
- How can we share our own hope with those who are suffering?
- How can we help the hope of others grow?
Chore Chart Charity
Many of us have been abundantly Blessed. God gives us all the things we need to thrive and survive every day. We can show our appreciation for his generosity by choosing to help others.
Short term missions, for example, need many things to be successful. And, organizing, funding, and participating in mission trips is one of the ways we can truly exercise our responsibilities as global citizens.
Use this activity to help your children understand the needs of others and the impact they can have by giving back. In this game, children can choose how to use the points they earn to fund an imaginary mission.
Goal:
To help your children understand the value of charity
Teaching verse:
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided to in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace about to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
What you need:
- A chore chart
- A pen
Activity instructions:
Print or create a chore chart you can hang in a highly visible space in your home. Assign each chore a point (or monetary) value. When a chore is complete, award you child that number of points. At the end of the week, ask your child to use their points to help an imaginary mission by cashing in their points to fulfill the needs you’ve defined. Here is an example of what that might look like:
|
Item |
Need |
Cost |
|
Purchase a bicycle |
Bicycles help missionaries and the people they support travel from location to location |
100 points |
|
Purchase food |
Many communities around the world lack basic necessities like food and water to drink |
300 points |
|
Share a job skill |
Sharing a skill like sewing or stone masonry can allow individuals to find new work |
400 points |
|
Build a shelter |
Often families do not have enough money to afford a safe place to live |
500 points |
|
Donate Bibles |
Sharing the Word of God can provide hope and purpose to struggling communities |
700 points |
|
Provide a loan to a family business |
The resources to start or grow a business are often hard for families to come by |
900 points |
|
Fund a school (like MOHI) |
In underserved areas, investing in education is not a top priority for many families |
1000 points |
|
NOTE: You can make up your own needs or change the values as you see fit. |
||
NOTE: You may also choose to pay your children money for the chores they complete. If you do, help them decide how to donate it — to sponsor a child, for example.
As you help your child decide how to spend their points, take the opportunity to talk through the following questions too:
- Why is it important to give?
- What can Jesus teach us about generosity?
- Why do we work so hard to help others?
- What does the Bible say about helping others?
- What are other ways to give that don’t involve money?
Global citizens appreciate the intricacies of the wider world — and their place in it. By teaching our children how to be a citizen of the world through the lessons of Jesus, we give them the resources they need to view differences with eyes of wonder and curiosity, not judgement or ridicule.
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