Faith Builders Steps with the Father · Step Four
Step Four

Loving Others Well

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31 · Anchor verse - read this aloud together to open

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Key Points

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  • Look for solutions where everyone benefits.
  • Share, cooperate, and be fair.
  • Celebrate the success of others instead of becoming jealous.
  • Look for ways to help others succeed while doing your best.
  • Remember that kindness and generosity often create the greatest victories.

Story One: Emma and the Blue Ribbon

Ages 6–10Read Together

Emma loved entering artwork in the county fair.

This year she spent hours drawing a beautiful picture of a red barn surrounded by flowers and horses. She carefully colored every blade of grass and every cloud in the sky.

On the day of the fair, Emma proudly hung her picture with dozens of others.

When the judges announced the winners, Emma hurried over. Her picture had earned a white ribbon. A girl named Lily had won the blue ribbon.

Emma felt disappointed.

“I worked so hard,” she whispered to her dad.

“I know you did.”

“It isn’t fair.”

Her dad looked over at Lily’s painting. “What do you like about hers?”

Emma crossed her arms. “Nothing.”

Her dad smiled. “Take another look.”

Emma walked over. She noticed incredible details she’d missed before - tiny birds in the trees, reflections in the pond, even little butterflies hidden among the flowers.

“It really is beautiful,” Emma admitted.

Just then Lily walked over.

“I loved your picture,” Lily said. “Your horse is amazing. I wish I could draw animals like that.”

Emma blinked. “You do?”

“Maybe next year we could practice together.”

Emma smiled.

Instead of leaving disappointed, the two girls spent the afternoon drawing together.

The following year they both entered the contest. This time… they both won blue ribbons in different categories.

Emma learned something much bigger than how to draw. Someone else’s success didn’t take away from her own. When we encourage others instead of competing against them, everyone becomes better.

Story Two: Mason's Starting Position

Ages 10–14Read Together

Mason had one goal. He wanted to be the starting quarterback.

He practiced every afternoon, studied plays, and worked harder than ever.

There was only one problem. So did Noah.

Throughout the summer the two boys competed for the same position. As tryouts approached, Mason secretly hoped Noah would have a bad practice.

One evening his father noticed. “You seem frustrated.”

“I just need Noah to mess up.”

His dad looked surprised. “Do you really?”

“If he plays badly, I’ll get the spot.”

His father picked up two baseball gloves from the garage. “Come outside.”

As they tossed the ball back and forth, his dad asked, “If Noah gets worse, does that make you a better quarterback?”

Mason thought for a moment. “No.”

“What if you helped each other improve?”

Mason wasn’t convinced. The next week, however, he decided to try.

After practice he and Noah stayed late. They challenged each other. Corrected mistakes. Ran extra drills. Pushed one another to improve.

By the end of the season, something unexpected happened.

The coach called them both into his office. “I’ve never seen two players make each other this much better.”

Mason became the starting quarterback. Noah became the starting safety and backup quarterback. Together they led their team farther than anyone expected.

Later that season Mason told his father, “I almost wanted Noah to fail.”

His dad smiled. “And what happened instead?”

“He made me better.”

His father nodded. “That’s how God’s family works.”

Jesus' Example

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Jesus never treated life like a competition.

When His disciples argued about who was the greatest, Jesus surprised them. Instead of telling them to fight harder for first place, He washed their feet.

He showed them that true greatness comes from serving others.

Jesus wanted His followers to build one another up - not tear one another down.

When we help someone else succeed, we aren’t losing. We’re living like Jesus.

Why This Matters

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The world often tells us there are winners and losers. “If someone else succeeds, I must have failed.”

God teaches something very different.

Our goal isn’t to beat everyone else. Our goal is to become the person God created us to be while encouraging others to do the same.

A friend who succeeds is not your enemy. A classmate who earns a better grade isn’t taking anything away from you. Another player making the team doesn’t stop God from having a purpose for your life.

When we celebrate others, cooperate, and share our gifts, everyone becomes stronger.

That’s what living in God’s family looks like.

Bible Verses

Read Together
  • Mark 12:31 - “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
  • Philippians 2:3–4 - “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…”
  • Romans 12:15 - “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
  • Galatians 5:13 - “Serve one another humbly in love.”
  • John 13:14–15 - “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Discussion Questions

Parent Leads
  1. Have you ever felt jealous when someone else succeeded?
  2. Why can it be difficult to celebrate another person’s accomplishments?
  3. How did Emma’s attitude change during the art contest?
  4. How did Mason become a better player by helping Noah?
  5. What does Jesus teach us about serving others?
  6. Who is someone you can encourage this week?
  7. Parent’s turn: tell about a time someone celebrated your success or helped you succeed - how did it affect you?

Vocabulary Words

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Cooperation: Working together toward the same goal. Example: Two classmates sharing ideas to complete a science project.

Generosity: Willingly giving your time, talents, or possessions to help others. Example: Letting a friend borrow your soccer ball for practice.

Jealousy: Feeling upset because someone else has something you want. Example: Becoming unhappy because your friend received an award.

Encouragement: Helping someone feel confident, valued, and motivated. Example: Cheering for a teammate after they miss an important shot.

Humility: Thinking about others before yourself and recognizing that every good gift comes from God. Example: Congratulating the winner instead of complaining about losing.

Servanthood: Choosing to help others with a joyful heart, just as Jesus did. Example: Helping clean up after an event without being asked.

Faith Builder

Your Move

This week, look for three opportunities to help someone else succeed.

It might be:

  • Helping a classmate understand a math problem.
  • Congratulating someone who wins a game or competition.
  • Sharing supplies with a friend.
  • Letting someone else have the first turn.
  • Praying for someone who is trying to accomplish a goal.

At the end of the week, write down:

  • Who you helped.
  • How they responded.
  • How helping someone else made you feel.
  • What you learned about putting others before yourself.

Remember, when everyone wins, friendships grow, teams become stronger, and God is honored.

Closing Prayer

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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving me and for placing people in my life to love. Forgive me for the times I’ve been jealous or wanted someone else to fail so I could win. Teach me to celebrate when others succeed and to look for ways to help them do their best. Thank You for Jesus, who showed us that true greatness looks like a towel and a basin - serving others in love. Help me to share, to cooperate, and to encourage the people around me this week, so that my family, my friends, and my team are stronger because I’m there.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.