• Who would you say are the most important people in the world? (Answers will vary. Students may talk about leaders, royalty, celebrities, or scientists curing diseases. Encourage discussion rather than allowing them to simply reply “everyone is important.”)
• Have you ever felt less important than someone else? What made you feel that way? (Be prepared to share your own experience to get conversation going.)

In our world, we view some people as more important than others. We give important leaders and government officials special treatment. We want to meet celebrities and get our pictures taken with them. We subscribe to YouTubers who have millions of followers. And we hold high respect for doctors and scientists.   

Even at your school or in your neighborhood, some kids may seem more important because of athletic ability, good grades, because they wear popular brand-name clothes, or have expensive things. At times, ordinary people who don’t have these things may seem less important, and we may treat them that way.

• Have you ever felt less important than someone else? What made you feel that way? (Be prepared to share your own experience to get conversation going.)

In general, our culture sees children and students as less important than teenagers and adults—especially leaders, social media influencers, scientists, medical professionals, politicians, and lawyers.

However, even though society may not place high value on children, their needs are just as important. Let’s watch a video about a program in a Virginia school dedicated to helping children and their families.

Share the following video [1:29]:
Williamsburg school starts backpack food program to feed hungry kids

• What does the school program help students by doing? (Students may share that the school provides backpacks of food for children and families, it supplies warm clothes, and it offers personal care products.)
• What difference might this makes in the lives of students? (Students may say that students are getting their needs met, they don’t have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, and they feel more hopeful.)

In helping meet the physical needs of the students, the school staff reinforces that the children—and their needs—are important.

At some point, every one of us has felt unimportant or left out. Let’s take a look at how Jesus views people and how we can follow His way in how we love others.