Let’s have a think about Respect.

Respect is something we all value and naturally feel we deserve—and rightly so. Each of us has a God-given dignity that calls for others to treat us with respect. The same is true for everyone around us.

When we think about our school community—a place made up of people with many different beliefs and backgrounds—it’s worth pausing to reflect on just how important respect really is. How we treat one another matters, especially when we don’t all see things the same way.

Let’s take a look at 1 Peter 3:15. Peter was writing to early Christians living in cities full of people with very different beliefs and values. He encouraged them with these words:

15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

It’s a powerful verse for us who are living in a world full of differing views. It reminds us that we can and should speak up about what we believe. But it also reminds us how to do it: with gentleness and respect.

Everyone’s forming opinions—about everything. Over these next few years at school, you will be on a journey of trying to understand the world around you. School is a place where a lot of ideas collide. Whether it's in class discussions, group chats, or just conversations with friends, we will see the world differently to one another.

In spaces where opinions differ—whether in the classroom, online, or with friends—how do we live out the kind of gentleness and respect Peter encourages?

God doesn’t ask us to argue our way to being right. He’s calling us to reflect Jesus in the way we speak, listen, and treat others.

Take a few minutes to talk with the people around you about the ideas below. Feel free to add your own thoughts too!

Respect doesn’t mean you agree.

It just means you value the person enough to listen and treat them with kindness. That’s what Jesus did—He sat with people from all walks of life, even those who opposed Him.

Having different opinions is okay—and needed.

Different views, backgrounds, and questions help us grow. Instead of being threatened by those differences, we can learn from them while staying rooted in our faith.

Being “right” without love misses the point.

You may believe you have all the right answers, but if your words are harsh, your attitude proud, or you speak without kindness, you're not reflecting the heart of Jesus. Truth matters—but how you share it matters just as much.

Let’s pray,

God, thank You for making me unique and for giving me a voice. Help me to speak Your truth with courage, but also with kindness. Teach me to respect others, even when we don’t see eye to eye. Let my life reflect Your love, especially in how I treat those who think differently. Amen.

*Image from Freepik