Yes sir and yes ma’am are a matter of manners in the south. Yes or no without the sir or ma’am just feels wrong to me. In my fifties, I address people of all ages likewise. One of the most difficult parts of adulting for me was to address someone who was my elder or in a position of authority by their given name. This is one simple way of showing respect for others, but as much is communicated by tone of voice as by actual words. I use one voice for my grandchildren and my puppies, another for my husband and children, and still another in professional conversation.
“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father.
Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.
Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”
1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.5.2.NLT
The apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy, his son in the faith, are intended to help his younger protégé step into the role of leadership in a fledgling church. Paul, like modern church planters, commissioned Timothy to lead this new community of believers in his absence. He’s already reminded him that no one should look down on him because of his youth, but he was certainly not giving Timothy license to lord it over these new believers. Rather Timothy was charged with setting the example in his speech, life, love, faith, and purity. (I Timothy 4:12)
Jesus taught the very same thing to his disciples in a teachable moment after they argued amongst themselves about who was greatest.
“Jesus called them together. He said, “You know about those who are rulers of the Gentiles.
They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around.
Don’t be like that.
Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant.
And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone.
Even the Son of Man did not come to be served.
Instead, he came to serve others.
He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.””
Mark 10:42-45 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/mrk.10.42-44.NIRV
Paul’s instructions to Timothy specifically entreat him to call to mind his relationships with his own father and mother, brothers and sisters. I’m afraid this teaching is difficult in our day because these most basic relationships are often so broken. Sarcasm turns bitterness to humor and words are aimed rather than exchanged. None of this changes the fact that we are answerable to God for every careless word we speak. (Matthew 12:36)
And who is adequate for such a task as this? (II Corinthians 2:16)
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:3-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.3-8.NLT
“Lord, may these words of my mouth please you.
And may these thoughts of my heart please you also.
You are my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIRV
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