In This HomeSample

In This Home We Seek To Serve.

Read this: 

 John 13:1-5, 12-17

Play: 

Gather towels and a basin big enough for a foot filled with soapy water.

Ask one of your kids to read today’s verse. Afterwards, have each person wash the feet of the person to their right. Encourage the kids not to make jokes about someone’s feet being disgusting.

Focus on Jesus’ final message: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” 

Talk it out:

Parents, grab a sheet of paper and a marker to write down what your kids say. 

Tell me what TV or social media say will make you into a person everyone wants to be. Go!

You’ll probably hear things like, "having the newest device; a cool car; being beautiful; having a lot of money; being famous, athletic, or smart; getting your way". Prompt the kids toward these answers if they get stuck.

But what about people you don’t want to be like? 

You don’t want to be weak. Write “weak” at the bottom of your page, along with phrases from the next sentences. You don’t want to have to clean up after other people’s messes or deal with all the ways they’re broken or get dirty. You don’t want to be poor or need help.  

Hold up the paper with the world’s values at the top. But God’s Kingdom takes what this world says is important and flips it on its head. Flip the paper upside down, so that God’s Kingdom values are at the top.

Even though Jesus was actually King of the universe, He got down on His knees and did the work normally reserved for slaves. He had no problem with doing the dirty work. 

In fact, He says when we’re looking for the person who’s the most important in God’s Kingdom, we look for the person serving everyone else, even the lowest person around. Matthew 23:11.

And we want to have a heart like Jesus’ as a family. Not to be the best by being the most successful or best-looking or the most charming or athletic or smartest. But to have hearts that follow Jesus in serving each other.  

Which are the small ways we can serve each other every day? 

Ask how you can serve each member of the family. Give everyone the space to think, but you can offer a few ideas.

Tip: Tomorrow’s activity needs a few supplies, make sure you have them! 

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“In This Home: A 7-Day, Hands-On Family Devotional” © 2021 by FamilyLife. All Rights Reserved.