Serving Challenge Kids: An 11-Day Adventure to Serve Like JesusSample

Introduction

The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad with tracks, trains, or steam engines. It was a string of houses stretching from the South to the North in the United States. Escaping slaves fled from house to house as they traveled from slavery in the South to freedom in the North. The people leading the escaped slaves along this Underground Railroad were known as conductors. Harriet Tubman was a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.

She and other conductors risked their lives to help people reach freedom. These people could also be called “servants.” After all, servants put other people’s needs ahead of their own. They’re willing to make sacrifices for others. And although Harriet reached freedom in the North, that didn’t stop her from going back into danger in the South to rescue others. God guided her path.

In the Serving Challenge Kids Bible reading plan, we want you to study the actions of the greatest servant of all time—Jesus. Following Jesus is like hiking through a forest. It’s easy to get lost in the woods, just like losing your way in life. But with an expert guide, you can make it through the deepest, darkest forest.

Jesus is not like a master or a king of long ago who mistreats his slaves. On the contrary, He wants to set us free. We are slaves to sin, and Jesus seeks to break our chains. But to do that, Jesus had to give up a lot. Philippians says He became like a slave when He became a human.

Imagine! The King of the Universe became like a slave. That’s why His life and death flipped the world upside down. Human kings do not set aside their crowns to become servants or slaves. But Jesus did!

Jesus’s death was the most upside-down act ever, changing everything for the better.

That’s why the first Christians were called “followers of the Way.” We are invited to follow the way of servant Jesus.

Challenge:

Make a treat basket for your local mail or delivery man. Pack a shoe box or decorative basket with water bottles, granola bars, nuts, candy, or pretzels. Include a card with Deuteronomy 31:8 on it.