Jesus Christ taught us to serve others


 

Have you played follow-the-leader?  Have you played the basketball game in which the second player has to make a basket in the same way and from the same place on the court that the first player did? Have you set the table with your mom and placed the plates and silverware and glasses just the way she did?

SING - Do as I'm Doing
 

If you’ve done any of these things, you know how to be a good follower and you are learning something. You are learning by following the example of the leader.  When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He set a perfect example for us to follow in treating other people.   He spent His whole life serving others. He even gave His life for others—for us. He taught that the greatest among us would be those who serve others as He did (see Matt. 23:11). That is hard for some people to understand. They think that if everyone serves them, it means that they are very important. Jesus Christ taught a better way—to serve others by helping them, by comforting them, by treating them as He treated others.

Article of Faith - Tell the children that the thirteenth article of faith says that we believe in serving others. Have the children stand, and help them say, “We believe … in doing good to all men.” (You may need to explain that all men means all people.)
 

Ask every child who wants to be a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ to stand up and remain standing. Remind the children that Jesus wants all his disciples to serve others.

• • How can we serve others?

Let each child sit down as he or she names a way to serve others. (If a child has difficulty thinking of a way to serve, you may want to suggest one).

Discuss scriptures in connection with service (Mosiah 2:18; John 15:12; 1 Jn. 3:18; Matt. 6:3, 4).  Pass out a piece of paper to each child.  Have them make three small paper hearts. Tell the children that you want to start a “Service in Secret Club.” Encourage the children to take these hearts home and do secret acts of service for their family members, leaving a heart in each place they did an act of service. For example, they could make a brother or sister’s bed and leave a heart on the pillow. You can ask the children to report back next week on the feelings they had when they served others in secret.

Summary - Share your testimony of service and perhaps how other's people service to you has blessed your life.
 

Other Optional Ideas

- Tell scripture stories of people who gave themselves away in service (Good Samaritan, King Mosiah, Esther, etc.)
 

- Let the children discuss or act out what they would do in each of the following situations if they were trying to serve others (adapt the situations as necessary to make them appropriate for the children in your class):

• • You are on your way to a soccer game. You are in a hurry, but as you walk down the street to the playing field you see an elderly woman drop a bag of groceries.

• • You have been at a friend’s house playing. You are very tired. As you walk into the yard you see your father working in the garden.

• • As you come into the kitchen to get a drink, you see your brother washing the dinner dishes.

• • You are walking home with some friends. You see that a dog has knocked over a trash can in a neighbor’s yard and has scattered the trash around. The neighbor is away and won’t be back for a few days.

• • You see a new girl in school and introduce yourself. The new girl asks you where you eat lunch. You had planned to eat lunch with your friends.

• • Your family is getting ready to go to church. Your father has already left because he had a meeting to attend. You have several little brothers and sisters who need help getting ready.