Greatness Through Serving Others
Older children (9-12) · member guide · Anchor: Matthew 20:20-28
From the sermon Gateway to Greatness
What Does True Greatness Mean?
Jesus said in Matthew 20:26-28:
whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
How is Jesus' idea of greatness different from what you see in movies, sports, or video games?
Who Do You Serve?
The sermon said that in the world, greatness means having lots of people serve you, but in God's kingdom, greatness means serving lots of people. At school, home, or practice, do you usually look for ways to be served, or do you look for ways to serve others?
Is It Hard to Serve?
The preacher said it is easy to serve people we like, but hard to serve people we think do not deserve it. Can you think of a time when you had to help someone who was not kind to you? What happened, and how did it feel?
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus is the greatest of all, yet He served others. Look at what happened at the Last Supper:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. — John 13:3-5
Why do you think Jesus—the King of the universe—washed dirty feet?
How Will You Serve This Week?
Greatness in God's kingdom is earned by serving real people, not by just doing big religious acts. What is one small way you can serve a family member, classmate, or neighbor before next Sunday?