Helping Your Child Learn to Serve

 

Day 1: You want me to serve who?

Materials needed: Bible, dictionary and Scripture memorization cards

Read Galatians 5:13 aloud, or allow your children to take turns reading.

Write Galatians 5:13 below:

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Rewrite the very last part of Galatians 5:13:

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Now get out your dictionary. Time to look up a word. Find serve and write down the definition below:

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines serve as:

to work for; to bestow the labor of body and
mind in the employment of another; to comply with;
to submit to.

Discussion questions:

1. In Galatians 5:13, who does it say you are to serve or work for?
2. How does it say to serve others?

ACTIVITY:

"How May I Serve You?" - Allow a different child to serve dinner each night next week. They are responsible for seeing that everyone else has all they need before sitting down to their own meal. For this meal, provide a pitcher of water and cups for each child. The Server has to fill each family member's cup before filling his own. He is to offer everyone at the table another serving of whatever he wants before serving himself.

Child is to cut out and put together the Scripture Memorization Cards. Help your children memorize the last part of Galatians 5:13.

 

Day 2: Do Nothing From Selfishness

Read Philippians 2:3-4. Write it below:

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ACTIVITY:

Make a list of your family members below:

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

_______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

Beside each name write one way that you can serve that person tomorrow. Remember, it must be service that interests them, not you. Suggestions: ask your mom if she needs help making dinner or cleaning up before Dad gets home; younger children can be go-fers. One child can make the bed of another child who is running behind on a school day.

 

Day 3: Serve Wholeheartedly!

Do you ever feel like a slave because people are always telling you what to do? Do you think being a slave is bad? Read Ephesians 6:5-8 to see what the Bible says to slaves.

Write Ephesians 6:7 below:

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Discussion Questions:

1. How does Ephesians 6:7 say you should serve (remember, serve means to work for another)?
2. Can you think of some times when you didn't do your chores with your whole heart? Share one or two of these times with your family.
3. How about this week? Did you do your chores with your whole heart?

Heart Search

Tell your mom or dad that you are sorry for these times and tell them that you will have a better attitude from now on. Ask the Lord each day to help you have a good attitude and to serve wholeheartedly.

ACTIVITY:

Memorize Ephesians 6:7.

 

Day 4: Grumbling, Complaining & Arguing. NOT!!!

Read Philippians 2:14. Write it below:

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Discussion questions:

1. Which chores or tasks should you do without complaining and arguing?
2. Is there anything that is okay to complain or argue about?
3. What if you have to do extra homework, clean the toilet or change a dirty diaper? Is it okay to complain about these unpleasant jobs?
4. What chore do you complain about the most?
5. Do you think that you can do this chore without complaining or arguing from now on?

ACTIVITY:

Memorize Philippians 2:14.

Complete the Chore Contract and give it to your parents to keep. Be sure to keep your word each and every day.

 

Day 5: Work with Your Hands

Read 1 Peter 4:8-11. Write verse 11 below:

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Discussion questions:

1. Who gives you the strength to serve others?
2. What happens when we speak "the very words of God" and serve with His strength?

Read Exodus 23:12. Write the first part below:

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Discussion questions:

1. How many days per week should people work?
2. Does it say that children shouldn't work, but play PlayStation 2 or watch TV all day?
3. How much work do you really do each day?
4. Do you consider yourself a hard worker?
5. How could you be a better worker?

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:11. Write it below:

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Discussion questions:

1. What does this verse say about work?
2. What do you think the Bible means by "work with your hands"?
3. Do you clean, cook, and fix things with your mother and father?
4. How many hours a day do you work? (You can include school time because it is work!)
5. Can you think of a way to work more around your house for your parents? For neighbors? For grandparents? For your church?

ACTIVITY:

Ask your mom or dad if you can volunteer in a way that you work with your hands. Examples: pulling weeds in an elderly neighbor's yard for no pay or picking up trash and straightening up after church.

 

Day 6: Put it in Gear!

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Write it below:

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Look up the word idle in your dictionary. Write the definitions below (choose definitions that seem to apply to the Bible verse above):

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Discussion questions:

1. Why do you think it is wrong to be idle?
2. What kinds of things have you done when you were bored?
3. Have you ever gotten into trouble for any of these choices?
4. Have you ever read a history book about children long ago. Did they get to play all day? What were their lives like?
5. Do you think Jesus helped Joseph do carpenter work? Does the Bible say anything about this?

PARENTS: Good read-aloud is Across Five Aprils about the Civil War from a boy's perspective or Johnny Tremain, a story set during the American Revolution.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. Write verse 10 below:

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Discussion questions:

1. What does this verse say about the man who will not work?

ACTIVITY:

Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

 

Day 7: Who am I really serving?

Read Colossians 3:23-24. Write it below:

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Now make a list of all the chores you are supposed to do:

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Read Colossians 3:23-24 again.

Discussion questions:

1. When you do each of your chores, who are you really doing them for??
2. How should you do these chores?
3. Who will reward you for your work?

 

Day 8: That Sinful Nature!

Read Galatians 5:19-21.

What are some of the acts of the sinful nature that keep you from serving your family with your whole heart?

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What will happen to those who act like this?

Define jealousy:

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Define selfish:

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Define discord:

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Define rage:

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Heart Search:

How do you respond to your parents when they tell you to do something that you do not want to do or agree with?

If you have responded with any of the actions or attitudes listed in Galatians 5:20, you need to ask the Lord then your parents to forgive you.

 

Day 9: Demolition and Captives!

Something to think about:

How many times have you been given a job to do by your mom or dad, and thought to yourself, "It's not fair! My brother/sister doesn't do nearly as much work as I do!!!" or "I do all the work around here!" or "My friends don't have to do as much work as I do."

You already know that Colossians 3:20 says, "Children, obey your parents in the everything, for this pleases the Lord." (NIV) How can you argue with that? But sometimes you do argue with that because your mind doesn't always know the truth. Let's find out what to do with thoughts and reactions according to the Bible.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5. Write it below:

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ACTIVITY:

-Demolish Arguments game. Use blocks to build small buildings. Write some common arguments you use with your parents on pieces of paper and tape to the top of the buildings. Write Colossians 3:20 on another piece of paper and tape it to one larger block. Make several of these if you have more than one child in your family. Now take turns "demolishing" the buildings with the arguments you give your parents when they tell you to do something. You are demolishing these arguments with the Word of God!

- Taking Captives game: Write arguments on index cards and fold the bottom quarter under and stand these argument cards up on a table. Write Philippians 2:14 on a brown paper bag so that the bag becomes a puppet of sorts. Children capture the arguments with the bag saying "Do all things without complaining and arguing." each time they pick up an argument.

Memorize 2 Corinthians 10:5.

 

Day 10: Think on These Things

Read Philippians 4:8. Write it below:

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ACTIVITY:

Read the definition of each thing to think on. Then read each scenario. Choose the scenario that would best please the Lord.

• Whatever things are true . . . Definition: correct, real
  Jill was watching cartoons on TV. Jill's mom told her to set the table for dinner.
  1. Jill thought to herself, "I will obey my mom because it pleases the Lord," got up immediately and set the table for dinner.
  2. Jill thought to herself, "I'm in the middle of this show. I'll set the table when it is over."
• Whatever things are noble . . . Definition: worthy of praise
  Jonathan was playing his favorite computer game. His brother had been waiting for 10 minutes for a turn.
  1. Jonathan thought to himself, "I haven't played this game in weeks," and ignored his brother and kept playing his game for another hour.
  2. Jonathan thought to himself, "I can play later," and let his brother have a turn right away.
• Whatever things are right . . . Definition: good, honest, correct
  William knew that he was supposed to finish his homework before watching TV. His mother was resting while the baby napped.
  1. William thought his mother would never know if he watched TV for 30 minutes then did his homework.
  2. William knew that God in heaven knew everything he did, and completed his homework before watching TV.
• Whatever things are pure . . . Definition: innocent, with no faults, very clean
  Julia spent the night with her cousin. Her cousin brought out a movie that Julia knew her mother didn't approve of.
  1. Julie was excited because she would finally get to see that movie that she had been thinking about for months after seeing the commercials.
  2. Julie told herself that it was better to obey her mother than to see something that might be harmful for her to see even if it looked exciting and fun.
• Whatever things are lovely . . . Definition: beautiful, very pleasant
  Gordan and his little sister were trying to decide what to watch on TV. Gordon thought a show on ghosts looked good. His little sister wanted to watch a nature show about pandas.
  1. Gordon thought to himself, "It is better for my little sister and me to see something nice like a show about pandas than something scary like a show about ghosts," so he let his sister watch the show she picked out.
  2. Gordon thought to himself, "Oh man, that show is for girls," and insisted they watch the show on ghosts.
• Whatever things are admirable . . . Definition: remarkable, excellent
  Cindy knew her mother was not feeling well. Dinner was going to be late.
  1. Cindy told herself that it wasn't her responsibility to see that dinner was made and did nothing.
  2. Cindy remembered that the Bible taught it was right to serve her mother in love, so she asked her mother if she could make eggs and toast for dinner for the family.
• Whatever things are excellent . . . Definition:very good
  Kenneth's father was working long hours at the office. His father expected him to mow the yard during the day.
  1. Kenneth thought to himself, "My dad will be so proud of me if I do a good job," and mowed the yard, trimmed with the trimmer, raked up all the leaves and swept the sidewalks and driveway.
  2. Kenneth realized that his dad would be too busy to notice if he did a quick job and just mowed the grass.

Memorize Philippians 4:8.

 

Scripture Memorization Cards

• Scripture Memorization Cards

I have created a colorful card for each of the scriptures listed in the devotion above. These are provided free for printing and distribution to your children.

These cards can be printed out, cut and compiled any way you like. They are best printed out on card stock, but they can be printed on plain paper as well. Use a hole-punch to make a hole in the corner of the cards and then connect them with a hinged metal ring, string or ribbon.

Have your children memorize one Scripture every few days or as indicated in the study. Help them learn to confess appropriate scriptures for applicable situations that arise. We can teach them young to rely on the Word of God to bring change to their character and attitudes.

Definitions are from the Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.

©Copyright 2007 by ADHD of the Christian Kind.
Permission to print out for personal HOME use only. Do not distribute without Express Permission.