Conversation Starters: Service
Posted by Karah
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Many people consider themselves “self-made” people, but the truth is no one gets anywhere without the assistance of others. Other people know they need the help of others, and they build their relationships only around what they can get out of the other person. Our relationships would have more success if, instead of focusing on how the other person can help us, we focused on how we can help and serve the other person.
Concept: Service
Preschool
Acts 11:19-30
LIFE POINT: Many new people were learning about Jesus in the church at Antioch. The people in Jerusalem heard about this church and sent Barnabas there to help teach the people. After Barnabas saw the good things happening in Antioch, he went to find Saul to bring him to Antioch. They worked together to teach the people about Jesus. One day a prophet named Agabus came from Jerusalem to the church in Antioch. He told how the area including Jerusalem would have a famine. This meant the people would have no food. The helpers (disciples) and people at the church gave what they could to help the people in Jerusalem. Barnabas and Saul took the gifts to the people in Jerusalem.
LIVE IT OUT: Involve your child in a church project that helps people. Distributing flyers for a church event, visiting in a nursing home, or helping on a cleanup day are simple projects your child could participate in.
Kids
Acts 11:19-30
LIFE POINT: Because of persecution, many believers were scattered to various cities. They still spoke about Jesus, and people in these cities began to believe. More and more people started to believe, and soon a very large church had started. This news spread all the way to Jerusalem where Barnabas was. He traveled to Antioch to check things out. When Barnabas arrived, he saw what God had done. He was glad and encouraged them. He saw a great number of people learn who Jesus was. A prophet named, Agabus, shared that there would be a very severe famine throughout the entire Roman world. And what did the church do? The Bible says that the disciples decided to provide help for the believers who lived in Judea. They sent gifts with Barnabas and Paul to give to the church in Judea. The believers in Antioch were the first to be called Christians!
LIVE IT OUT: Involve your child in a church project that helps people. Working in a food pantry, distributing food to the needy, or doing yard work for a senior adult are jobs in which your child could participate.
Students
Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10
THE POINT: Take advantage of the opportunity to serve. Do you enjoy helping others?When was the last time someone reached out and helped you? Discuss the following quote:
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”1 — Augustine
LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:
If he or she plans to complete Self < Others:
•Help your student find ideas for ways to serve others by searching the Internet together.
•Encourage your student to put a calendar of service opportunities in a place your whole family will see it.
If he or she plans to complete How Can I Help?:
•Invite your student to hold you accountable to grow in how often and how well you help others.
•Ask your student to pray for you as you serve others this week.
1. “Saint Augustine Quotes,” Brainy Quote, [cited 14 September 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com.
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