During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:42–45
Jesus said this when James and John asked to sit on His right and left in glory. James and John wanted human glory. Jesus’ response was to tell all of the disciples that instead of seeking human glory, they should seek to be servants. He told them to change their priorities.
What about you? Do you seek human glory? You, too, need to get your priorities right. Ask God if you have the right motive for doing what you do. Ask Him to help you get your priorities right. Ask Him to give you a servant’s heart. Then you can lead well by being a servant to all.
Let your children’s families know that this week, the children will learn about being servant leaders. Encourage family members to share practical ways they can lead someone else by serving that person during the week.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As your children arrive, greet them with a high five. Ask them to share a good moment and a low moment from the past week. Celebrate the high moments and encourage them about the low moments.
Have the children stand in a circle, facing the middle of the circle. Choose 1 child and ask him to move away from the group to where he cannot hear what is being said. That child will be the Guesser. While the Guesser is away, choose another child to be the leader. Explain to the children that the Leader will do different motions and the rest of the children will follow what she does. The Leader will try to lead the rest of the children without being discovered by the Guesser. The other children will follow the Leader’s actions but will try not to look directly at the Leader.
Call the Guesser back to the group. Explain to him that he will stand in the middle of the circle. He will watch the motions that the children are doing and try to guess who the Leader is.
To begin the game, tell all the children to swing their arms up and down. The Leader will then begin to do other actions, and the children will copy her. The Leader can choose any actions she wants to do. Here are some ideas:
If the Guesser has not guessed who the Leader is after 3 guesses, then the game is over. If you have enough time, play the game again with a new Guesser and a new Leader. Do not spend more than 7 minutes on this game. After the game is over, ask the children to sit down.
In this game you followed the leader. You also follow leaders in your everyday life. For example, you follow me because I am your teacher. Did you know that each of you is also a leader?
You might not think you are a leader, but you are! There is at least 1 person in each of your lives who watches what you do and follows you in some way. For example, you may have a younger sibling who tries to act like you. Or you may have a friend who admires you and follows your lead.
Have the children quickly find partners and sit down. They will discuss the following questions with their partners. After each question, give pairs time to discuss. Then call on 2–3 volunteers to share their thoughts with the class.
Who is someone you look to as a leader in your life?
Give the children a few minutes to discuss this. Then ask 2 volunteers to share their thoughts with everyone.
Who is someone who might look to you as a leader?
Give the children a few minutes to discuss this. Then ask 2 volunteers to share their thoughts with everyone.
For the next few weeks we will talk about how to be a good leader. Today you will learn about what it means to be a servant leader.
Now we will hear a story from the Bible of Nehemiah, a servant leader. In this story, whenever I say the word “wall” or “walls,” stretch your arms out to the side to act like you are forming a wall.
Have the children practice the wall action.
Whenever you hear the word “king” or “governor,” place your hands on top of your head to form a crown.
Have the children do the king/governor action.
Here is some important information you need to know that happened before today’s story.
A long time ago the Babylonian army attacked the city of Jerusalem, where God’s people lived. The Babylonians destroyed the temple and the walls (wall action) surrounding the city. At that time, people built large, stone walls (wall action) around their cities to protect them from enemies. For more than 150 years, Jerusalem had no walls (wall action) to protect it; they were broken down.
This is where our story begins. Nehemiah was a Jew who lived at this time. He was the cupbearer of the king (crown action) of Persia who ruled a large area including Jerusalem. As cupbearer, Nehemiah tasted the king’s (crown action) drinks before the king (crown action) did
to make sure they were not poisoned. The king (crown action) trusted Nehemiah very much.
When Nehemiah heard that the walls (wall action) of Jerusalem were still broken and that its gates had been burned with fire, he was very sad. He prayed to God, and God gave him courage to ask the king’s (crown action) permission to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls (wall action). The king (crown action) gave him permission, and Nehemiah went to Jerusalem.
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
Rebuilding the walls (wall action) was a very big job! Many people did not think Nehemiah and the other Jews in Jerusalem could do it. Nehemiah was the leader of this very big project. Some leaders may have shouted orders and made everyone else do the hard work. But Nehemiah was not like other leaders. He worked alongside the people as they rebuilt the wall (wall action). Nehemiah and the people worked from sunrise to sunset each day. And with God’s help, they rebuilt the wall (wall action) in just 52 days!
But Nehemiah’s work as a leader was not done. The king (crown action) appointed Nehemiah to be governor (crown action) of Judah. Being governor (crown action) was a very important job. The governors (crown action) who had ruled before Nehemiah had charged the people high taxes. These governors (crown action) were very rich, and the people were very poor.
Nehemiah did not lead that way. He did not accept the expensive food set aside for the governor (crown action). He did not ask the people to pay extra taxes to him. He did not take extra land or build a fancy palace to live in. Nehemiah cared about the people he led.
How was Nehemiah different from the governors who led before him?
What do you think it means to be a servant leader?
A servant leader is someone who serves those he leads. He cares more about the people he serves than being powerful or influential. A servant leader leads by setting a good example. People who follow a servant leader are more likely to want to serve others, just as their leader does.
In what ways was Nehemiah a servant leader?
The Bible tells us about another servant leader—Jesus. Listen to what He told His disciples:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
Let’s hear about a time when Jesus showed what He meant by these words.
When Jesus lived on earth, the roads were made of dirt and most people wore open sandals or no shoes. When people entered someone’s house, a servant would wash their feet.
Feet can be dirty and smelly. Kneeling in front of someone to wash her feet is a humble thing to do. Listen to what Jesus did on the night before He was crucified.
So [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:4–5
The disciples saw Jesus as their leader. We know that He is the Son of God.
How do you think the disciples felt when their leader washed their feet?
Ask 2–3 children to share.
Would you expect an important leader like Jesus to do something humble like washing someone else’s feet?
Why do you think Jesus washed His disciples’ feet?
But Jesus is no ordinary leader. He came to be a servant leader. He was humble and cared about His followers, just as Nehemiah did. And Jesus asks us to be like Him. Listen to what He said to the disciples just after He washed their feet.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:12–17
Being a good leader begins with serving others. Think about someone you lead in some way. It may be the same person you thought about at the beginning of the lesson or someone different.
Pause for children to think.
Share with a partner a way you can serve that person as you lead this week.
If some pairs struggle to think of ideas, offer suggestions such as doing a family member’s chore, offering kindness to someone who is sad, or protecting a child who is being bullied.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, there is space for children to list how they will serve others this week.
Ask the children to sit in a large circle. Set out the washbasin of water and the towel. Explain that you want to serve them in the same way Jesus served His disciples—by washing their feet.
Wash each child’s feet and say the blessing based on Matthew 20:26 over each child as you do. The other children will sit quietly while you do this.
If you do not have enough time to do the foot washing for all the children, you can wash their hands instead. You can have the children line up so that you can do this more quickly.
Blessing: (Child’s name), I wash your feet in love, just as Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. May you be a leader who leads by serving others and putting their needs first.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
