Before class, print off enough Balancing Service handouts so that each student has a copy—the template can be found here. If you are meeting online, send the template to students ahead of time and ask them to print it off so they have it ready to use.

Remind students of the lesson focus with the following questions:

• What did Jesus do for His disciples? (He washed their feet while they were arguing over who was greatest.)
• How did this surprise them? (Possible answers: they were not used to service being done by people who were in charge.)

It must have been shocking for Jesus’ disciples to hear what He was saying. The idea that serving is what makes you great, rather than being served, was unlike anything they had ever heard.

• What happens more often for you—serving or being served? (Answers may vary; encourage discussion.)

Let’s see if we can get a closer look at the opportunities we have to serve others. Have students get out their Balancing Service handouts. Let’s brainstorm a list of the people you interact with every week. Include friends, family members, people you know from church or school. For each person, decide whether they are someone who ordinarily serves you. If so, write their name on the left side of your sheet under People Who Serve Me; if not, write their name on the right, under People I Serve. Help your students with ideas on who they might be serving without thinking about it (examples might be reading to a younger sibling while Mom is cooking dinner, setting the table, or walking the dog).

After students have had time to complete the first part of their exercise, give the rest of the instructions. Here’s the twist. Even though the names you wrote on the right side of the paper are People I Serve, the truth is that you can find ways to serve EVERYONE on this list. For the rest of the class, talk about ways you can serve the people on the left side of your list. As needed, offer suggestions such as helping, leaving thank-you notes for service workers, or simply greeting people in a kind way. Challenge your students to follow through on those acts of service for at least two people listed in the left-hand column.

Close in prayer.

Take a minute to model service to your group by sending them a text or email reminding them to serve at least one person on their list this week.