BIBLE STORY: Jesus Prays in Gethsemane — Matthew 26:36-56

BOTTOM LINE: Put others first.

LIFE APP: Humility—Putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve

MEMORY VERSE: “Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3, NIrV

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CFKIDS AT HOME FAMILY EXPERIENCE GUIDE

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FAMILY ACTIVITY #1: WAKE UP, DISCIPLES!

WHAT YOU NEED: 2 index cards or half sheets of paper, a marker

WHAT YOU DO: Write “true” on one index card and “false” on the other. Set the cards someplace where everyone can reach them. Get everyone ready to play a game! Ask everyone to pretend to be asleep, like the disciples were in today’s story, as Jesus was praying. Read one of the true/false statements below and then say, “Wake up, disciples!” Then everyone “wakes up” and tries to be the first to grab the true or false index card, depending on whether the statement you just read is or is not true.

*For months the Jewish religious leaders had been plotting to kill Jesus. (True)

*Jesus’ disciples stayed up all night praying in the garden. (False; they fell asleep)

*Peter promised Jesus he would never turn away from Him. (True)

*Jesus prayed all night in the Garden of Eden. (False; Garden of Gethsemane)

*In the garden, Jesus prayed that God’s plan would come true. (True)

*After Jesus was arrested, His disciples ran away even though they had promised to never leave Him. (True)

*When the Jewish leaders came to arrest Jesus, He hid in a grove of trees and prayed they wouldn’t find Him. (False)

*Jesus prayed for God’s plan to come true even if it meant He had to die. (True)

TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY: The disciples were supposed to be keeping watch for Jesus. How do you think Jesus felt when they fell asleep? (Hurt, sad, like His friends were not “there for Him.”) It can be tough for us to put someone else first because usually, we feel like doing what WE want to do. What’s one way we can put each other first even when we don’t feel like it? (Use this moment to encourage your kid by talking about something good you’ve seen them do this past week. Give an example of how you’ve seen them put someone else first and encourage them to think of other ways they can continue to do that this week.)

FAMILY ACTIVITY #2: All the Small Things (& Big Things)

WHAT YOU NEED: sticky notes, index cards, or scraps of paper; tape; pen/pencils

WHAT YOU DO: Talk together about some different ways you can put others first. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

*Letting someone else choose which movie to watch

*Helping with a chore that’s not your responsibility

*Holding a door open for someone

*Taking out trash cans or getting mail for an elderly neighbor

*Doing schoolwork without complaining

*Being patient with family members

What other ideas can you think of?

Write each one on a sticky note, index card, or small scrap of paper. Once you have about seven to 10 ideas, stick them to a wall or lay them out on the floor or table. Ask your kid which idea would be the hardest for them to do, and which one would the easiest. Then sort the notes into two groups: one for the common examples that tend to come up often, and one for the bigger ideas that might take a bit more planning.

TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY:

*How do you think the disciples felt when they realized they weren’t there for Jesus when He needed them most? (Guilty, sad that they hurt their friend)

*How did Jesus put His friends (and all of us) first? (By dying on the cross to make a way for us to have a relationship with God)

*How have you put someone else first this past week? (Use this moment to encourage your kid by talking about something good you’ve seen them do this past week. Give an example of how you’ve seen them put someone else first and encourage them to think of other ways they can continue to do that this week.)

*How has someone put YOU first this week?

FAMILY PRAYER TIME

Use this prayer as a guide, either after your discussion or right before bed tonight:

“Dear God, right now it feels especially hard to put others first. We need Your help even more to think of someone else’s needs above our own. We know that You hear us when we pray, and You want to help us do hard things like putting others first. Help us be more like Jesus and think of others before we think of ourselves. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Click this link below to access your helpful parent resources! » https://christfellowship.church/content/cfkids-resources-ebd6dec61c3347229ad15ac977f0034e

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