Break the ice
Who is someone you know who serves people well? How do they do it?
Small group questions
- Why do you think people often guess about the day and time of Jesus' return?
- What needs do you see around you every day that need to be met?
- Read Mark 10:43-45. Explain in one sentence what Jesus was telling His disciples in these verses?
43But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
4. How is Jesus’ teaching in these verses different from how most of the world thinks?
5.Read John 13:3-17. What was surprising about what Jesus did in these verses?
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
3Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[1] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Translation notes (1)
- 13:10 Some manuscripts do not include except for the feet.
6.How did Jesus set an example in for us to follow in these verses?
7. Would you describe yourself as a servant? Why or Why not?
8.In what ways can you serve other people around you in this next week?
Moving forward
Let’s continue the conversation we are having about how to serve the people around us. Spend a few minutes thinking about one specific step you can take this week to serve the people around you (befriending someone who is lonely, unloading the dishwasher, helping your sibling with their homework, or something else). Share this step with your group. When you all have shared, pray together. Pray for the courage to obey this call God has given each one of us to serve.
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