Pride & Humility - Lesson 7: Humility and Serving Others

Pride & Humility

Lesson 7: Humility and Serving Others

Matthew 20:25-28 [25] But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26] It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. [27] Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, [28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:14-15 [14] If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The main purpose of this series of lessons on pride and humility is to emphasize what God has shown us – that he resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. These lessons should help show what pride and humility are, how they appear in our own lives, and what the end result of each is, encouraging and exhorting us to put off pride and clothe ourselves with humility.

In the first lesson, we gave simple definitions for pride and humility. Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than is right and true. Humility is thinking rightly of ourselves in the sight of (or in relation to) God the Father Almighty and his son Jesus Christ, our lord.

Humility and serving others. It is pride that leads us to think everyone else must serve us. Humility teaches us to serve others.

Who should serve, help and do good to others? The answer is, I should. This is true for us throughout our lives. When we are young, in humility we serve through our simple and honest obedience. As we grow in age and authority, in humility we still serve.

The greatest will be the servant of all. Jesus did not teach by word or example that the leaders should be served. Rather, he taught that the greatest among you should be the servant of all. In God's kingdom, as you increase in position and authority, you ought to serve all the more. This is not because we ignore the fact of our position. Instead, the very position or authority is given so that the one possessing it may serve the ones over whom he has that position or authority.

Jesus taught this by word and example. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He, the master, washed the feet of his disciples, teaching that those who follow him must follow his example. He showed us the true purpose of authority when he humbled himself and became a man, a servant of men.

The humble will be exalted. Jesus humbled himself, even to the point of death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted him, and gave him a name over every name. If we will humble ourselves to serve others, God will exalt us as well. He will not exalt us whenever we want to be exalted. He will exalt us at the proper time. While that time may not be until death, yet, his exaltation is eternal and will not fail.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are now having a few lessons on pride and humility. This is important because God has said in his word, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

In this lesson, we will learn about humility and serving others.

Let the children know that you will read about Jesus and how he served others.

Read John 13:1-17. Did Jesus humble himself? How? How did he serve his disciples? Do you think this was a fun thing to do? What did Jesus teach his disciples after he washed their feet?

Read Philippians 2:5-11. How did Jesus humble himself? Was there more than one way? What happened to him when he humbled himself? (He died on the cross.) What did God do because he humbled himself so much? Does God give us any promise similar to this if we humble ourselves? (1 Peter 5:5-6.)

Further questions. Can you think of other ways that Jesus served others while he was on earth? Who are some people that you could serve now? What are some ways that you could serve those people now?

To close the lesson, pray with the children and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

John 13:1-17 [1] Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [2] During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, [3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, [4] arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” [8] Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” [9] Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” [11] For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” [12] So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? [13] You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. [14] If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. [16] Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Philippians 2:5-11 [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

More Stories and Examples:

Other Verses:

Matthew 20:25-28 [25] But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26] It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. [27] Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, [28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-45 [42] Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [43] But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. [44] Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. [45] For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:24-27 [24] There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. [25] He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ [26] But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. [27] For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.

Matthew 23:1-12 [1] Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, [2] saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. [3] All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. [4] For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. [5] But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, [6] and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, [7] the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. [8] But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. [9] Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. [11] But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. [12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 [11] For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.” [13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 3:4-9,21-23 [4] For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly? [5] Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? [6] I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. [7] So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. [8] Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. [9] For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. [21] Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, [22] whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, [23] and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Here is an example of pride and humility. The pride of the Corinthian Christians is seen in their exalting themselves over one another by boasting that they followed a particular apostle or teacher. In their boasting, blinded by their pride, they did not see that their prideful boasting showed that they did not follow Paul, Apollos or Cephas (Peter). The humility of Paul, Apollos and Cephas is seen in their service. They did not come to exalt themselves, but to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord, and to serve others, helping them grow unto salvation.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 [19] For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; [21] to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. [22] To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. [23] Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

Philippians 1:1-11 [1] If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, [2] make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; [3] doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 5:1-7 [1] I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed. [2] Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; [3] neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. [4] When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away. [5] Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; [7] casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

The elders, as the leaders, were to serve those under their authority, not lording it over them, but proving examples to the flock.