Teaching kids to serve others

We’ve talked about learning and studying God’s Word for the past several days.  But God did not just call us to study His Word in a vacuum of Sunday School.  He is very clear that we are to serve others as well, and this is a wonderful way to encourage family discipleship.

 

But how can you do that with your kids?  Many service places won’t let your kids in until they are 10.  I’ve looked into it.

 

God called us to be stewards of our world.  Does that mean we have to be environmentalists and obsessively  monitor everyone else’s movement and what they’re doing? No.  Should we be more aware of God’s beautiful creation? Yes.  Go to a park or somewhere else safe near by.  Take a trash bag and gloves if you are worried about germs.  I brought hand sanitizer.  Before picking anything up talk about what is and is not safe to pick up.  My kids were to tell me about any broken glass or anything sharp, and I would pick up that.

 

I’m going to preface this by saying, right now my kids are not old enough to do this at most places, but they have helped with it.  We served food for church outreach events.  We’ve gone to food pantries and organized their shelves.  It will depend on the organization and the event.  We’ve been blessed to have a church that emphasizes serving and blessing our community, so we have been able to do these things at a younger age than usual.

 

There are  multiple organizations that accept donations you pack.  Operation Christmas Child gives a shoe box full of toys and clothes to kids around the world.  That’s going on RIGHT NOW, don’t miss out.  We’re going to be packing boxes for kids soon ourselves.  Pack a box for Children’s Hunger Fund, it’s food to feed a family of 4 for several days.  This picture is from our packing the boxes two years ago.

I love when I see a post on my topic JUST after I’ve shared, check out this great list of Dollar Store Items for Operation Christmas Child.

 

This is our current project, so no great pictures right now.  We’re going through our house and gathering all the stuff we’ve outgrown, don’t need or don’t use, and we’re hosting a garage sale.  Then we’re going to give all the money we get to our church for a building.

 

Have I got you thinking about getting involved?  The number one thing, your kids won’t volunteer unless they see you volunteering, so get involved.

Need more ideas for teaching kids to serve others?

Then check out this post: Service and Leadership, serving ideas

 

 

Day 1: Choosing your Bible

Day 2: Finding the right Bible study for you

Day 3: Choosing a children’s Bible

Day 4: Choosing a children’s Bible study

Day 5: What to do when you’re spiritually empty

Day 6: Digging Deeper

Day 7: Live it Out

Day 8: Sing it Loud

Day 9: Act it Out

Day 10: A week in our Bible Study

Don’t forget to enter the Prufrock giveaway for some amazing resources.  They have some great ideas and resources there, and it’s always fun to get new stuff for free.  While you’re there check out the other great Hopscotch series there.