2027-01-10 Jesus Serves Sinners

Service date: Sunday, January 10, 2027
Truth78 Lesson 30: Jesus Serves Sinners

Introduction

In this lesson, children will learn that Jesus serves sinners. The Bible tells us that crowds cheered as Jesus rode into Jerusalem: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" Jesus really is the King, the most important King of all. He made everything, so He owns everything. Yet on the night of His last special meal with His friends, King Jesus did not sit and wait to be served. He wrapped a towel around His waist, knelt down, and washed His disciples' dirty feet, the job of the lowest servant (John 13:1-8). When Peter refused, Jesus said, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Peter needed something much dirtier than his feet washed: his sinful heart. Jesus came to do the hardest, dirtiest job of all, giving His life to make sinners clean.

Teachers: If possible, arrange beforehand for an adult volunteer to come wearing sandals with (pretend) dirty feet. A little cocoa powder or washable face paint rubbed on the feet works well. Have a basin of warm water, a washcloth, and a towel ready, and put a small towel or mat under the basin to catch spills. Wash only the adult's feet in front of the children; do not ask children to have their feet washed.

Main Ideas:

Praise and Worship (15 mins)

Parents: The parent and child scheduled for this week will lead us in singing on Sunday. Please take time to practice the songs together at home, helping your child feel confident and joyful as they prepare to lead.

Prayer and Offering (5 mins)

Parents: Please encourage your children to bring an offering to church. You may help your child prepare by setting aside a coin for them to bring on Sunday. This is a great opportunity to teach them about giving to God with a thankful heart and trusting Him to provide.

What is Offering?

Offering is when we give something to God to show our love and thankfulness. In church, we often give money as an offering, but we can also give our time, talents, and kindness to God and others.

Why Do We Make an Offering?

To Thank God – Everything we have comes from God! Giving back is a way to say, “Thank You, God!”
To Trust God – When we give, we show that we trust God to take care of us.
To Help Others – Offerings help the church teach about Jesus, help people in need, and share God’s love.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7,
"God loves a cheerful giver!" That means God is happy when we give with a joyful heart!
Prayer for Offering
Dear God, thank You for giving us everything we need. We want to give back to You with joyful hearts. Please use our offering to help others and share Your love. Help us to always trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Review Verse from Our Previous Truth78 Lesson

Teachers: We are resuming Truth78 after the Christmas series and Godly Play. Review Psalm 92:4 from Lesson 29, Jesus Brings Joy to Unhappy Sinners (November 8, 2026), rather than calling it last week's verse. Give a short reminder before asking the children to join in.

Psalm 92:4

For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Bible Story (10 min)

Introduction (2 min)

Props Needed:

 

(Invite two children to the front.)

Teacher: "Grown-ups have jobs. Some people are firefighters, some are teachers, some are doctors. Long ago, when Jesus lived, there were two very different jobs. Let's pretend [first child's name] has the first job."

(Put the paper crown on the first child.)

Teacher: "What job wears a crown? A king! Did kings have lots of money?" (Hand over the money bag.) "Did kings live in big castles?" (Hand over the Castle.) "Did kings own lots and lots of land?" (Hand over the Landscape.)

Interaction: "Everyone, sit up tall like a king and say, 'Bring me my dinner!'"

Teacher: "A king is the boss. When the king says, 'Clean my room!' somebody has to do it. And people cheered for the king!"

Interaction: "Let's cheer for King [name]! Hooray!"

(Put the apron on the second child and give them the scrub brush and pail.)

Teacher: "Now [second child's name] has the other job. A servant. A servant has no crown, no castle, and not much money. A servant does all the hard, icky work the king doesn't want to do, day after day. And nobody cheers for the servant."

Interaction: "Everyone, pretend to scrub the floor. Scrub, scrub, scrub! Phew, that's hard work."

Teacher: "If you could choose, would you rather be the king or the servant? Point to the one you'd pick."

(Most will point to the king. Thank the volunteers and let them sit down.)

Teacher: "Most of us would pick the king! When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, people cheered for Him. They shouted, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Jesus is the King. Not just any king. The BEST King. Jesus made the whole world, so He owns ALL the money, ALL the castles, ALL the land. So after the cheering, do you think Jesus went to a castle and told servants to bring Him dinner? Let's find out in the Bible."

Story Telling: Jesus Washes His Friends' Feet (8 min)

Props / Visuals Suggested:

 

Part 1: Dirty, Dusty Feet (2 mins)

(Open the Bible to John 13. Hold up the sandals.)

Teacher: "When Jesus lived, people didn't wear sneakers or boots. They wore sandals like these. And there were no sidewalks. The roads were sandy, dusty, and dirty. As people walked, the dust stuck to their sweaty feet. By the end of the day, their feet were dirty and sticky. Pee-yew!"

Interaction: "Everyone, hold your nose and say, 'Pee-yew!'"

(If an adult volunteer is present, have them walk in now and show their dirty feet.)

Teacher: "Before dinner, somebody had to wash everyone's dirty feet. Would a king want to do that icky job? No! Who would do it?"

Teacher Key: A servant. Washing feet was the job of the lowest servant in the house.

 

Part 2: The King Kneels Down (2 mins)

(Show the Washing Feet visual.)

Teacher: "Jesus wanted to have a very special dinner with His friends, the disciples. Did He pick a fancy castle? No, just a plain room. The friends sat down, waiting for the food. And then Jesus, the King of everything, got up."

Interaction: "Everyone stand up, like Jesus!"

Teacher: "Jesus took off His outer robe. He tied a towel around His waist." (Tie the towel around your waist.) "He poured water into a bowl." (Pour water into the basin.) "And He knelt down on the floor and began to wash His friends' dirty feet, one by one, just like a servant."

(Kneel and gently wash the adult volunteer's feet, then dry them with the towel.)

Interaction: "Everyone kneel down and pretend to wash feet. Splash, scrub, dry!"

Teacher: "Jesus could have said, 'I'm the King! YOU wash MY feet!' But He didn't. Jesus is not like other kings. The greatest King of all became a servant."

 

Part 3: "Not My Feet, Jesus!" (2 mins)

Teacher: "Then Jesus came to Peter. Peter pulled his feet back and said, 'Lord, are YOU going to wash MY feet? No! You will never wash my feet!' Peter didn't want someone as special as Jesus doing such a dirty job for him."

Interaction: "Everyone, hide your feet under you and shake your head like Peter: 'No, no, no!'"

Teacher: "But Jesus said something surprising: 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.' That means, 'If I don't wash you, you can't be with Me.' Hmm. Did Jesus mean that people with dirty feet can't be His friends?"

(Wait for answers.)

(Hold up the Darkened Heart.)

Teacher: "No! Peter had something MUCH dirtier than his feet. What is it?"

Teacher Key: His heart. Peter had a sinful, darkened heart, just like every one of us.

Interaction: "Point to your own heart and say, 'My heart needs washing too.'"

 

Part 4: The Hardest Job of All (2 mins)

Teacher: "Can we wash a dark heart with soap and water?" (Dip the Darkened Heart toward the water, then stop.)

Interaction: "Shake your head: 'Nooo!'"

Teacher: "Washing feet is an icky job. But Jesus came to do a much, much harder job: to make our dirty hearts clean. And that job would cost Jesus His life. Jesus would die on the cross to take the punishment for sin, so that everyone who trusts in Him can be made clean. Jesus said, 'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"

(Swap the Darkened Heart for the Red Heart.)

Teacher: "The red heart reminds us: only Jesus can wash a heart clean. King Jesus didn't come to be served. He came to serve sinners like us."

Interaction: "Put a crown on your head with your hands, then kneel down. Say with me: 'King Jesus serves sinners!'"

 

Review with Actions

Teacher: "Let's remember it with actions!"

  • Teacher: "Jesus is the greatest King." (Hands make a crown on your head.)
  • Teacher: "His friends had dirty, stinky feet." (Hold your nose: "Pee-yew!")
  • Teacher: "Jesus tied on a towel." (Pretend to tie a towel around your waist.)
  • Teacher: "He knelt down and washed their feet." (Kneel and scrub.)
  • Teacher: "Peter said, 'Not my feet!'" (Shake your head, hide your feet.)
  • Teacher: "Our hearts are dirty with sin." (Point to your heart.)
  • Teacher: "Jesus gave His life to make us clean." (Arms out wide like a cross.)

Teacher: "Now faster!"

  • "King!" (Crown.)
  • "Pee-yew!" (Hold nose.)
  • "Towel!" (Tie.)
  • "Wash!" (Kneel and scrub.)
  • "Not me!" (Shake head.)
  • "Heart!" (Point.)
  • "Clean!" (Arms wide.)

Wrap-up & Discussion (4 min)

 

(Gather children close for reflection.)

Discussion Questions:

Teacher: "Let's think about what we learned today."

Question: "Who is the greatest King of all? What does He own?"

Teacher Key: Jesus! Jesus is God. He made everything, so He owns everything: all the money, all the land, all the castles, even all the people.

Question: "What job did King Jesus do at dinner?"

Teacher Key: He did a servant's job. He knelt down and washed His friends' dirty feet.

Question: "Kings need servants to work for them. Does Jesus need anyone to work for Him?"

Teacher Key: No. Jesus doesn't need anything from us (Acts 17:25). He is so great that He serves us. Jesus doesn't serve us because WE are great. He serves us because we are helpless and He is great.

Question: "What did Peter need washed even more than his feet? Can soap and water do it?"

Teacher Key: His sinful heart. Only Jesus can make a heart clean. He did it by giving His life on the cross.

Question: "Can you remember other ways Jesus served sinners?"

Teacher Key: He healed sick people, fed hungry crowds, calmed the storm, and looked for lost sheep. Jesus served sinners again and again.

Question: "If King Jesus serves others, what should Jesus' friends do?"

Teacher Key: Serve others too! Help at home, clean up without being asked, let someone else go first, help a friend who is sad.

Teacher: "This week, look for one 'servant job' you can do at home without being asked. Then tell your mom or dad, 'I served like Jesus!'"

Closing Thought & Prayer

 

Teacher: "Jesus is the greatest King of all. He could have stayed in a palace and been served by everyone. Instead, He knelt down and washed dirty feet. And then He did the hardest job of all: He gave His life so that sinners who trust in Him can be made clean. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. What a Savior!"

(Fold hands and bow heads.)

Prayer: "Dear Jesus, You are the greatest King of all. You own everything, and You don't need anything from us. Thank You for becoming a servant. Thank You for giving Your life to wash dirty hearts clean. Please wash our hearts, and help us to trust in You. Help us to serve others the way You served us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Memorizing Verse: Matthew 20:28

 

Matthew 20:28

[Jesus said,] "...the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Hand Gestures:

  • "the Son of Man came": Point up, then bring your hand down to the ground (Jesus came down to us).
  • "not to be served": Sit up tall like a king, then shake your finger "no."
  • "but to serve,": Kneel or bend down and pretend to scrub.
  • "and to give his life": Hold both hands out, palms open, like giving a gift.
  • "as a ransom": Pretend to pay: tap one palm with two fingers, like counting out coins.
  • "for many.": Sweep your arm across the whole room.

Teacher Tip: Explain that "the Son of Man" is a name Jesus used for Himself. A ransom is a price paid to set someone free. Jesus paid with His own life to set sinners free from the punishment for sin. Learn it in two halves: "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (king, then scrub) and "and to give His life as a ransom for many" (give, pay, sweep).

Craft & Game (10 mins)

Game: "King or Servant?"

Adapted from the source lesson's optional game. Children race to match each picture card with the king object or servant object that goes with it.

⏰ Time: 5 minutes

👧 Age Group: 4-6 years

🧩 Lesson Connection: Reinforces the difference between a king and a servant, and the surprise that King Jesus chose to serve.

🪜 Setup & Materials Needed:

🎲 How to Play:

Step 1: Children sit in a big circle. Place all the objects in the middle.

Step 2: Hand cards to up to eight children. On "Go!", they run to the middle, find the object that matches their card, and bring it back to their spot.

Step 3: Each child holds up their object. Everyone shouts "KING!" or "SERVANT!" for each one.

Step 4: Return the objects, pass the cards to new children, and play again.

Step 5: Finish by holding up the crown and the washcloth together. Ask: "Which one did Jesus pick up at dinner?" (The washcloth!) "Jesus is the King who came to serve." Say Matthew 20:28 together with the hand gestures.

Craft: Washed-Clean Heart Flap

Adapted from the source workbook page. Children color a water basin with a dark heart above it, then tape a shiny heart over it as a flap: only Jesus can wash a dirty heart clean.

Materials: Paper with a simple water basin and a heart outline above it (one per child), dark crayons (black, brown, gray), crayons for the basin, one shiny foil heart per child (cut from aluminum foil or foil wrapping paper using the Shiny Heart Template AR-30, about the same size as the heart outline), tape, Matthew 20:28 printed on a strip.

The Activity:

Optional (if time allows): Washing Activity. Let children wash a few dirty objects (a plastic dish, a toy, a rock) in a pail of soapy water. Then give them an object marked with permanent marker and let them try to scrub it clean. It won't come off. Hold up the Darkened Heart: "Some things soap can't clean. Our sinful hearts are like that. Only Jesus can make them clean."

Response Song

Closing Prayer & Snack Time (10 mins)

"Dear Jesus, You are the King of everything, and You came to serve. Thank You for washing Your friends' feet, and thank You for giving Your life to make sinners clean. Help us to trust in You, and help us to serve others with happy hearts, just like You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Now, let us thank You for the snack we’re about to enjoy.
We fold our hands.
We bow our heads.
We thank You, God,
for this daily bread.
Amen.

Free Time & Children Pickup (15 mins)

Revision #2
Created 2026-11-05 04:51:42 UTC by Thian-Peng Ter
Updated 2026-11-07 23:17:51 UTC by Thian-Peng Ter