For Parents
On Sunday, Ps Andy talked about love being the true mark of a disciple of Jesus, using the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13. The big idea is simple but seriously challenging: Christians should be the most loving people around, and that love shows up in actions, not just words. Andy pointed us to 1 Timothy 1:5, where Paul says the whole point of teaching is that people would be filled with love — and then to John 13, where Jesus gets down and washes feet to show us exactly what that looks like.
Tip for the week: aim for about 15 minutes a night, phones face-down on the bench, and make sure everyone gets a turn to answer — including the grown-ups. You can do one night, two nights, or all three. Each night works on its own, but they build nicely across the week.
The Big Idea
Jesus showed his love by serving — and he asks us to do the same.
Memory Verse
“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34
Fun way to learn it: Say it in a round! One person says “A new command I give you,” the next person says “love one another,” and keep going around the table until everyone has had a go. Speed it up each round until someone cracks up. Last one standing without laughing says it perfectly from memory.
Night One
Big Love, Humble Hands
Warm Up
Would you rather clean the toilet at school OR wash your friend’s feet after footy training? Everyone has to answer — no passing! Talk about why your choice feels gross or hard.
Story Time
John 13:1–5
It was the night of a really important meal, like a special dinner the whole family had been looking forward to. Jesus was there with his twelve closest friends — his disciples. Jesus knew that things were about to get very hard for him, but he didn’t spend that night talking about himself. Instead, he quietly stood up from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a bowl, and got down on his knees. Then he started washing his disciples’ feet, one by one, and drying them with the towel. Now, feet in those days were genuinely filthy — dusty roads, no shoes half the time, proper grimy. Washing feet was the job nobody wanted. It was what the lowest servant in the house did. But Jesus — the one they called Lord and Teacher, the most important person in that room — chose to do it himself. He wanted to show them, in a way they would never forget, exactly what love looks like.
Talk About It
- Little ones: If you were one of the disciples and Jesus came to wash your feet, how do you think you’d feel? Surprised? A bit embarrassed?
- Everyone: Why do you think Jesus chose to do something so humble when he was the most important person there?
- Older kids: Andy said love costs something — time, comfort, pride. What’s something loving that costs you something?
- Grown-ups’ turn: Is there a job at home or at work that you think of as “beneath you”? Be honest!
Try It
Tonight before bed, quietly do one job around the house that isn’t yours — without being asked and without telling anyone. Just do it. Tomorrow night, see if anyone noticed (or if you can keep it secret!).
Pray Together
Go around the table. Each person finishes this sentence out loud: “Jesus, help me show love this week by…” — even if it’s just one small thing.
Night Two
When Love Gets Awkward
Warm Up
Table game: Name one thing someone has done for you this week that you didn’t say thank you for. Go around the table — everyone has to think of something real.
Story Time
John 13:6–10
When Jesus got to Simon Peter with the bowl of water, Peter pulled his feet back. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” he said. He couldn’t believe it. It felt all wrong — the wrong way round. Jesus was his teacher, his master. Peter was supposed to serve Jesus, not the other way around! Jesus said, “You don’t understand what I’m doing right now, but one day you will.” But Peter dug his heels in: “No way. You will never wash my feet.” That’s when Jesus said something that stopped Peter cold: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter flipped completely. “Then don’t just wash my feet — wash my hands and my head too!” Jesus gently explained that Peter was already clean — he just needed his feet washed. This moment was about more than dirty feet. Jesus was showing that we all need to let him clean us up on the inside too. We can’t make ourselves good enough for God on our own. We need Jesus to do that for us.
Talk About It
- Little ones: Peter went from “no way!” to “wash all of me!” really fast. Have you ever changed your mind quickly like that?
- Everyone: Is it ever hard to let someone help you or do something nice for you? Why?
- Older kids: Andy said we can’t make ourselves right with God on our own — we need Jesus. What does that mean to you?
- Grown-ups’ turn: When was a time someone served you really well and you nearly didn’t let them?
Try It
Grab a bowl of water and a cloth. Take turns dipping your hands in and letting someone else dry them for you. It feels a bit weird, right? Talk about how it feels to receive help instead of giving it. Keep the bowl — you’ll use the idea again tomorrow night.
Pray Together
One person prays this, or read it together slowly: “Jesus, thank you that you clean us up on the inside. Help us to receive your love and then pass it on. Amen.”
Night Three
Now You Do It Too
Warm Up
Would you rather: be famous for being incredibly kind OR incredibly clever? Why? Would your answer have been different a few years ago?
Story Time
John 13:12–17, 34–35
When Jesus had finished washing everyone’s feet, he put his clothes back on and sat down again. Then he looked around at his disciples and asked them a question: “Do you understand what I just did for you?” He told them: “You call me your Teacher and your Lord, and you’re right — that’s exactly what I am. But now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet too.” He wasn’t just setting an example for that one night. He was saying: this is how I want you to live. Then, a little later in the same conversation, he gave them a brand new command — not a suggestion, a command: “Love one another, just as I have loved you. That’s how everyone will know that you belong to me.” It’s like Jesus was saying the most important badge a Christian can wear isn’t a fancy title or a long list of rules kept. It’s love. Visible, active, humble, costly love — the kind that gets down on its knees when no one’s watching.
Talk About It
- Little ones: Jesus said people will know we follow him by how we love. What does loving someone actually look like at school?
- Everyone: Andy asked: are we known by our love? What do you think our neighbours, teammates, or classmates would say about our family?
- Older kids: The world says love is a feeling. Jesus says love is something you do. Which is easier — and which one matters more?
- Grown-ups’ turn: Who in your life is hardest to love right now? You don’t have to say their name — just admit there’s someone.
Try It
As a family, pick one person outside your home to do something kind for this week — a neighbour, a teacher, someone from church, or a friend who’s been doing it tough. Plan something specific and simple: drop off some biscuits, send a text, mow a strip of their lawn. Do it without making a big deal of it. That’s love in action.
Pray Together
Go around the table. Each person prays one sentence for someone they want to show love to this week. Finish together: “Jesus, make us known by our love. Amen.”
