Sunday School Lesson: Lent—Serving Others
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The Main Takeaway: Lent helps us remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross by making us slow down and reflect on how sad sin is and how important it is to help others (like Jesus helped us).
The Lesson Objective: Children will be introduced to the purpose of Lent and practice simple ways to incorporate Lenten themes (fasting, reflection, service to the church or others) into their daily lives.
Remembering Jesus’ Sacrifice at Lent
Every church has its practices throughout the year, and they are not always practices that make sense from the outside. We can understand why people wear nice clothes for Easter, and we know Easter is about remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection. But what is the point of Lent, the long season leading up to Easter, in which people put ashes on their foreheads and avoid foods they normally like?
Lent started in the early days of the church as a way to slow down and reflect on what Jesus had to give up when he died on the cross for our sins. Many churches observe Lent if they follow traditional liturgies, especially if they belong to these denominations:
- Roman Catholicism
- Anglicanism
- Orthodoxy
- Lutheranism
However, that does not mean you cannot practice Lent if you belong to a different church. Many Christians, from Baptists to Pentecostals, are exploring Christian traditions like fasting at Lent.
The Purpose of Common Lent Activities
The things people do during Lent are based on things people did in the Bible to reflect on their lives and show their respect for God.
The Bible is full of stories about people fasting (cutting certain foods out of their diet for weeks, or eating almost nothing for several days at a time) and using the time they would normally spend enjoying that food thinking about God, praying, and worshipping. Since Jesus spent 40 days in the desert being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11), Lent lasts 40 days.
Foods that people frequently give up during Lent include:
- Meat (especially red meat)
- Carbohydrates
- Desserts or any food containing lots of sugar
Because Lent is a fasting season, lots of people eat the things they would normally have the day before Lent starts. That is why lots of people call the day before Lent… Fat Tuesday.
Another common Lenten practice, putting ashes on our foreheads on the first day of Lent, is based on practices in the Bible that people undertook to reflect on serious matters. People who wanted to mourn someone’s death or mistakes that they had made often poured ashes on their heads and wore dull clothing, like when Jacob thought his son Joseph had died and put on “sackcloth and ashes” (Genesis 37:34). Lent is a time to consider the serious things Jesus did to get rid of the stain of sin on our lives, so people wear ashes on their heads for the first day of Lent.
People also do special things during the last week of Lent to reflect on the important things Jesus did while he was in Jerusalem before dying on the cross. For example, many churches hold a special communion service on Maundy Thursday to remember the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples.
Activity Ideas and Scripture for Sunday School Lent Lesson
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21 NIV)
Families may enjoy doing Lenten activities for each of the 40 days, like the activities described in this guide). For Sunday school, focus on things that you can easily explain in one class, instructing students to do the task over the next week, with the expectation that you will check in on their progress next class.
Asking children not to eat could create problems with parents, so you will probably find it better to focus on how Lent encourages Christians to serve others.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Have the children sit and write out a list of things they can do to serve others.
Instructions:
- Pass out sheets of paper to each student.
- Give each student a crayon or pencil.
- Have each student write down 2-3 things they can do to serve others during Lent.
The next week, ask students to write down some ways they served others or challenges that made it hard to serve others. If students struggle to think of ways to serve others, give examples such as:
- Helping their siblings or parents with chores
- Donating toys or old clothes to charity
- Assisting friends with homework
For older children (even middle school and high school students):
Older students can usually handle the full, sobering story of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, giving them greater ability to engage with the somber themes of Lent.
Read aloud the story of Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem from Luke 19-23, spacing it out to cover one chapter each week and ending with Easter. If you need a guide, try this six-week Lenten Bible study by Vivian Bricker. Depending on how mature the students in your Sunday School class are, you can decide how many details to read from the Good Friday material about Jesus’ suffering the day he was crucified.
After reading the chapter, take a journal and write some reflections on what the reading prompted you to think about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and some ways you can imitate his willingness to obey God and make sacrifices. If students are comfortable, write 2-3 things we can all sacrifice on a set of notes and put them on a board to discuss. Examples could include:
- Hobbies (like video games)
- Junk food like chips or ice cream
- Secular music
- Social media or smartphone games
Encourage students to think about how they can use the time they normally spend on these activities praying, reading the Bible, or serving others. Examples of serving others could include:
- Prayer
- Community service
- Church volunteering
Main Point for Sunday School Lent Lessons
Jesus coming back from the dead was a joyful moment, but a joyful release after a sad ordeal. He released sin’s hold on us, but the release came at a great cost to stop something ugly and complicated that we could not fix ourselves. Lent challenges us to remember how serious sin is and the sacrifice Jesus undertook to free us. We should celebrate our freedom, but also remember the bondage Jesus freed us from, which means taking time to reflect, to serve others, and to thank God for all he has given us.
Whatever we do during Lent, whether we fast or participate in Holy Week traditions or devote more time to helping others, we should slow down and consider all we have gained in Christ.
Prayers for Sunday School Lent Lessons
A prayer for younger children:
Jesus, thank you for saving me from my sins. Help me to slow down and think more about all the good things you give me as I wait for Easter. Also, help me to think about other people I can help, to show them your love. Amen.
A prayer for older children:
Jesus, I remember at Lent that you paid a terrible cost to free us from our sins. Help me to understand how deep your sacrifice was, and to be grateful for all you did, using that gratitude to show others your love. As I reflect on sin and grace this Lent, show me things I can let go of to focus more on serving you. Help me to become the person you want me to be, not just at Lent but throughout the year. Amen.
If you want more ideas, this article by Christianity.com staff about Prayers for Lent may be helpful.
Related articles:
What Is the Purpose of Lent?
7 Eye-Opening Insights About Lent
70 Ideas For What to Give Up at Lent
Photo credit: GettyImages
