Splink | Submission in Christ

Attitude Check

Paul’s reminder to the Colossians to work with all their heart for the Lord is a reminder for us too (Colossians 3:23). However, working for the approval of man is a much more popular view in today’s culture. Emphasize to your family that working with a right attitude is the goal the Lord sets before us. List some simple tasks and scenarios that take place in your home. (Folding laundry, picking up spilled crayons, emptying the dishwasher, caring for a pet, doing homework, cooking food, etc.) Choose two family members to role-play those tasks twice—once to demonstrate a poor attitude while doing it and once to demonstrate a good attitude.

Going through the motions but doing so with a bad attitude is not as pleasing to the one for which you do it. 

If dad complained while helping you pick up the crayons you spilled, how would you feel?

If mom only talked about how hard it was to cook supper and how she wished she could just let you eat cereal for every meal, how would you feel as you at the meal? 

We all need to think about this as we serve the Lord. Do we do so with a thankful heart for all He has done?  Let’s all have an attitude check this week as we submit to the Lord and live for Him.

Story Starters

Choose one of the story starters below and complete the story—with a good and bad ending. First, ask the kids to complete the story with an example of what might have happened if the main character(s) did NOT listen to the person in charge. Then complete the story with the character(s) submitting to the authority.

Greta’s class went to the zoo. Mrs. Jones told the class to stay together, but the cute koalas quickly distracted Greta. When she looked around, she couldn’t find her classmates.

Ben and Reggie went to the skating rink. They played tag with some other boys and were whizzing by the other skaters when the man in charge blew his whistle for them to slow down. Ben laughed and kept on racing around the rink.

Micah snuck into his mom’s closet where she hid his birthday gifts. She had warned him to stay out of her closet, but he paid no attention. When she found out that he had found them, she…

Read Romans 13:1. (Obey those in authority over you.)

Who are some people in authority over you?

Why is it hard to obey? (I want my own way; they want to spoil my fun; etc.)

When we obey those God has placed over us, we please Him.

If I Was the . . .

Encourage your family to use their imaginations to complete this thought:

If I was the . . . (principal, parent, store owner, coach, neighbor, etc.)

For example, someone might say, “If I was the parent I’d take away bedtimes and let kids go to bed whenever they want to.”

After each family member has a chance to make a statement, challenge the rest of the group to identify fun parts of that pretend scenario as well as problems it could create.

Sometimes we get frustrated following rules or having to do what we are told to do. It might be fun to imagine getting to be the boss or not having to follow orders.  But we need to remember that in real life, Jesus loves us so much that He knows we need some boundaries and rules. He knows what’s best, and when we submit to His ways we will live a better life than we can ever imagine.