Being Challenge Kids: An 11-Day Challenge to Be Like JesusSample

Habit 1: Jesus Forms Friendships

When we think of Jesus, we think of a man who healed people, preached and taught, and did miracles. But most of His life, He was at home, with His family. He was helping with the family business, doing chores around the house, and spending time with His siblings and parents. So, he only spent three years of His 33-year life doing all the things we read about Jesus doing. This is an essential lesson for us to learn and understand.

Forming friendships is a “must-do” in life. We need others. Our joy comes from spending time with people: working and playing, eating and studying. We all need other people to join our lives.

When Jesus came to earth, He first committed to His family and His disciples and followers. Then, in His three-year ministry, the first thing He did was choose His disciples.

You could argue that out of anyone who has ever lived, Jesus may have been the one exception to the rule that we all need friends. Sometimes it appears, especially in the 12 disciples, that they slowed Him down. They didn’t learn quickly, and they didn’t always help Jesus. Sometimes they got in the way.

But Jesus found disciples because He knew that we are made to be together. So, even though He could have done a much better job without them, He chose to work with them, because it’s better to do things as a community. It’s good to do your learning as part of a group. We can help each other and encourage each other.

Challenge: When we form friendships, we start our own families. But often, it’s the hardest to show love to the people closest to us. So, commit to serving your family today by choosing one of the following challenges.

• Respecting their things and space - help mom with dishes or a sibling clean their room.
• Forgiving each other when we mess up - choose to let something go today.
• Serving one another - leave an encouraging note for someone.