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Flattening the pyramids – Family Activities

(Designed for parents to use around the dinner table, in the car, or at bedtime)

The Cold Marble Seats (Serving Each Other):In ancient Ephesus, rich people made their slaves sit on freezing cold marble toilet benches for an hour just to warm them up! Jesus came to show us a totally different way to treat people—where everyone is equal and loved. How can we use our hands to serve each other with kindness this week, instead of expecting others to serve us?
You’ve Already Passed (No Need to Prove Yourself):Simon shared a story about someone taking a huge PhD exam, but before it even started, the examiners said: “You’ve already passed!” Did you know that God’s love is just like that? You don’t have to perform or be perfect to earn His love; He already loves and accepts you as His child. How does knowing you are already loved make you feel when you face a tough day at school or work?
Burning the Bad Stuff (Making a Clean Break):In Acts 19, when people in Ephesus decided to follow Jesus, they brought all their bad sorcery books together and burned them in a big public bonfire to start fresh. Is there an unkind habit, a bad attitude, or something on a screen that God might be asking us to throw away or turn off so we can follow Jesus cleanly?

The Concept: A fun, practical challenge based on the Ephesus story to help kids and parents experience serving one another as equals in God’s family.
How to Do It:
1. The Secret Servant Cards: Write out 3–4 “Act of Service” cards for each family member (e.g., “Make a hot drink / get a snack for someone,” “Tidy up someone else’s shoes,” “Set the dinner table so someone else can rest”).
2. The Rules: Everyone draws a secret name. Throughout the week, your job is to perform a secret act of service for that person—treating them like royalty.
3. The Chat: At the end of the week, talk together about how Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and how the Holy Spirit helps us build a home and world without “pyramids”.