Lesson Learned: We must not ignore those that need help, even if we don’t like that person.
Materials Needed: stuffed animal, bandage or athletic tape
Bible Verse:
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Talking Points: Jesus shared a parable (story) in the Bible to show us how we should love all people. He talks about how there was a man who was badly hurt, and he was laying on the ground near a road and couldn’t get up. One man walks by and totally ignores him because he thinks the man lying there must be a bad person. Another person walks by and does the same thing. This is not how Jesus wants us to respond. If we see someone in need, He wants us to help them, even if we don’t like that person. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor, and that means everyone.
Questions: Do you like to help people? Why or why not? Why is hard for you to help people sometimes? What do you like about helping your mommy or daddy?
Activity:
Lay the stuffed animal on the ground and pretend he is hurt. Reenact the story of the Good Samaritan. Walk by the stuff animal a few times and pretend you don’t see it. Let the child walk by it and encourage him/her to ask the animal how it is doing and let him/her bandage up the stuffed animals leg or arm.
Song to Sing:
This is my commandment,
That you love one another,
That your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full.
This is my commandment,
That you love one another,
That your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are so glad you take care of us and watch us over us. Help us to love our neighbors like you command! Amen!