LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by robbers who beat him, stole his clothes, and left him wounded on the road. Two religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, saw the injured man but crossed to the other side of the road without helping. They chose to ignore someone in desperate need.
Then a Samaritan man came along. Samaritans and Jews typically did not associate with each other, yet this Samaritan stopped to help. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. He even promised to return and pay any additional expenses. Through this story, Jesus teaches that being a good neighbor means showing compassion and helping anyone in need, regardless of differences. We need one another, and Jesus calls us to treat others the way we want to be treated.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15-10:30 | Good Samaritan Playdoh Mat
Items Needed
- Good Samaritan Playdoh Mat
- Playdoh
Give each child a laminated mat showing the injured man on the road. Provide Playdoh and encourage children to use it to create bandages to place over the man’s wounds. Then have them create a Good Samaritan figure using playdoh to stand next to the hurt man, showing how he came to help. As children work, talk about how the Good Samaritan was kind and helped someone who was hurt. Ask questions like, “What is the Good Samaritan doing?” and “How can we help people who are hurt?” This hands-on sensory activity allows children to engage with the story while developing fine motor skills and practicing the concept of caring for others.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30-10:40 | Building Kindness
Memory Verse: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31 (ESV)
Items Needed:
- Large cardboard boxes
- Bible verse written on paper strips, one word per strip
- Tape
Description of How to Do It: Tape each word of the memory verse onto a separate block. Scatter the blocks around the room. Have children work together to find all the blocks, bring them to a central location, and stack them in the correct order while you guide them. Once the verse is built, have them knock it down and rebuild it, saying the verse together each time. This hands-on game reinforces verse order and teamwork.
MEMORY VERSE MOTIONS
“Do to others” Point both hands outward toward others
“as you would have them” Point both thumbs back toward yourself
“do to you.” Bring hands back to heart/chest and pat gently
SONG 10:40-10:50
BIBLE STORY 10:50-11:00 a.m.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? The Book of Luke!
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? New Testament!
There was a man walking on a road. Can everyone stand up and march in place like you’re walking? [Stand and march] Good marching! This man was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho. That’s a long walk! Let’s march, march, march! [March together for a few seconds]
[Suddenly use a concerned voice] Oh no! Something bad happened! Some robbers came! The robbers were NOT nice. They hurt the man. The robbers took his clothes and left him lying on the road. [Sit down] The man was hurt and needed help!
But guess what? Someone came walking down the road! It was a priest, a leader from the temple. Can you say “priest”? [Wait for response] Let’s march like the priest! [March]
Do you think the priest stopped to help? [Pause dramatically] NO! The priest looked at the hurt man… [Put hand above eyes like looking] and walked right past him on the other side of the road! [Walk to the side] He didn’t help. Should he have helped? [Wait for responses – children will likely say yes] Yes! That wasn’t kind.
[Sit back down, then stand with renewed excitement] Then ANOTHER person came down the road! This was a Levite, another temple helper. Can you say “Levite”? [Wait for response] Let’s march like the Levite! [March in place]
Do you think the Levite stopped to help? [Pause] NO! He looked at the hurt man [put hand above eyes] and walked right past him too! [Walk to the side] He didn’t help either! That’s not kind! Can you shake your head “no”? [Shake head]
[Use a bright, happy voice] But THEN… someone else came down the road! This man was from Samaria. We call him the Good Samaritan! Can you say “Samaritan”? [Wait for response] Good! He was riding on a donkey. Can everyone make donkey ears with your hands? [Put hands on head like ears] Let’s say “hee-haw” like a donkey! [Let kids make donkey sounds]
The Good Samaritan saw the hurt man lying on the road. [Sit down] Did he walk past like the others? [Pause for responses] NO! He STOPPED! [Use emphatic, kind voice] He wanted to help!
The Good Samaritan got off his donkey [stand up] and went over to the hurt man. He took out bandages and put them on the man’s ouchies. Can you pretend to wrap a bandage on your arm? [Demonstrate wrapping motion] Wrap, wrap, wrap! [Wait for children to copy] Good job being gentle!
Then do you know what he did? He helped the man get on his donkey! Let’s pretend to help someone stand up. Reach out your hands like this. [Extend hands] Very gentle! He put the man on the donkey and they went clip-clop, clip-clop down the road. Can you pat your legs like a horse running? [Pat legs] Clip-clop, clip-clop!
[Sit down and use a caring voice] The Good Samaritan took the hurt man to an inn. That’s like a hotel where people sleep. He gave the man a bed to rest in. Let’s pretend to sleep. [Put hands together by cheek] Shhhhh! The man could rest and get better!
The Good Samaritan even gave money to the innkeeper. Can you pretend to put coins in someone’s hand? [Demonstrate] He paid for the room! He said, “Take care of this man. If it costs more money, I’ll pay when I come back!” Wasn’t that SO kind? Can you give yourself a hug for being kind? [Hug self]
[Stand up with an enthusiastic voice] Jesus told this story to teach us something important! We should help people who need help! We should be kind! We should treat others the way we want to be treated!
If you were hurt, would you want someone to help you? [Wait for responses] Yes! So we should help others too! Let’s all stand up and give our friends a high five! [Give high fives] We can help each other! God wants us to be good neighbors and help anyone who needs help!
Let’s all say together: “I can help!” Ready? 1, 2, 3… [Have children say it] “I CAN HELP!”
Discussion Questions
Theological Questions:
- Who did Jesus say we should help? (Everyone who needs help! Anyone!)
- Does God want us to be kind or unkind? (Kind! God wants us to help others!)
Life Application Questions:
- Who can you help this week at home or at church? (Accept any reasonable answers – sibling, parent, friend, teacher)
- What are some ways you can be a good helper? (Sharing toys, helping clean up, giving hugs, being gentle)
Closing Prayer
[Have children fold their hands]
“Dear God, thank You for teaching us to help others. Help us to be kind and good neighbors like the Good Samaritan. Amen!”
[Everyone says “AMEN!” loudly together]
BIBLE CRAFT 11:00-11:15 a.m.
Craft 1: Good Samaritan Helping Hands
Items Needed:
- Construction paper (various colors)
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers (bandages, hearts)
- Glue sticks
- Child-safe scissors (teacher use)
Description: Trace each child’s hand on construction paper and cut it out. Write “I Can Help!” at the top. Let children decorate their handprint with stickers and drawings of ways they can help others (heart stickers, bandage stickers, smiley faces). Talk about how our hands can help people. These can be taken home as reminders to be helpful.
BIBLE MOVIE AND SNACK
Provide each kid a snack and play the Bible story video.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Luke 10:25-37 (KJV)
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
COLORING PAGE
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway
Helping Others
What I Learned Today
Today we learned about the Good Samaritan who helped a hurt man on the road. Jesus wants us to be kind and help others when they need us. We should treat people the way we want to be treated.
Questions to Ask Me
Theological Questions:
- Who told the story about the Good Samaritan? (Jesus)
- What did the priest do when he saw the hurt man? (He walked past and didn’t help)
- What did the Levite do when he saw the hurt man? (He also walked past and didn’t help)
- Who stopped to help the hurt man? (The Good Samaritan)
- Does Jesus want us to help people or ignore them? (Help people!)
Life Application Questions:
- How did the Good Samaritan help the hurt man? (He bandaged his wounds, put him on his donkey, took him to an inn, and paid for his care)
- What are some ways you can help people at home? (Answers will vary: help clean up, share toys, be kind to siblings, help set the table)
- What can you do if you see someone who is sad or hurt? (Be kind, tell a grown-up, give them a hug, try to help)
- Who can you help this week? (Answers will vary: family members, friends, teachers)
- How do you feel when someone helps you? (Happy, thankful, loved)