Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “Good Neighbor.”

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the lesson from Lesson 1 about The Good Samaritan. Jesus told a powerful parable about a Samaritan man who showed compassion and mercy to a Jewish traveler who had been robbed and wounded by bandits. Children will learn the importance of showing God’s love to others, regardless of how different they seem.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation

Optional Opening Game

Does anyone remember from the last lesson who Jesus said is our neighbor? Everyone!

Even if someone is different than us? Yes!

Point to the poster. In this game, you will each have a chance to give love and kindness to a neighbor by sticking a heart on the person like this. Stick a heart on the neighbor.

When it is your turn, I will put a ring of tape on the back of a heart.

Then I will place a blindfold on you. Try your best not to peek!

You will carefully walk to the wall and try to place the heart on the neighbor. Once you have stuck your heart on the neighbor, you may take the blindfold off and look at the tree to see where you put it.

Play until all children have taken a turn. Remove the hearts and play again if time permits.

Note: If a child misses the neighbor, gently guide them to stand in front of the poster and try again.

Jesus tells us in the Bible to treat others as we would like to be treated. That means looking for ways we can help others to show love and kindness in all we do and say.

Video Lesson

In this lesson, we will learn the importance of showing God’s love to others.

Let’s watch our Bible story to see who showed God’s love to someone who was very different.

Play Video (Bible story)

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

Teaching Time

The Good Samaritan

Text: Luke 10:25-37

Stand the nine bags in order (1–9) in a row on the table from left to right.

Choose one volunteer and give them the #1 bag. The child will remove the item and hold it up for all to see. Ask the children to raise their hand if they think they know how the item was important or what it represents in the parable Jesus told. Continue this way for each bag in order. Discuss the items and add information with the children’s help to progress through the entire parable.

Bag #1: Dirt and stones—A Jewish man traveled on a road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30).

Bag #2: Bandana or Mask—Suddenly robbers appeared on the road (Luke 10:30).

Bag #3: Torn cloth—The robbers attacked the man and stole his clothes (Luke 10:30).

Bag #4: Scroll—A Jewish priest and then a Jewish temple assistant walked by the man but did not stop to help him (Luke 10:31-32).

Bag #5: Bandage—A Samaritan walked on the same road. He stopped to care for the injured man (Luke 10:33-34).

Bag #6: Donkey—The Samaritan man even placed the Jewish man on his own donkey (Luke 10: 34).

Bag #7: Bed—The Samaritan man took the injured man to an inn to rest and heal (Luke 10:34-35).

Bag #8. Silver coins—The Samaritan man paid the innkeeper for the room and to continue to care for the injured Jewish man (Luke 10:35).

Bag #9: Heart—This heart represents being a good neighbor by showing God’s love and forgiveness to others—even those who may seem different. Jesus forgave us for our sins and showed mercy to us when He died on the cross, even though we didn’t deserve it! Jesus ended his parable by saying it is our turn now to show God’s love and mercy to others. (Luke 10:36-37).

Object to Go

Hold up the popcorn or show the image. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● Do you know what this is? Popcorn!

● Raise your hand if you have ever eaten popcorn. Children respond.

● What are some places you might see popcorn popping? Home, movie theater, fair or carnival, amusement park, (sports) game.

● Do you like butter on your popcorn? Children respond.

● In today’s video, who do you think is making popcorn, Miss Tina, Gears, Gizmo, Rig, or Widget? Children guess.

● I think one or more of you guessed correctly! Let’s watch the video now to find out!

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Today, we are going to catch up with the robots at the movies. One robot is late and looks a little strange; let’s find out who.

Play Video (Wax On, Wax On)

Wax On, Wax On

● Hold up the popcorn from Object to Go! Who was making popcorn in the video? Miss Tina.

● Raise your hand if you guessed correctly. Children respond.

● How was Rig different? He was orange.

● Miss Tina said it didn’t matter that Rig was a different color. Why did it not matter? He was still Rig.

● Why had Rig’s color changed to orange? He put wax on and forgot to remove it.

Whether Rig was red, green, purple, orange, or blue, he was still the same Rig. God made everyone different and special. Even if a person’s skin color, language, clothes, or actions may be different, we need to show them love and kindness. God loves everyone, and we should too!

Verse to GO!

Romans 15:7: (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Romans 15:7: (NLT)

Verse to Go

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

Raise your hand if you were here last time when we learned the first part of the memory verse, “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you.” Children respond.

Let’s learn the second part of the verse together with actions.

So that God… With one hand, point to the sky and look up.

Will be given glory… Look up, smile, and applaud.

Repeat this 2–3 times slowly.

Optional: add the first part of the verse and repeat 2–3 times.

Are you ready to do the first part of the memory verse from last time? Children respond.

Therefore, accept each other… Hold arms in front of you to welcome and hug someone.

Just as Christ has accepted you… Point to the sky, hold your arms out as before and point to yourself with one hand. Optional: point to another person with the other hand.

So that God… With one hand, point to the sky and look up.

will be given glory… Look up, smile, and applaud.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse. They may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand its meaning and that giving God glory means honoring Him and giving Him thanks and praise.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson in a simple prayer to encourage children to accept and show mercy to others.

For example: Dear God, thank You for showing us mercy and dying on the cross to forgive our sins. Help us to show love and mercy to all people, even if they may seem different from us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Good Neighbor

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

Create your own motions or use the suggested ones in the Quantum Karaoke, “Good Neighbor,” under Resources, or “Extras!" in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “Good Neighbor.”

Encourage the children to sing with Miss Tina and the robots and imitate their moves as they perform in the talent show.

Good Neighbor

Sing the chorus together:

Anytime you fall… Everyone crouches down.

I will be your good neighbor… Stand up straight and point around the room to others like Miss Tina and the robots do.

Singing Activity

Lead the children in singing the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Additional instructions are located in the previous lesson here.

Take-Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

● Who is the man with the donkey in this picture? The (Good) Samaritan.

● Were Samaritans and Jewish people close friends? No, they were enemies; they didn’t like each other. They thought they were better than each other.

● Why is the Jewish man on the ground? He was attacked by robbers.

● Was the Samaritan man the first person to see the Jewish man after he was robbed? No, a priest and temple assistant saw him first; two Jewish men.

● Did the priest and temple assistant help the injured man? No, they walked past him.

● Who was a good neighbor to the injured man? The (Good) Samaritan.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for RIG, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain to the children that there is a different trading card for each of the three lessons, so if they come back to Sunday school each week, they can collect all three! The last time was THE WIND-UP ROBOT—ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES card and the next time will be the RIG character card.