Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the lesson from the previous two lessons about a parable Jesus taught to answer a question posed to him by a Jewish lawyer. Jesus tells the story of The Good Samaritan, who showed mercy to a Jewish man who was very different than himself. The Samaritan’s acts of compassion and kindness stand in stark contrast to a Jewish priest and Levite who chose to ignore the injured man—a fellow Jew! Children will learn that everyone, even those who are different, must be shown love and mercy.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted.

Good Neighbor

Optional Opening Game

Shuffle the cards and place them face down on the table in four rows of four cards.

God created us all to be very different and special. We look different on the outside, and we each have different abilities and talents. But one thing is always the same: God created everyone in this world, and He loves us all the same!

In this game, we will match cards that are the same in some ways and different in others.

Have the first player go to the table to select a card and hold it up for all to see.

Identify what the item is specifically and generally. For example, say: What is this? A banana.

What is a banana? A fruit.

Now, pick one more card to try and find a different type of fruit.

The eight categories are coins, fruit, musical instruments, trees, balls, birds, pets, and games.

For each card match, lead a short discussion. For example:

These cards are both a type of fruit, but they also are different. Can you name some ways they are different? Different shapes, different tastes, different colors, grow on different trees.

Can you name some other different kinds of fruit? Children respond.

Some people like bananas, and some prefer apples. Some people like both!

Repeat in this way for each match as time permits.

Leave all selected cards face up to make the game easier or to save time.

Option: To make the game harder, turn the cards face-down in the same locations when a match isn't found.

Conclusion: What if all fruit looked and tasted the same? What if every instrument made the same sound? What if we all liked the same things, talked, walked, and dressed alike? What if we all had the same abilities and strengths? Life wouldn’t be as fun and interesting, would it?

Differences don’t make someone better or more important. We were created by God to be different and unique. He made all kinds of animals, plants, and colors for us to enjoy.

Close the game in a short prayer. For example: Dear God, we praise You for all of the amazing and different things You have created in this world. Help us to show Your love to everyone we meet, no matter how different they may seem. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Video Lesson

The Good Samaritan

In this lesson, we will learn the importance of showing God’s love to others, even those who are different. Let’s watch today’s Bible story to see who received kindness from a stranger.

Play Video (Bible Story)

The Good Samaritan

Teaching Time

● Jesus told a parable to show us who our neighbor is. It’s a very famous story. Who remembers the name of the story? The Good Samaritan.

● There was once a Jewish man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Walk in place.

● The road was very dusty. Brush off arms and legs.

● The road had rocks to jump over and to walk around. Jump and step around rocks.

● The road was dangerous, and there was one more thing travelers had to watch for. Make circles with your thumbs and fingers like binoculars, and move your head from side to side.

● What should the man be watching for? Robbers!

● Robbers hid behind rocks and jumped out. Crouch down and jump forward.

● What did the robbers do to the Jewish man? They beat him up and robbed him.

● The robbers took the man’s money and even his clothes and ran away. Run in place.

● Was the man okay? No, he was badly hurt.

● A while later, a Jewish priest walked down the road by the injured man. He will help, right? Hold your head in the air with hands folded in prayer, and walk in place.

● The injured man groaned in pain. Groan.

● What did the priest do? The priest walked away and did not help him!

● Do you think that is being a good neighbor and showing God’s love? Children respond.

● The injured man groaned even louder in pain! Groan louder.

● Then, a Jewish temple assistant walked on the road toward the injured traveler.

● Was he a good neighbor? What did he do? He walked past the man.

● He kept walking and did not stop to help the man, even though he was from the same country! Walk in place, stop, look down, shake your head "no," and then quickly walk in place again.

● The injured man groaned even louder in pain. Groan louder.

● Then, another man rode his donkey toward the injured man. Hold reins and bounce up and down as if riding a donkey.

● Was this man Jewish? No!

● What was the man? A Samaritan.

● Did Jews and Samaritans like each other? No!

● But what did the Samaritan do? Pull the reins back and say, “Whoa.” Bend over and look down.

● How did the Samaritan feel about the Jewish man who was hurt? He felt sad for him; he cared about him.

● The Samaritan put oil on his cuts and bruises and put bandages on them, too. That’s how people took care of injuries back then! Make pouring and wiping motions, then a circular wrapping motion.

● Did the Samaritan leave the injured man on the side of the road? No!

● What did the Samaritan do next? Children respond.

● He helped the Jewish man onto his own donkey and traveled to an inn. Make a lifting motion and then walk in place.

● What did the Samaritan do at the inn? Children respond.

● He took care of the man, then gave the innkeeper two silver coins to take care of him.

● Even though the Samaritan was very different than the Jewish man, he cared for the Jewish man and showed him God’s love.

● After Jesus told this parable, what did He tell everyone to do? Children respond.

● Jesus told everyone to do the same thing! Now it is our turn to love others even when they are different and to show them God’s mercy and kindness.

Close your eyes and think of someone that may be difficult for you to show kindness and love to. Now, keep your eyes closed and silently ask God to help you be kind and show God’s love even when it isn’t easy.

Object to GO!

Hold up the taped box or image and lead a short discussion:

● Shake the box. Hmmm, what do you think is inside this box? Children respond.

● Why can’t we know for sure? It isn’t open; it’s closed; it's taped shut.

● Was there ever a time you were given a closed box to open; if so, when? On my birthday, on Christmas, when a grandparent or relative visited.

● It isn’t easy to have something you are excited about in a box when you can’t open it—even if you know what's inside! In today’s video, one of the robots is excited about not only one box but three boxes that have never been opened. Do you think it is Gears, Gizmo, Rig, or Widget? Children guess.

● Good guesses! Let’s watch the video to see who can’t wait to open some boxes!

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

Today we are going to visit Quantum labs, where one of the robots is super excited to see something that Miss Tina is bringing. 

Play Video (Still In the Box)

Still In the Box

Optional discussion following the video. 

● Raise your hand if you guessed that Gears was the one who was so excited. Children respond.

● What was Gears excited to see? Miss Tina’s Protonatron figures that weren’t in his collection.

● Why was Gears surprised when he saw Miss Tina’s collection? The figures were still in the (shipping) boxes. You could not see the figures.

● What did Miss Tina call the condition of her boxed figures? Extra mint condition.

● Even though Gears and Miss Tina had different ways of collecting the Protonatron figures, were they both still fans? Yes.

Gizmo told Gears that sometimes people do things differently. Just because we think differently or do something differently doesn’t mean we can’t love them. We must learn to treat others the same way that we would like to be treated—with love and respect.

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 the phrases and imitating the motions.

In the last two lessons, we practiced the memory verse in two parts. Today, we will put the two parts together and say the whole verse. If this is your first time hearing the verse, no problem! We will go slowly and have fun learning it together!

All right then, let’s get started!

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

Romans 15:7:

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.

Repeat this 2–3 times slowly.

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

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage children to be kind to everyone—even those who may seem different from us.

For example: Dear God, help us to pay attention to others who may need help so we can show them Your love and kindness—even to people who may seem different to us. Thank You for Your mercy, love, and forgiveness that You show us every day! In Jesus’ loving 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.”

Good Neighbor

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

Sing the chorus together:

Anytime you fall down… 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 in this picture you are coloring? Good Samaritan, innkeeper, injured (Jewish) man.

● What is a story like the one Jesus told called? A parable.

● Do you remember what city the man was traveling to? Jericho.

● Who were the men that did not stop to help the injured man? The priest and temple assistant.

● Why was it especially surprising that they didn’t help the injured man? They were all from the same country. They were all Jewish. A priest should know to show God’s love to others.

● What did the Good Samaritan give to the innkeeper? Two silver coins; money to take care of the man.

● Who is our neighbor? Everyone.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for THE GOOD SAMARITAN, 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! (Last time was the RIG card, and before that was THE WIND-UP ROBOT-ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES card.)