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 on the previous lessons about Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told the parable to answer a question from an expert in the Jewish law about who our neighbor is. The parable shows us that our neighbor is not limited to those who we like and are similar to us but includes those who are different; in other words, anyone and everyone is our neighbor!

At Quantum Labs, Gears and Widget are on the official welcoming committee and must greet two new robots who will arrive. Gears and Widget discover that the new visitors have a different way of communicating. Gears decides to give up, but Widget finds a way to communicate and make the new bots feel welcome. Today’s lesson is finding different ways to communicate God’s love and acceptance to others who may seem different than us.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.

Optional Opening Game

Each of you has a set of cards with the top and bottom of a robot. Have fun matching the top and bottom of each robot. Allow time for children to match their cards. Be ready to assist as necessary.

When the children have finished, congratulate them for their accomplishment.

Now, instruct children to have fun mismatching the cards to create different robots. Allow children to share their new creations!

Optional: If you have extra time at the end of the lesson, mix all of the pieces up in a pile and have the children work together to make matches for all of the robots.

Conclusion: Was it fun to create your own robots? Even when the robots looked different on the outside, they were still robots. Even though people may look, talk, and act differently, or if they like different things, they are still God’s children created by Him. God chose to create us all differently. No two people are exactly the same. I think God probably had a lot of fun creating us differently. Because everyone is created by God, we should show kindness and love to all people even when they are different than you.

Video Lesson

The Good Samaritan

In today’s video, Jesus tells a story called a parable to teach us to show love and mercy to everyone.

Play Video (Bible story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

A man asked Jesus, “Who is my Neighbor?” Jesus told a type of story called a parable to answer the man’s question.

There was a Jewish man who was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

It was dangerous to travel on this road because there were often bandits or robbers there.

They would often hide behind rocks and then jump out and surprise people as they walked on the road. This is what happened to the Jewish traveler.

Not only did they rob him, but they also beat him and took his clothes! Then the robbers left him beside the road. Do you remember who walked on the same road and saw the injured man? A priest.

Yes, a priest serves God in the temple. He would know that God wants us to show His love, mercy and kindness to others. Did the priest do this? No, he walked by and left him beside the road.

Even worse, he crossed to the other side of the road to avoid him! That’s not how to show God’s love!

Then another Jewish man who worked in the temple did the same thing! He saw the man and crossed to the other side of the road! Do you think God was pleased with the two men? No!

Certainly not! These two men refused to help a man from their own country!

Then a Samaritan man rode his donkey along the same road and saw the man. The Samaritans and Jews did not like each other, in fact, they hated each other. So, it would not be a surprise if the Samaritan man crossed to the other side of the road too! Maybe he even told his donkey to go faster! Did he do that? No, he got off his donkey and put oil and bandages on his cuts and bruises.

The Samaritan man was very different but he chose to show God’s love and mercy to his enemy! He didn’t stop there, he even put the injured man on his donkey, took him to an inn, and gave the innkeeper money for a room and to take care of him.

Jesus then asked, who was the good neighbor? What’s the answer? The Samaritan.

Jesus then said to go and show mercy to others.

That is what Jesus wants us to do. How can we show God’s love and mercy to others, especially those who are different than us? Let’s discuss some different ways now.

Discuss as many scenarios as time allows from the list below, then add your own!

Read each scenario and ask for how you might show God’s love, mercy, and kindness to someone.

· A visitor comes to church and doesn’t know anyone. Say hello and tell the visitor your name. Invite the visitor to sit beside you and introduce the child to other children.

· Someone is alone on the playground while everyone else seems to be playing together. Invite the child to play with you and with others.

· A child or adult is carrying something with both hands and won’t be able to open a door. Open the door for the person.

· A child is having a tough time and is sad or maybe crying. Ask if he/she is ok or would like to talk to you, or to a teacher or adult. Be a good listener and ask if you can pray with him/her.

· A child has fallen on the playground and is hurt. Help the child up—but if the child is badly hurt, find a teacher or other adult to help the child.

There are many different ways to show God’s love and kindness to others. Pray and ask God to help you each day to find ways to be a good neighbor, especially those who are different!

Object to Go

Hold out your hands with fingers spread apart or hold up the Hands Image. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● I would like everyone to please hold out your hands like this. Children respond.

● Let’s count together to ten on our fingers. Watch me and we will wiggle each finger as we count. Everyone counts to ten.

● Good job everyone! You can put your hands down now. What are some things you can do with your hands? Write, color, pick up things, catch a ball, hold things, wave, etc.

● In the next video, two new robots who visit Quantum Labs do something important with their hands. Do you think they feed a pet, make a finger painting, talk with their hands, or dig a hole to plant a flower? Children guess.

● Let’s watch the video to see if someone guessed correctly!

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

Play Video (A Sign of Friendship)

A Sign of Friendship

After the video, ask the following discussion questions:

● Who was afraid of meeting new people? Widget.

● What do Gears and Ollie both have that is different than the other robots? Wheels for feet.

● How do the new robots communicate differently? With their hands, they use sign language.

● Raise your hand if you guessed the new robots talked with their hands. Children respond.

● Why was it difficult for Widget to use sign language? She doesn’t have hands.

● Widget wouldn’t give up! What did she do to welcome the new bots? She learned sign language and projected a video of two hands.

● What did the new bots like that was different about Gears? His lightbulb.

Optional Activity

Have a person who knows sign language teach the children how to sign “Hello” and a few other words. You may also have the person sign the words to “Jesus Loves Me” as the children sing the song.

Optional Activity

Widget chose to find a way to talk with the new robots even though they communicated in a different way. Gears decided to give it another try too! Because they didn’t give up, the robots felt welcome and loved. Now let’s learn to communicate in a different way! Let’s say hello or good morning in some different languages.

Slowly say each greeting and have the children repeat it together, repeat again. Choose as many as from the list below and add others as desired! If any children in the class speak a different language, ask them to share and teach that greeting.

United States: Hello

China: Ni hao

Japan: Konnichiwa

Germany: Guten-tag

Spain: Hola

India: Namaste

Africa (Swahili): Jambo

Argentina: Buenos Dias

France: Bonjour

Ukraine: Pryvit

Israel: Shalom

Italy: Ciao

Russia: Dobre Dyen

Optional: After learning the greetings, say a country and ask children if they can remember how to say hello in the language for that country.

Jesus accepts and welcomes all people into His kingdom, no matter where they live and what language they speak. To be like Jesus, you must accept and welcome others, no matter how different they may seem to you.

Verse to GO!

Romans 2:11 (CEV)

Today’s Bible memory verse is Romans 2:11.  Say the memory verse slowly.

“God doesn't have any favorites!”

Let’s learn the verse together using some motions.

Stand facing the children and lead them in to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.

God … point to Heaven.

Doesn’t have any favorites… Shake head back and forth no, stretch arms wide to each side (to welcome everyone).

Repeat slowly a few more times.

What is your favorite game to play? Children respond.

What is your favorite animal? Children respond.

What is your favorite song? Children respond.

Yes, we all have favorite things, and we may even have favorite friends or family that we like spending time with just a little more than others.

But, God doesn’t have favorites. He loves everyone in the world the same way and loves to spend time with all of us, like when we pray or sing praises to Him. He sent His Son Jesus to die for everyone so our sins could be forgiven. That’s good news, isn’t it?

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.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson in a simple prayer to encourage the children to accept others as Christ accepted us.

For example: Dear God, Jesus accepted us and died for us on the cross. Help us to accept others, especially those who seem different to us, and show the love of Jesus to them. In His 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 motions as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “Good Neighbor” under Resources.

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.

Sing the chorus together each time:

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.

Good Neighbor

Singing Activity

Singing Activity

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Lead the children in singing the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” with motions.

Jesus loves the little children… point up to sky then place hands over heart.
All the children of the world… Hold both arms out to side then form a circle for world.

Stranger, friend, and neighbor too… hold one hand up and count to three with fingers, (one finger each: stranger, friend and neighbor)

He loves them all…(He) point up, (loves) hands over heart, (all) both arms out to side,

As He loves you... (He) point up, loves (hands over heart), (you) point to each other.

Jesus loves the little children of the world… point up and place hands over heart.

Optional: for additional verses, replace “Jesus loves the little children” with:

Verse 2: Jesus died for all the children… form a cross extending arms to each side.

Verse 3: Jesus rose for all the children... move the arms from the sides upward until they are straight toward the sky.

* “Jesus Loves the Little Children” was written by C. Herbert Woolston (1856—1927). The tune was composed by George F. Root. Link to the modern lyrics: https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/8x24cd/inclusive_lyrics_to_jesus_loves_the_little/

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● What were the names of the two new robots? Ollie and Jude.

● What did Gears do when he discovered the new robots talked in a different way? He started to leave; he gave up.

● Can anyone say something using sign language? Children respond.

● Can anyone say “Hello” in a different language? Children respond.

Even when it is hard to find the right words to say, we can always show God’s love and acceptance by showing kindness to others.

Game

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game Mix and Match at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game The Same but Different from Lesson 1. 

Play the game Love Sticks from Lesson 2. 

Play the game Match Differences from Lesson 3. 

Play the game Let's Roll from Lesson 4.