Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

In today’s Bible story, the bots learn how four men showed kindness to a friend by bringing him to Jesus. This man was healed by Jesus and also received something even more valuable! Children will learn the importance of showing kindness to others as Jesus shows kindness to us every day!

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

Optional Opening Game

Let’s play a fun game that will get us up and moving around to begin today’s lesson. In this game, you will work together to build a tower with the blocks.

Have children form a line next to the pile of blocks. One child at a time will pick up a block and travel (see options below) to the table to build a tower. Once a block is placed for the tower, the next child takes a turn and carefully places a block on top of the first block until all the children have taken a turn. If the tower falls before it is completed, you can assist the child at the table to reconstruct it.

Optional: Announce how each child will travel to the table with a block: skip, hop on one leg, hop on two legs, tiptoe, walk backward, walk sideways, balance the block on two fingers or on top of the head, etc.

When the tower is complete, the children can celebrate together. Then, tell the children that you are going to knock the tower down. Ask the children how it felt to see the tower grow taller, and then ask how it felt to see it knocked down.

If time permits, have the children return the blocks to the pile. Repeat the game with children carrying two blocks to the table to build a tower with blocks side by side and continue as high as it can go before toppling.

Conclusion: You worked together to build an awesome, tall tower. Then I knocked it down. In our video today, Miss Tina will talk about making choices to build up or tear down. For now, it’s time to see what the Object to Go is for today.

Object to GO!

If you don’t have a watering can, make a copy of the Watering Can Image in color or black and white. If using the image, you will not need the table, bowl, or towel.

Place the bowl on the table. Hold up the watering can or image and discuss using the questions and comments below. Adjust the dialogue accordingly if only using the image.

● Stand up if you have ever seen something like this. Children respond.

● Shake the can. Did you hear that? What do you think is inside? Water.

● Let’s see what’s inside. Pour some water into the bowl.

● It is water! That’s why it is called a watering can.

● In the video, Miss Tina uses a watering can to pour water on something. What do you think it is, a seed, a tree, or a flower? Children respond.

● Let’s watch our video to find out the answer.

Play Video (Kindness is No Joke)

Kindness is No Joke

Optional Discussion:

● What was Miss Tina surprised to hear Gizmo doing? Talking to the plants.

● What was Gizmo saying to the plants? Kind things.

● What happened when Gizmo said kind things to a plant named Moira? A flower bloomed (yellow rose).

● What did Gizmo think might happen if people were treated with kindness like plants? Flowers would grow from their ears or noses.

● What did Miss Tina say happens when you say something kind to someone? They can feel happier. They can feel better and look brighter.

● What can happen when you say something mean or unkind to someone? It can make them feel bad, unhappy, or sad and tear them down.

● Please stand to your feet if you guessed Miss Tina used the watering can to water a flower. Children respond.

Miss Tina told us that we can build people up to help them feel good or use unkind words and actions to tear them down and make them feel unhappy or sad—just like in the game we played. Let’s choose to treat others with love and kindness and build people up, not tear them down! Remember, God forgave us, so we’re able to give kindness to everybody!

Video Lesson

Play Video (Bible Story Theme Song)

Bible Story Theme Song

Optional: Sing along and do the motions with Miss Tina for the Bible Story Theme Song.

“Have you heard the Word? Truth’s in the Word—oh!”

“Have you heard the Word? Truth’s in the Word—let’s go!”

It’s time for Miss Tina to share today’s Bible story with us! In today’s video, we will see how four men show kindness to another man by bringing him to see Jesus.

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Jesus Heals and Forgives a Man Who Is Paralyzed

Text: Luke 5:17–26; Mark 2:1–12

Teaching Time

Assign children to play the different roles. Adjust the number of actors based on the class size and the number of children who want to participate. The remainder of the children can be a part of the crowd or sit in the audience.

Place a table (house) in the presentation area, leaving several feet open around it.

Lay the sheets of poster board/cardboard (roof) across the tabletop.

Assist the actors with costumes and props as necessary.

Slowly read the Bible story as outlined below and pause to direct the actors before proceeding with the narration.

● Position the four friends and the “man” who is paralyzed on the mat behind the audience. Make sure there is room to one side of the audience to move the “man” on the mat to the house and behind the crowd.

● Jesus enters, walks to the table, and stands behind it. One day, Jesus went to a house in a town called Capernaum and began to teach about God. Jesus acts like teaching.

● Pharisees enter and stand near Jesus with stern, scowling faces. Some religious leaders called Pharisees came to hear Jesus.

● The crowd enters and stands in front of the table. When the people in the town heard where Jesus was, a large crowd came to the house.

● There were so many people that the house was full, and no one could even get to the door! The crowd stood, stretched, and tried to see Jesus. The crowd stands on tiptoes.

● There was a man who lived in Capernaum. He was paralyzed, which means he couldn’t move his legs to walk. He lay on his mat/bed all day!

● The man had four kind friends. The friends believed that if they could take the man to the house, Jesus could heal him so he could walk!

● The four men carefully drag the mat with the man on it behind the crowd. When the men arrived at the house, they discovered a big problem!

● The crowd was so big that they couldn’t get near the house to see Jesus!

● No one would let the men through to see Jesus! The crowd turns to the friends and say “NO” while shaking their heads.

● The four friends would not give up. They had to see Jesus!

● Suddenly, they had an idea. They would take the man on his mat to the roof of the house. Then they would lower him down to the room where Jesus was! The friends carefully drag the man to a side of the table.

● The four friends march in place. They slowly climbed the stairs to the top of the house; then they began to remove pieces of the roof! The men remove the posterboards from the table.

● Jesus was right below them! So they lowered the man on his mat down to Jesus! The men move the man on the mat beside Jesus.

● Jesus saw the friends’ kindness and their faith in Him to heal the man! Jesus looks at the four men, smiles, and then stoops down beside the man on his mat.

● Jesus looks at the paralyzed man. Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven!"

● The man on the mat smiled. But not everyone was happy!

● The Pharisees made angry faces and shook their fists. Only God can forgive sins, they shouted! If Jesus forgives sin, He must think He is God, and that can’t be true!

● Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking. He said, “Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or stand up and walk?”

● Jesus looks at the paralyzed man. Jesus said, “Stand up, take your mat, and go home!”

● The man jumped up, picked up his mat, and praised God as he walked away. The man jumps up and walks away, praising God and jumping up and down.

● The man’s friends and the crowd were amazed. They could hardly believe what had just happened! Everyone jumps up and down, hands raised, praising God!

The man’s friends showed love and kindness when they brought him to Jesus and refused to give up! Jesus showed the man love and kindness by not only healing him but by forgiving his sins, too! By doing both, Jesus proved to the Pharisees and the crowd that He is God’s Son, sent by God to save us from our sins!

Optional Review Questions

● How do you think the man was feeling as he was lowered down from the roof to Jesus? Scared, nervous, excited.

● Why were the Pharisees angry at Jesus? He said He forgave the man’s sins, which only God can do.

Verse to GO!

Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is Ephesians 4:32. Say the memory verse slowly.

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted.”  Ephesians 4:32

Let’s say it together this time. “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted.”

Good! Tenderhearted is a big word you might not know. To have a tender heart means showing others love and caring about their feelings.

Now, let’s learn the first part of the verse with some motions.

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

Be kind to each other… Slowly raise both arms from your side and extend them in front of you, palms up.

Tenderhearted… Smile and gently pat your heart with both hands.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

Can you think of some people in the Bible story that were kind and tenderhearted? Children respond.

Yes, the four men cared so much about their friend who couldn’t walk that they carried him to Jesus and tore the roof off so Jesus could see and heal him!

Remember, our God is tenderhearted toward us. He loves us and forgives us so we are able to give kindness to everybody.

Optional: Make sure the children understand what it means to be tenderhearted.

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 with a simple prayer to encourage the children to be kind.

For example: Dear Jesus, thank You for being kind to us every day so we can use kind actions and words to the people around us. In Jesus name, we pray, amen.

Music Time

Play the video song “Kind and Sweet.” Encourage children to sing the words and imitate the motions with Miss Tina and the Quantum Lab robots.

Sweet and Kind

Suggestion: at the end of the second chorus, after each of Gizmo and Miss Tina’s three statements, shout “Be Kind” with the children:

Gizmo: When you are hanging on a vine—Be kind!

Gizmo: When you are tied up in a bind—Be kind!

Gizmo: When you are feeling kind of tired because so many things are on your mind—Be kind!

Repeat in the same way with Miss Tina.

Take Home Coloring Page

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

● Why did the plant suddenly grow a beautiful flower? Gizmo said kind things to it.

● What color flowers have you seen on plants or bushes? Children respond.

● What is a kind thing you did or said to someone? Children respond.

● How do you feel inside when someone says or does a kind thing for you? Good, better, happy.

● How does Jesus show kindness to us? He loves us, forgives us, and heals us.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out a GizmoGO! Kindness Episode Card to each child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain 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! (Save the Paralyzed Man Bible Story Card and the Boomie Character Card to give out in Lessons 2 and 3.)

Lesson Wrap Up

WRAP-UP VIDEO:

Wrap Up

Optional Discussion Questions

● Gizmo said that he learned you can be kind by doing two things. Can you name them? 1. Using kind words. 2. Doing kind actions.

● What are some other ways that Miss Tina and Gizmo said we can show kindness to others? Pray for someone, forgive, share a toy, give a gift, say a kind word.

● What did Miss Tina say was the easiest way to be kind? To show God’s love to everyone around us.

SALVATION POEM:

Salvation Poem Intro

Salvation Poem Conclusion

Does everyone know who Jesus is? No.

What did Miss Tina say was one of the kindest things we can do for someone? Tell them about Jesus; take them to Jesus.

Raise your hand if you can think of someone to tell about Jesus. Children respond.

Gizmo and Miss Tina present the Gospel prior to singing the Salvation Poem.

Have the children bow their heads and close their eyes. Pray and give the children an opportunity to raise their hands if they would like to receive God’s salvation gift. Follow up after class with any child who raised their hand during the prayer.

Game

Play or repeat the optional opening game “Build Up or Tear Down” if time permits.