Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.

Today’s lesson reinforces and expands on the previous lesson about thankfulness.

At the Gizmo Cave, the mayor has just awarded the superheroes a key to the city to show his thanks for stopping Professor Spectrum’s latest evil plot. But this is no time to rest on their laurels! Professor Spectrum is at it again! Instead of being thankful for the toys he has, he wants to own all the toys in the world. And to make things worse, he just stole little Timmy’s collectible Protonatron figure!

Back at Quantum Labs, Miss Tina shares a Bible story about ten men with leprosy. The outcast men cry out to Jesus for mercy, and He performs a miracle to heal them. The sad part of this story is that only the Samaritan man returned to thank Jesus for cleansing him; the nine Jewish men did not.

Children will learn the importance of being thankful because thankfulness is the will of God!

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

Optional Opening Game

Have children sit in two rows.

The two rows face each other about 8–10 feet apart (adjust as desired).

Each child in the same row sits at arm’s length from the child on either side.

Give the ball to Player 1 (at the end of a row). Ask the child to name a person whom he/she is thankful for. The child responds and rolls the ball to the child directly across in the other row.

Repeat for the second child. That child responds and rolls the ball to the next child in the opposite row.

Continue in this fashion until all the children have named a person they are thankful for.

Name a food to begin the second round with the last child who caught the ball.

Repeat back and forth for each category listed on the Thankful Page or as long as time allows.

Optional Play: Change the category for each child (person, food, place, etc.) and play as above.

Optional: To end the game, stand behind each child and ask him/her to name one or more things they are thankful for.

Wow. You are thankful for a lot of things! And, as you grow older, you will discover more and more things to thank God for! God loves when you discover something new that He has created or done for you. Thanks is the will of God, so never stop giving thanks!

As God’s children, we have a lot to be thankful for! God made us and gave us life. He also made the earth to give us everything we need.

Object to Go

Discuss the key using the questions and comments below. Adjust the dialogue if using the key image.

• Hold up the key. What is this? A key.
• What do you do with a key? Unlock a door, start a car, unlock a lock, etc.
  
• In the next video, someone gives the Quantum Labs robots a very special key as a gift. Who do you think gives them a key? Professor Spectrum, Professor Quantum, the mayor of the city, or Miss Tina? Children respond. Good guesses! Now, let’s watch our video to find out if anyone guessed correctly!

Story Time with Gizmo

Play Video (Wonder Widget and the Thankful Three)

Wonder Widget and the Thankful Three

Optional Discussion:

• Who gave the key to the bots? The mayor.
  
• What did Professor Spectrum try to do to all the water in the city? Turn it into sour milk.
• Which superhero first chased Grip after he took Timmy’s Protonatron? Widget; Wonder Widget.
• What had the bots given to Professor Spectrum, Doodad, and Grip for Christmas? Protonatron toys.
• Why wasn’t Professor Spectrum thankful for the gift? He said it wasn’t enough. He wanted all the toys.
• Why was Timmy so thankful the Protonatron toy was returned to him? It was the only toy he had.
• What did Timmy say to Professor Spectrum, Doodad, and Grip when he got his toy back? He said that he forgave them.

Sometimes, it is easier to think about what we want or don’t have instead of being thankful for all we do have. It is important to live each day with a grateful and thankful heart.

Optional: 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!”

Video Lesson

In today’s Bible story, we will see how important it is to say thanks to God.

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Slowly tell the Bible story as outlined below. Move the characters on the table or floor as indicated. Characters are called out by number to enter, exit, and move within the scene.

Optional: have children place characters into the story scene

Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy

Text: Luke 17:11-1

Character Table

(1) Jesus (2) Disciples (3) Jesus with disciples in Samaria (4) Lepers cry for mercy (5) Jesus with lepers (6) Lepers healed (7) Samaritan leper healed (8) Thankful Samaritan (9) Sad Jesus 

We just watched the Bible story in the video. Now, let’s tell the story again in a different way.

• (Enter #1, #2) Jesus and His disciples were traveling to the city of Jerusalem.
• (Remove #1, #2, enter #3) To do that, they had to pass through a place called Samaria.
  
• Did the Jewish people and the Samaritan people like each other? No!
  
• (Enter #4 to the right of #3) No, they didn’t. As they entered Samaria, Jesus and His disciples heard loud voices.
  
• They looked to see who it was. In the distance were ten men who were crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” These men were not allowed to be near other people because they had a skin disease called leprosy. People were afraid of catching leprosy. So, the men had to live outside the city.
  
• (Enter #5, remove #3, #4) Jesus went to the men even though other people would not!
  
• He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
  
• The men didn’t look any different. But as soon as they started walking to see the priest, they were healed! (Enter #6, #7 to the right of #6, remove #5)
  
• (Remove #6, #7, enter #9) All ten men must have been so happy that they all ran back to Jesus to thank Him, right? Children answer.
  
• No, they didn’t stop to thank Him. This must have made Jesus sad!
  
• So, did any of the men come back to Jesus to say thank you? Yes, the Samaritan man!
  
• (Enter #8) Yes, the Samaritan man came back. He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him for all He had done!
  
• Jesus was glad that the man came back, but then Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this man?”
  
• (Enter #7, remove #8, #9) Jesus looked at the Samaritan man and said, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Optional Review Questions

• How would you feel if you were Jesus and only one of the ten men thanked You for healing them? Sad, angry, hurt, disappointed.
  
• Why was it a big deal for the Samaritan and not the Jewish men to thank Jesus? Because Jesus was Jewish. You’d think that other Jews would have respected and appreciated Him more than a Samaritan.
  
• Have you ever forgotten to thank someone who did something really big for you? Children respond.
  
• Have you ever done something really big for someone and they didn’t say thanks? If so, how did you feel? Children respond.

Verse to GO!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Say the memory verse slowly.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Let’s say the verse together slowly:

“Be thankful… in all circumstances…, for this is God’s will for you… who belong to Christ Jesus.”

"Circumstances" is a big word, isn’t it? Another word for circumstances is situations. So, at all times and in all situations, no matter what happens—good or bad—we are to be thankful. God’s will is what pleases Him or what He wants you to do or be. So, the verse says that God’s will is for us to be thankful at all times.

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

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

Be thankful… Smile and nod head to acknowledge.

In all circumstances… Fully extend both arms out wide to the side.

For this is God’s will for you… Raise both arms as you point to the sky.

Who belong to Christ Jesus… Place both hands over your heart and bow down on one knee.

Repeat as needed.

Make sure the children understand what circumstances mean in this verse.

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 thankful.

For example: Dear Jesus, help us to begin each day with a thankful heart for who You are and the many ways You bless us to show Your amazing love for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Thankful

The lyrics for this song are found in Resources.

Play the video song “Thankful.” Encourage children to sing as they sway side to side, lift their hands, and clap to praise God with Miss Tina and the choir.

Thankful

Encourage children to sing the words of the chorus:

Thanks is the will of God

God is so good

My spirit is so thankful

God is so good

My heart is so thankful

God is so good

No matter the storm on the raging sea

It’s Jesus who helps me

Near the end of the song, children can respond multiple times to Miss Tina and Gizmo, “So thankful!”

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

• What did the mayor give to the superheroes to say thank you? A key to the city.
• What did Professor Spectrum tell Doodad and Grip to steal? Toys, Timmy’s Protonatron figure.
• Why did he want more toys? He wasn’t thankful for all he had. He wanted all the toys in the world.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD: 

Optional: Hand out the GizmoGo! Barista Bot Character Card to each child. These are available for purchase under Products.

Wrap-up and Song

Wrap-Up and Song Reprise (Thankful)

Thankful

When does God want you to be thankful? At all times, in all circumstances.

Yes, God is good and doesn’t change. He is good all the time, so even when things don’t go our way, give thanks to God for goodness and love! God loves you so much that He gave Jesus to die for your sins. So, like Gizmo, we can shout, “Hallelujah!” Hallelujah is a Hebrew word from the Bible that means “Praise God!”

Miss Tina told us that Jesus was always thankful. Can you remember some things Jesus thanked God for? Food, healing His friends, and always hearing His prayers.

I am going to count to three, and let’s all shout, “God is so good, Hallelujah!”

“One, two, three.” God is so good, Hallelujah!

Now, let’s go and live every day with a thankful heart! God is so good!

Optional: Play the Salvation Poem video.

The Salvation Poem

Salvation Poem

Not everyone knows who Jesus is. Stand up if you were able to tell someone about Jesus after we met the last time. Children respond.

Raise your hand if you know someone you can tell about Jesus. Children respond.

Gizmo and Miss Tina present the Gospel before 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 gift of salvation and live for Jesus! Follow up after class with children who received God’s salvation gift.

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game from Lesson 1. [Insert Link Here]