Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous lessons about Jesus and the ten men with leprosy. Jesus healed all ten, but only one returned to thank Him.

We will also revisit the bots at Quantum Labs as they rehearse a dance for a fundraiser only hours away. Children will learn the importance of being thankful in all circumstances.

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

Optional Opening Game

Jump up if you have played a game called Duck, Duck, Goose. Children respond.

This game is like it. But instead of a duck or a goose, you will be a robot or Professor Quantum!

Have children sit in a large circle. Leave room outside the circle to move around.

Choose a child to be the first Professor Quantum.

The other children will be robots and sit with their eyes closed and heads down.

The Professor walks around the outside of the circle, gently taps each “robot” on the shoulder, and says “Sleep” each time.

The Professor then chooses one robot to tap and say, “Wake up!”

The robot jumps up and chases the Professor around the circle, trying to tap him/her before the Professor sits in the open circle spot.

Note: all children open their eyes when the Professor shouts, “Wake up!”

If the Professor reaches the open spot before being tapped, the robot becomes the Professor, and play resumes.

Play until all children have had a turn to be the Professor.

If the Professor is tapped before sitting down, he/she takes one more turn as the Professor before a different child assumes the role.

As the game progresses, consider guiding the Professor to anyone who hasn’t played.

That was fun! Did you like being a robot or the Professor more? Children respond.

When you watch today’s video, you will learn what this game was about.

Object to GO!

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

● Hold up the sleep mask. Do you know what this is? A mask; sleep mask.

● This is a sleep mask. It blocks the light from your eyes to help you sleep.

● Optional: Put the mask over your eyes. It works! I can’t see anything! I’d better take it off so I don’t get sleepy!

● We need sleep for our bodies. We can thank God for the nighttime so we can rest after a busy day. But sometimes, it isn’t good to fall asleep! In the video we are about to watch, Gizmo, Gears, Rig, and Widget all fall asleep at the same time. Can you guess why? Is it nap time, bedtime, or some other reason? Children respond.

Play Video (Thanks Mode)

The bots are busy practicing their dance moves when suddenly everything stops! Miss Tina doesn’t know what happened but knows who will have the answer.

Thanks Mode

Optional Discussion:

• What happened after the bots did certain moves? They went into sleep mode, they went to sleep.
• Which robot checked his computer log to see what happened when they went to sleep? Gizmo.
• What happened to Gizmo after he told everyone what his computer log said? He went into sleep mode again.
• Who did Miss Tina ask to help the bots? Professor Quantum.
• Did the robots thank Professor Quantum? No, they just started to rehearse again.

When we help someone, it feels good to be thanked. Even when we are busy or in a hurry, we should never forget to say thank you!

Video Lesson

Play the Bible Story Theme Song and Bible Story.

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

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!”

Optional: Play Bible Story Video

Be sure to show this if some children haven’t seen it in previous lessons or don’t remember it.

Bible Story

Teaching Time

In All Circumstances

Text: Luke 17:11-19

Discuss thankfulness using the Thankful Wheel as indicated.

Our memory verse says that when we belong to Jesus—which means we love and obey Him—we should be thankful in all circumstances. Why? Because it pleases God; that is what God wants us to do.

Our circumstances—what is happening to us or around us—will change, but Someone never changes. Do you know who? Children respond.

Jesus! No matter what changes in your life, Jesus stays the same!

Let’s take a look at some different circumstances you might be in.

Hold up the wheel.

Image 1: What is happening in this picture? The girl hurt her knee. She is crying.

Maybe she was playing a game and fell. Her circumstances changed but look below. Who is there? Jesus!

Jesus is there with her. Now, she isn’t thankful she hurt her knee. BUT she can be thankful that she belongs to Jesus, He loves her, and He never changes.

Image 2: Is this girl happy? No! She is angry, mad.

Look below; Jesus is still there. Is He the same or different? The same!

Even though the girl’s situation or circumstance isn’t good, Jesus is always good. He doesn’t get angry and leave us. She can be thankful, not because something made her angry, but because she belongs to Jesus. Even when you are hurt or angry, Jesus stays the same, and you can be thankful in bad circumstances.

Image 3: What is happening here? The girl looks disappointed or sad. It’s raining.

Yes, maybe she was going to play outside but it started raining, maybe a friend was coming to play but can’t come. She looks disappointed and sad. Her circumstance isn’t good but look below. Jesus is still there. He cares how she feels. Jesus will never be late or leave you, so you can always be thankful!

Image 4: What do you think is going on with this boy? He is anxious, stressed, worried, maybe afraid.

Should he be thankful he feels this way? No!

What can he be thankful for? Jesus is with Him. He loves the boy and wants to help.

Jesus doesn’t change. He does not have a bad day, and nothing worries Him or stresses Him out.

Image 5: How are these kids feeling? Happy, full of joy, excited!

Sometimes, like when the robots forgot to thank the Professor or when the men with leprosy forgot to thank Jesus, you can be so excited that you forget to thank God!

Jesus is with you in good and bad times, so always be thankful!

Image 6: How do you think this boy feels? Lonely, hurt, sad, bored, disappointed.

Maybe no one invited him to play in a game, or all of his friends were busy. Maybe he played badly, or someone was unkind to him.

Look below. Jesus is still there; is He the same or different? The same!

Even though the boy’s circumstance is not good, Jesus is good, and He is there with Him. Even when you are lonely, disappointed, bored, or hurt, you belong to Jesus, and you can be thankful in a bad circumstance.

It is important to thank God at all times, bad or good! Your circumstances change, but God doesn’t. The Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8). You can always be thankful because Jesus loves you, forgives you, and lives in your heart. So, whether your circumstance is good or bad, be thankful because it is God’s will for you!

Verse to GO!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Optional: Show the memory verse video. Children will learn the entire verse today.

Play Video (Verse to Go)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

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.”

"Circumstance" is a big word, isn’t it? In this verse, the word means that at all times, no matter what happens, good or bad, we are to be thankful. God’s will is what pleases Him or what He wants for you to do or be. So, when we put them together, the verse says that God wants 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 heart and bow down on one knee.

Repeat as needed.

Make sure the children understand what circumstance means 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 me to thank You every day for who You are and what You do for me—even the things I don’t see! In Your name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Play the video song “Thankful.” 

The lyrics for this song are found in Resources.

Thankful

Encourage children to sing as they sway side to side, lift their hands, and clap to praise God along with Miss Tina and the choir.

Children can 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.

At the end, children can respond with Miss Tina and Gizmo, “So thankful!”

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

• What is happening in this picture? The robots are dancing and go into sleep mode.
• Why were the robots sad they couldn’t dance? They were dancing for the fundraiser.
• What did Gears think caused the problem? Bug-O-Mytes.
• Who fixed the problem? Professor Quantum; he did a system update for the robots.

The bots needed to thank Miss Tina for helping and Professor Quantum for doing the update to fix their problem! It’s always right to thank someone who cares and helps you!

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out a GizmoGO! Bible Story Card (Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers) to each child. These are available for purchase under Products.

Wrap up and Piano Song

Wrap-up and Piano Song

Thankful Wrap-Up

Thankful

Did Gizmo say we can only be thankful when everything is going the way we want it to? No, at all times, when things are going good or bad.

Yes, even if you have a bad day, you can still be thankful because God is always the same. He is always good! He loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins. So, like Gizmo, we can shout, “Hallelujah!” Hallelujah is a word in Hebrew 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 for always hearing His prayers.

Can you remember some things from the game we were thankful for? Children respond.

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

Salvation Poem

Game

Optional Games

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

Play the game “Is It Really You?” from Lesson 1.
Play the game “Down Go the Giants” from Lesson 2.