Leader Guide
Teaching Time
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
- Optional: Bring the props from Lesson 1 so children can act out the story as you teach.
Tell the Bible story slowly using the bullets provided. Bold text signals an action to perform. Pause to allow children to imitate it. Add interest to the story by varying facial expression, voice, and volume level and engaging the children in questions and responses.
● 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.