Day #8 The Good Samaritan

 

Attention Story:
Read "What are Neighbors For" from the Friend.  Its a silly little story that younger children will think is funny about different animals coming over to your house.  You can download the pictures that go along with the story Here.

What is a neighbor?

Scripture Discussion:
Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  There is a nice video depicting the parable.  Click Here for the video.

 

Show the children Samaria and Judea on the map, and explain the situation between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Jews felt that they were better than the Samaritans. They disliked the Samaritans so much that when Jews traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee, they would take the longer way through the Jordan Valley rather than travel through Samaria.  

• Why do you think the Jewish priest and Levite did not help the wounded Jewish man?
• What did the Samaritan do for the wounded Jewish man?
• Why is it significant that it was a Samaritan who helped the Jewish man? What characteristics of a good neighbor did the Samaritan have? How does this story help us understand who our neighbor is? 
• Who is your neighbor? Do you think Jesus meant only the people who live close to you?  How can we become better neighbors?
• How can we follow Jesus’ teachings and show love for other people? How should we treat someone who needs our help? someone who is different from us? someone who might have been unkind to us?

If you have time, it would be fun to have everyone act out the story.

Activity:

Have everyone write 5 to 10 names on individual strips of paper of people that could be considered your "neighbor." This can be people in your family, people on your street, teachers, etc.  Put the names in a bowl.

Take turns drawing the names out of the bowl and read them out loud.  Have everyone give suggestions of service that could be offered to that person.  It's OK if someones name is in there more than once.  Examples of service can be:
write a note
bake some treats
smile
give someone a compliment
help a family member clean up or do chores
help a teacher with a project
play nicely with a sibling
Call someone on the phone for a nice visit
don't gossip or argue
be on time

Service:
We are taking this opportunity to visit people as a family and take a plate of baked goods.  Do what you feel is best for your family.

Handout:
Click HERE

 Journal:
Write in your journal the names of a few people you want to do something nice for.  Write how you can carry out your idea.  Also write how you feel when someone does something nice for you.   How does Jesus want us to treat our Neighbor?