ONE LEPER SAYS "Thank You" Bible Story Skit

 By Betty Benson Robertson based on Luke 17:11-19

Preparation: Up to 10 bells of any kind for the lepers to ring; 1 eye patch; stick to use as a crutch; 15 copies of the skit. Perhaps older children who can read could present the skit for the younger boys and girls. (If doing a skit is not possible in your situation, the Bible story can easily be adapted for a storytelling presentation.)

Cast of Characters: 10 lepers (If possible, they should all have bells to ring; or at least some. Leper # 6 should have a patch over the eye; if possible, Leper # 7 should have a stick using it as a crutch; Lepers # 9 and 10 should limp); crowd (all remaining students); Jesus (played by an adult); narrator (teacher or another adult).

At Rise: Lepers are on one side of stage; crowd on opposite side.

Bible Story Skit:

Narrator: Lepers were people who had a horrible disease that made sores all over their bodies. Sometimes it crippled them. Sometimes they were blind. But always it made them lonely because leprosy was catching. They always carried bells to ring, warning others to stay away. They couldn't work or live with their families. All the lepers could only stand by the roadside or outside the gates of the city and beg. Then, one day, something happened that changed their lives!

(Lepers ring their bells softly so dialogue can be heard, but the bells ring all the time.)

Leper 1: Did you hear the good news?

Leper 2: What good news?

Leper 3: I haven't heard anything.

Leper 4: Me either.

Leper 1: Jesus is coming to town!

Leper 5: Wow!

Leper 6: Really?! I can't wait to see Him!

Leper 7: We'll never be able to get close enough.

Leper 8: Yeah, you're right.

Leper 9: We can't get near the crowd of people.

Leper 10: No, but we can shout!

Lepers 1,2,3: Jesus, have mercy on us!

(The adult playing the part of Jesus comes down aisle to center of stage while following dialogue takes place.)

Person # 1 in Crowd: Jesus is coming!

Person # 2 in Crowd: Look, there's Jesus with some of His disciples

Person # 3 in Crowd: I see Jesus!

(Crowd whispers "Jesus is coming" to one another.)

Lepers 4,5,6: Jesus, have mercy on us!

Lepers 7,8,9,10: Jesus, have mercy on us!

(Jesus looks at the lepers. Lepers look surprised with eyes wide open - mouths open.)

Leper 1: Jesus is looking at us.

Leper 2: Yeah, I know!

Leper 3: He's looking RIGHT at us!

(Jesus walks up to the lepers.)

Jesus: Go to the temple and show the priests that you are healed.

(Jesus leaves them and heads toward the crowd.)

Leper 4: What?

Leper 5: What does Jesus mean we are healed?

Leper 6: I still have all my sores.

Leper 7: Yeah, me too!

Leper 8: What are we supposed to do?

Leper 9: I don't know.

Leper 10: I think we need to do what Jesus said.

(Lepers leave stage and head down center aisle ringing their bells.)

Leper 1: Wait a minute!

Leper 2: What is it?

Leper 1: My sores are gone!

Leper 3: Mine, too!

Leper 4 (turning to Leper #5): Mine are gone and so are yours!

Leper 5: You're right! Wow!

Leper 6 (taking off eye patch): I can't believe it! I can see!

Leper 7: This is unbelievable! I don't need this crutch anymore.

Leper 8: My skin looks so healthy.

Leper 9: I don't limp anymore!

Leper 10: Jesus has healed us!

(Lepers # 1-9 walk fast and excited. Leper # 10 goes back to where Jesus is.)

Leper 10: Jesus! Thank You! Thank You for healing me!

Jesus: Stand up. Go on your way now. Your faith has made you well. But didn't I heal TEN lepers? Where are the other 9?

Narrator: How has Jesus helped you recently? Have you remembered to thank Him?

NOAH OBEYED GOD - Bible Story & Lesson - Genesis 7-8

Needed for Story: Pictures of axe, hammer, raindrops


Instructions:

When children see AXE picture they say "Chop-chop, chop-chop." When HAMMER picture is shown the boys and girls say: "hammer-hammer, hammer-hammer." At the sight of the RAINDROPS they say: "Pitter-patter, pitter-patter."

Story


Noah and his sons cut down trees. (Show AXE picture.) They cut down MORE trees. (AXE picture). And MORE and MORE trees (AXE picture). They needed to make boards. Lots and lots of boards (AXE picture).

Noah and his sons put the boards together (Show HAMMER). They put more and more boards together (Show HAMMER).

God had asked Noah to build an ark -- a really, really BIG boat. Noah obeyed God. It took a long time to build the ark, the really big boat. (Show HAMMER).

They worked (Show HAMMER) and worked (Show HAMMER) and worked (Show HAMMER).

The ark was going to be SO big that there would be room for two of every kind of animal in the whole world and seven of certain types of animals and all of Noah's family. When everyone was inside the ark, God closed the door.

Listen. I hear something!

RAINDROPS! (Show RAINDROPS picture.)

For 40 days it rained (Show RAINDROPS). And rained. (Show RAINDROPS). And rained (Show RAINDROPS).
For 40 nights it rained (Show RAINDROPS). And rained (Show RAINDROPS). And rained (Show RAINDROPS.)

When the rain stopped, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a promise that He would never again destroy the whole earth with a flood.


SONG: "Noah" from In the Beginning CD by Mary Rice Hopkins.

BOOK: "Noah" available from Crossway Books (ISBN1-58134-002-8)

BIBLE VERSE: "We must obey God" (Acts 5:29).

Activity to Learn Verse: "Verse Tag"

The teacher tags one child and both quote the verse. The teacher and child tag a third person. All three say the verse. Continue until all in the group have been tagged. (If you have a large group, tag 2 or 3 people at one time.)

CRAFT: Ark with Animals

Needed: One large sheet of construction paper for each child; animal stickers; crayons or washable markers; "Noah Obeyed God, Genesis 7-8" strips, glue.

Activity: Children draw and cut out an ark on large paper. For younger boys and girls, a teacher may need to provide the boat. Each child glues the "Noah Obeyed God, Genesis 7-8" strip to the ark. Children attach animal stickers. Older boys and girls could draw their own animals, if preferred.

Discussion While Children Work: Talk about how Noah was both obedient (as story talks about) and faithful (which book and song highlight) and how they can do both on an everyday basis.

SNACK: If possible, provide a large bag(s) of animal crackers. Dump them out on a tray. Let the children select 6 to eat, 2 of a kind.

A NIGHT WITH THE LIONS - Bible Story & Lesson

BIBLE STORY: "A Night with Lions" (Daniel 6:1-28)

Instructions: Every time the children hear the word "pray" or "prayed", they stand, fold their hands, bow their heads, and then sat back in their seats.

God blessed Daniel. He made Daniel wise. The king of Babylon was a good king and soon put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom.

The officials of the king became jealous. They tried to find something bad about Daniel. But Daniel was a good man. He always prayed to God. He always obeyed God. The men could not find anything bad.

So the officials got together and said, "We've got to come up with an idea. We've got to find a way to get rid of Daniel because he prays to his God." They thought and thought and thought and finally came up with a plan.

The officials went to the king. "Let's make a new law," they said. "Let's say that for the next thirty days, no one is to pray to any god except you. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions' den."

That sounded good to the king, so he made a new law. But he had forgotten about Daniel and how he always prayed three times a day to his God.

Daniel heard about the new law. He knew this would be hard, but he was going to do what was right. He went to his window in the morning and prayed to God like he always had. All the people saw Daniel.

At noon, he went to his window and prayed to God like he always had. All the people saw Daniel.

In the evening, he went to his window and prayed to God like he always had. All the people saw Daniel.

The king didn't know what to do. He was so upset. He wanted to get Daniel out of the mess he had gotten him into, but the king knew he couldn't change the law he had just made. He said to Daniel: "Your God, to whom you are so loyal, will get you out of this."

The soldiers grabbed Daniel and put him into the lions' den.

The lions were hungry! The lions got closer and closer to Daniel.

But none of the lions opened their mouths. God had sent an angel to close their mouths, so they could not eat Daniel.

The next morning, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. As he came near, he called out: "Has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?"

"Yes, He has!" Daniel replied and he told the king about God sending the angel who shut the lions' mouths.

Daniel had trusted God and God had saved him. God was with Daniel and watched over him. God helped Daniel.

DISCUSSION: Talk with the boys and girls about situations in their lives where God will help them. Discuss how things work together for good if we trust God and always do what is right.

SONG: "All Things Work Together for Good" by Mary Rice Hopkins (from Lighthouse album)

PRAYER

BIBLE VERSE: "I am with you and will watch over you whever you go" (Genesis 28:15).

ACTIVITY TO LEARN VERSE:

Younger Children: Use motions when saying the verse, for key words such as "I", "watch", "you" and "go".

Older Children: Print the scripture verse and reference on a chalkboard or whiteboard. Read the verse together. Choose a child to erase one word. Read the verse together again. Choose another child to erase another word and continue until the scripture has been erased and the verse is being said from memory.

CRAFT: Daniel in Lion's Den

Needed: 1 tissue box for each child; construction paper; scissors; glue; crayons.

Activity: Older children can draw their own lions and a picture of Daniel. For younger boys and girls, you may want to provide the pictures. The children can make a den from the tissue box and place the lions and Daniel inside.