BIBLE STORY: “Loving By Helping” (based on Luke 10:30-37)
Instructions: Every time the children hear the word “walking” in the story, they stand when you signal by raising your hand and walk in place. Boys and girls are to be seated by watching your hand go down.
A man was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho. Suddenly, robbers attacked him. They beat him up, took his clothes, and left him there.
A priest came walking down the same road. The man thought, “Great! Someone will help me.” But the priest was in a hurry and didn’t take the time to stop and help the injured man.
A Levite came walking down the same road. The man thought, “Great! I hope this person will help me.” But this teacher in the temple did not stop and help the injured man either.
A Samaritan came walking down the same road. The injured man probably thought, “The first two people who came by didn’t help me. This person probably won’t either.”
But when the Samaritan saw the man lying there all beaten and bloody, he wanted to help him. He gave him first aid and placed bandages on the wounded man’s body. Then he carefully helped the injured man get on his donkey, took him to a place to stay for the night and continued to take care of him.
(Open your Bible to Luke and show the children.) This is a story Jesus told which is found in Luke in the Bible to tell us the importance of showing our love by caring and helping when we can.
DISCUSSION: What are some ways we can show our love to others by caring and helping?
SONG: “Love with the Love of Jesus” by Mary Rice Hopkins from Miracle Mud album.
BIBLE VERSE: “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).
Directions: Cut a large red heart from construction paper. Write the verse on the heart.
Clap ‘N Pass Activity: Show the heart and have the class repeat it 3 times together. Ask the children to sit in a circle. As you clap, boys and girls pass the heart to their right from person to person. When you stop clapping, that child and the ones sitting to the right and left of that child, all stand and say the verse with the teacher.
MAKE ‘N TAKE CREATIVE ACTIVITY: “Heart Flowers”
Needed for Each Child: Construction paper of assorted colors, including red, pink and green; scissors; glue; pens or fine-tipped markers.
Activity: Have children make as many heart flowers as time allows, by cutting out heart shapes and attaching stems and leaves. On each flower they can write a message, such as : “I love you”, “Thank you for being my friend”, etc. Encourage them to give to family members, relatives, friends and neighbors.
SNACK: Heart Cookies
Needed for Each Child: Large heart-shaped sugar cookie; various colors of icing; sprinkles and M&M’s®; plastic knives
Activity: Allow the boys and girls to decorate their cookies.
CLOSING PRAYER