Term C. 2nd Term. Lesson 1. Parable Series: The Good Samaritan

Scripture: for teacher background:  Luke 10:25-37

Making contact:

Here is a different way of telling the story – a modern version. 

You could get a “biker” all leather and sweat to arrive.

He could either do the rap for you or use his entrance to discuss how we react to people who are different – why do we feel the way we do and why do we react badly to them. 

Maybe we have been the ones who look different - and people have given us the LOOK!

The Samaritan Rap

The road to Jericho was stony and steep.

The traveler had an appointment to keep.

So he hurried along, quite, quite alone,

The silliest thing he could have done –

For hiding in the rocks along the roadside

There were muggers who mugged him

till he almost died.

They took his coat and his cellphone too

And they laughed at his folly in going alone

They took his money,

His credit card too,

Then they kicked him all over black and blue

They grabbed his shoes, his jacket, his tie

Then they left him there by the road to die

And took off with the loot they’d got

Pleased with themselves, cos it was quite a lot

  

So-

The poor old traveler lay there in the sun

Bleeding and aching – not much fun!

Then

Along came a priest, all black and white

With his robes and his hymnbook,

A wonderful sight

His smart black shoes made a confident sound

He had no doubt he was heavenwards bound!

He saw our poor traveler lying in pain

He sighed, he shrugged and said: “Not again!

I really don’t know what can be done

To stop these tramps lying in the sun.

He hurried on by, on the other side,

He didn’t care if the man had died.

He opened his hymnbook as he strode along

Raising his voice in melodious song!

SO the traveler still lay there in the sun

Bleeding and groaning – not much fun!

Soon –

Along came another man on this road,

A lawyer with a huge workload.

His brain was busy with things to be done

Cases to try, legal wrangles to be won.

He saw our traveler lying groaning there

And he crossed the road to stop and stare

“Poor man,” he thought, “What a dreadful state.

But I really shouldn’t stand and wait.

The men who robbed him might be nearby,

They might attack me – I’m not ready to die!”

So he hurried on, away from that place

With an anxious frown and a steady pace

So –

The poor traveler lay in the sun

Bleeding- almost dying – not much fun!

Next –

Up the road came a biker – all leather and sweat –

The toughest type you’d ever get

Stopped his bike with a squeal of brakes

Maybe this man has just what it takes?

But bikers are mean

And bikers are tough

And no one likes them, they’re not

Normal enough

So what a surprise when he kneels by the side

Of the wounded traveler who’s almost died.

There’s a tear in his eyes as he looks at the man

“Poor fellow”, he says, “I’ll do what I can.”

Back to his bike – his bag unpacked

He can supply all the traveler lacked;

Cream for his bruises, plasters for his cuts

A cool drink for his aching guts!

“Now up on my bike, I’ll drive real slow

Hold on tight – off we go.”

So-

The traveler no longer lies in the sun

But he’s riding a Harley, much more fun!

Soon they come to a small hotel.

The biker stops and rings the bell.

“I want the best you’ve got

And food and care – he needs a lot.

I’ll leave my friend here for you to heal

With lots of medicine and a good square meal.

I have to meet someone today

But for sure tomorrow I’ll pass this way

And I’ll settle then what I have to pay.”              (Geraldine Witcher Scripture Union.)

 Exploration:

This parable today is one of Jesus’ most famous ones. 

It is a story Jesus told to a clever teacher of the Old Testament who had come up to Jesus and asked Him a question to trick Him. 

Remember a parable is a real life, earthly story with a heavenly, or deeper meaning. 

Jesus was teaching everyone what God wanted and what He was like. The parables teach us a lot.

The question the man asked was “What must I do to receive eternal life?” When Jesus said: “What does the Bible say?” 

The man replied that the Bible taught him to love God and his neighbour.”

“Correct”, said Jesus. The man asked another question: “Who is my neighbour?” 

To answer Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan.

There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho. He was attacked by robbers. They beat him up and robbed him and left him nearly dead.

A priest from the temple was hurrying along that same road and he saw the man but he walked on, crossing to the other side. Then a Levite came and also walked by. ( A Levite is also a worker in the temple.)

Then a Samaritan came and stopped. A Samaritan was half- Jewish and was hated by the Jews, especially the priests and Levites!

The Samaritan had pity on the beaten up man. He cleaned his wounds as best he could and then lifted him onto his donkey. He took him to an inn (like a hotel) and the next day when he needed to continue his journey, he left some money with the innkeeper and said if it cost more then he would pay him when he came back.

Now at the end of the story Jesus asked the teacher a question. “Which man acted like a neighbour? The teacher replied “The Samaritan.” Jesus said: “Go and do the same.”

 Application

In this parable Jesus is teaching us about different kinds of people.

There was a group who said: “What’s yours is mine!”

These people are thieves and robbers who think they can attack and take!

We are also thieves if we think we can just take something that belongs to someone else even if they aren’t looking. This includes keeping God’s money to ourselves. He has told us to give.

The second group of people said by their actions: “What’s mine is mine!”

These are people who don’t give anything to anyone else. They don’t share their time, money or belongs with anyone. This is a very selfish way to live. 

The religious people in the story (the priest and the Levite) were like this and it is so sad to see that people, who were on their way to pray and to serve God, didn’t feel a thing for a suffering man.

Wouldn’t it be sad if those of us here at Sunday school today were selfish like this and never shared our things and never stop to help anyone else?

The third group of people are the helpers like the Samaritan. “What’s mine is yours.” Even though others thought he was not an important kind of person, HE was the one who stopped and helped. He used his medicine, his donkey, his money and his time to help someone else.

 Challenge to Mission

 In the world there is so much tragedy that we have see often on T. V. – wars, terrorist attacks, earthquakes and tsunami waves destroying and harming so many people and so much property.

Right there, are these three kinds of people. There are the robbers – even stealing dead bodies and then making people who want to bury their loved ones pay a huge amount. 

There are also plenty of Good Samaritans helping and working, using their own time and money and then there are people who turn away and refuse to help at all.

Maybe you and I can’t go to Asia, the middle of Africa, or Syria and be neighbours there, but we can be neighbours here. 

To love our neighbour means to be a neighbour where we pass by.

Where do you pass by everyday and see someone who needs your help? Sometimes we only help those who beg. What about those who never beg, but are in trouble.

Have you got anything you can give away to be a neighbour? I am sure your church is already doing lots to help and I think the children should go along too.

If your church has an outreach to people with Aids or the poor, go to your minister or the leaders and ask if you can come and help too. 

Maybe you could just sweep someone’s floor, or help carry some groceries from the boot.

The Samaritan used his money, his donkey, his medicine and his time. What of these kinds of things or other things can you use to help someone in need?

But also, please be careful of helping a stranger and rather don't do this alone when you don't know the situation.

Pray for guidance and use common sense. But don’t use this as an excuse for never helping people.

Consolidation

 The worksheet shows a picture of the first and 2^nd person passing by and the Samaritan helping.

The children can tick the blocks next to Mr. Excuse that apply to them.

The memory verse can be printed on cardboard cutouts of a donkey. If there is time, discuss if they own anything that can be used to help someone else, just as the Samaritan used his donkey, oil and vinegar.

  

Memory Verse

“So let us not become tired of doing good. As often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone.” Galatians 6:9,10