Lesson Overview
1
Get Them Curious
Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.
Sort M&Ms by Color
What does sorting M&Ms by color have to do with The Good Samaritan?
2
Screen Time
Show kids a video on the
Bible story.
The Good Samaritan
God’s Story: The Good Samaritan, by Crossroads Kids’ Club
3
Make it Stick
Help kids remember the
Bible story.
Going Bananas
Give kids a “banana telephone” and have them tell the Bible story to a friend.
4
Dig Deeper
Help kids grasp
the big idea.
Bible Charades for Kids
Loving in action may not always be easy, but it’s something Jesus really, really wants us to do!
5
Walk the Talk
Help kids live out
the big idea.
The Good Samaritan Pop-up Card
Make a pop-up card for someone who needs cheering up.
6
Take it Home
Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.
Be a Good Neighbor
Let’s show practical love and cheer someone up with the pop-up card and some M&Ms.
Big Idea
Jesus wants us to show practical love and compassion to everyone.
Key Verse
Love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27b .
Live it Out
We should show practical love to people around us.
This Sunday School Lesson requires some advance preparation. For a consolidated summary of preparation, supplies and free printables required, please scroll to the bottom of this lesson.
1. Get Them Curious – Sort M&Ms by Color
Have kids wash their hands and be seated.
Give each child some M&Ms in a plate.
Tell everyone to sort their M&Ms by color.
Discuss: Which is your favorite colored M&Ms?
Allow kids to eat 1 of each colored M&Ms.
Discuss: How are they different? How are they similar?
Say: We will put away our M&Ms for now, but I will return them to you later.
Let’s watch a Bible Story video, and see what it has to do with our M&Ms.
Pray: Dear God, thank you for M&Ms! Please help us learn what M&Ms have to do with today’s lesson. Teach us what you want us to do with M&Ms this week! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
2. Screen Time – The Good Samaritan by Crossroads Kids’ Club
This is our favorite YouTube video on The Good Samaritan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzdQtetedc.
Before you begin, ask everyone to think about what this video has to do with their M&Ms.
3. Make it Stick – Going Bananas
Discuss: What Bible story did we just watch?
Show Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Discuss: Who are the characters in this story?
Hold a banana and say: Let’s pretend that all of you are the Jewish listeners in this story, and I am one of your friends. I was not there with you but I called you on the phone immediately after Jesus finished teaching. (Hold the banana to your ear.) You must tell me everything that just happened, including the parable of The Good Samaritan. Have fun! Be as detailed and animated as you can.
We recommend doing this activity in small groups so that more kids can participate.
Divide kids into groups; each group should have 1 teacher.
(If you have only 1 teacher, then do this as a large group activity.)
For each group, give 1 banana to the teacher, and another banana to the kids.
(You can also use any other silly object as a telephone.)
To begin, the teacher “calls” the kids and says,
“Hello? Finally! Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get you all day long!”
The kids take turns to pass the banana to each other as they recall the incident to the teacher.
The teacher occasionally interrupts the kids with questions, for example:
- Huh? Didn’t the guy ask Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Did Jesus answer the question?
- Wait, did you say a priest passed by on the other side? Isn’t he supposed to stop and help the poor guy?
- What? Who was this second guy who passed by the other side? Aren’t Levites supposed to be good guys who serve God?
- Are you sure it was a Samaritan who stopped to help the Jew? I thought Samaritans didn’t like Jews?
- Oooh, how did the expert in the law look when Jesus asked him which of the three men was a neighbor to the injured man?
- How did everyone react to Jesus’ story?
After all the groups have finished re-telling the Bible story, gather everyone together again.
Thank everyone for their participation.
4. Dig Deeper – Play Bible Charades for Kids
Our free printable Bible Charades for Kids Cards feature easier charades phrases as well as helpful hints for children. Remember to download, print and cut up the Bible Charades for Kids Cards in advance.
We recommend playing Bible Charades for Kids as a cooperative game, where all players work as a team to achieve a common goal. This is more fun and encouraging especially for young children and it avoids any unnecessary tension that competitive games sometimes create. (To play as a competitive game, see Variation below)
Players take turns to pick a Bible Charades for Kids Card and, without speaking, act out the word or phrase. The other players must try to guess the correct answer within a given time.
(Usually 3 minutes, but you may vary this according to the age and skill level of your players.)
There are 3 hints provided on each Bible Charades for Kids Card:
You should gradually read out these hints if the children are having difficulty acting or guessing. You can give other additional hints as well.
It would be good for all players to take turns to act, but never force any child into that role. Some kids may not be comfortable with acting and just enjoy guessing.
Before you begin, set an achievable goal. For example, the goal can be to guess 5 correct phrases within 20 minutes. (You should vary this goal according to the age and skill level of your players.) If the group collectively achieves this goal, then everyone wins.
Tips for Playing Charades with Kids
1. Before the game begins, share with everyone these common charades gestures:
- Number of words in the charade phrase: Hold up the correct number of fingers.
- Which word you are acting: Hold up the number of fingers again.
- Number of syllables in the word: Place the number of fingers on your forearm.
- Sounds like: Cup one hand behind your ear or pull on your earlobe.
2. Do not assume the child can read or that he/she knows the Bible story. Be ready to whisper the phrase to the child. If necessary, briefly remind the child of the Bible story and provide some ideas about how to act it out. If the child is not confident with that phrase, allow swapping with another player (the player who has seen that card must sit out that round).
3. Be flexible with the rules and be encouraging. The main objective is to have fun!
Variation
For a competitive game, divide into teams of 2-6 players.
Teams take turns to play.
The team playing sends one player to pick a Bible Charades for Kids Card.
Without speaking, that player must act out the word or phrase on the card while his or her teammates try to guess the correct answer within a given time.
(Usually 3 minutes, but you may vary this according to the age and skill level of your players.)
If they get it correct within the time limit, the team scores 10 points.
Players can ask for a hint but deduct 2 points for each hint given.
Play for a pre-determined number of rounds or period of time.
Discuss:
- Did you enjoy the game?
- In this game, you weren’t allowed to speak, so you had to act the phrases out. Did it come naturally to you? Tell us how you felt.
- Which is easier? Simply saying the words? Or trying to act it out?
Read: Luke 10:25-37.
Discuss:
- How did the traveler get injured?
- How many people saw the injured man? Who were they?
- How many people walked past the injured man without stopping to help? What were some thoughts that may have crossed the minds of the priest and the Levite?
- Who stopped to help the injured man? What were some thoughts that may have crossed the mind of the Samaritan?
- Why do you think the Samaritan stopped to help the injured man?
- Do you think the listeners were surprised that the Samaritan man stopped to help the injured man? Why or why not?
- Why did Jesus tell this story? What did he want to teach the expert in the law and his listeners?
Show Slide 2 (Big Idea):
Have everyone read the slide.
5. Walk the Talk – Make The Good Samaritan Pop-up Cards
Give each child a copy of The Good Samaritan Pop-up Card printable.
Have everyone make a pop-up card following the instructions on the printable.
Take some time to admire each child’s card.
Thank the children for their patience in waiting for their M&Ms.
Return everyone their plates of M&Ms and allow them to eat as you continue with the lesson.
Discuss: Can you guess what the M&Ms have to do with today’s story?
Say: We may like some colors more than others. But Jesus does not want us to treat people differently. Jesus wants us to love everyone in the same way that we love ourselves.
Show Slide 3 (Key Verse): 
Have everyone read the slide.
Show Slide 4 (Live it Out): 
Have everyone read the slide.
Discuss:
- Do you think it is easy to show practical love? Why or why not.
- We don’t often see people being robbed or injured. But there are other ways we can show practical love to people around us every day! What are some ways we can do this?
Say:
- There are many ways we can show practical love to people around us every day.
- We may not feel like doing it, and it is not always easy.
- But we must try, because Jesus wants us to show practical love and compassion to everyone.
6. Take it Home – Be a Good Neighbor
Say: Let’s recall all that we have learned today. Can you remember the title of today’s Bible Story?
Show Slide 1 again (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: Can you remember today’s big idea?
Show Slide 2 again (Big Idea):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: Can you remember today’s key verse?
Show Slide 3 again (Key Verse):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: How can we live out today’s lesson?
Show Slide 4 again (Live it Out):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: I have an assignment for you this week.
Each of you has made a beautiful pop-up card.
And I will be giving each of you a small packet of M&Ms.
Discuss: How can we put today’s lesson into practice with these 2 items?
Say: I hope that you can all put today’s lesson into practice by paying more attention to the people around you. Look out for someone who may need some cheering up. Pray for that person and give them your pop-up card and packet of M&Ms.
Give each child a copy of The Good Samaritan Take it Home Handout and a small packet of M&Ms.
Say: Let’s fill in the Live it Out section on the first page.
One thing the kids can write is “I will pay more attention to the people around me, and give my pop-up card and M&Ms to someone who needs cheering up!” Encourage them to think of other things they can do to show practical love to others.
Say: The other pages are for you to do at home. Tell me next week about what you did at home!
Give everyone some time to write down their Live it Out action plan before ending the lesson with this closing prayer:
Pray: Dear God, thank you for today’s Bible lesson on The Good Samaritan. Thank you for teaching us that you want us to show practical love and compassion to everyone. Please help us show love to someone this week with our pop-up cards and M&Ms. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Lesson Preparation and Supplies
Here’s a summary of all the preparation, supplies and free printables required for this lesson.1
Get Them Curious
Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.
Sort M&Ms by Color
What does sorting M&Ms by color have to do with The Good Samaritan?
For each child, you will need:
- 1 plate
- Some M&Ms to be sorted by color
2
Screen Time
Show kids a video on the
Bible story.
The Good Samaritan
God’s Story: The Good Samaritan, by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Ensure that you can play this YouTube video:
God’s Story: The Good Samaritan by Crossroads Kids’ Club (Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzdQtetedc)
3
Make it Stick
Help kids remember the
Bible story.
Going Bananas
Give kids a “banana telephone” and have them tell the Bible story to a friend.
Download Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
We recommend doing this activity in small groups so that more kids can participate. You will need 1 teacher for each small group. (If you have only 1 teacher, then do this as a large group activity.)
For each group, you will need:
- 2 bananas – 1 for the teacher and 1 for the children. (You can also use any other silly object as a telephone.)
4
Dig Deeper
Help kids grasp
the big idea.
Bible Charades for Kids
Loving in action may not always be easy, but it’s something Jesus really, really wants us to do!
Download, print and cut up the Bible Charades for Kids Cards:
You will also need:
- Timer or hourglass
- Paper and pen to record the score
Download Slide 2 (Big Idea):
5
Walk the Talk
Help kids live out
the big idea.
The Good Samaritan Pop-up Card
Make a pop-up card for someone who needs cheering up.
Download The Good Samaritan Pop-up Card:
For each child, you will need:
- 1 copy of The Good Samaritan Pop-up Card
- Scissors
- Glue
- Colored pencils
- Pencil/pen
Download Slide 3 (Key Verse):
Download Slide 4 (Live it Out):
6
Take it Home
Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.
Be a Good Neighbor
Let’s show practical love and cheer someone up with the pop-up card and some M&Ms.
Download The Good Samaritan Take it Home Handout.
For each child, you will need:
- 1 copy of The Good Samaritan Take it Home Handout
- 1 small packet of M&Ms to give away.
It would be good to tell parents about the Take it Home Handout. Encourage them to do the suggested family activity with their child.
1 thought on “The Good Samaritan”
Fantastic idea for “Get them curious” activity!