The Good Samaritan: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 10:25-37
Children hear Jesus' story of the good Samaritan, learn that mercy means seeing, stopping and helping, and practice with a game and a Helping Hands craft.
Memory verse
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10:37, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell Jesus' story of the man who fell among thieves and the one who helped him.
- Explain that our neighbour is anyone who needs our help, and that Jesus calls us to show mercy.
- Choose one practical way to show mercy this week.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Who Is Close By? (5 min)
Say: Good morning! Today Jesus tells a story about being a good neighbour.
Say: Turn to the person next to you and find one thing you both like.
Give 1 minute. Then ask a few pairs to share.
Say: That person is your neighbour right now. But Jesus asks a big question: who is MY neighbour?
Say: Let's stand up and stretch like we are about to go on a long walk, because the man in our story is going on a journey.
Walk in place for 20 seconds, then sit.
Say: Now let's hear what happened.
Story: The Man on the Road (8 min)
Read Luke 10:25-37 from the KJV, or tell it in order with the actions below. Children copy each action in their seats.
Say: A lawyer stood up and asked Jesus, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Raise a hand.)
Say: Jesus asked what the law says. The lawyer answered: love God with all you are, and love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." (Hands on heart.)
Say: But the lawyer asked, "And who is my neighbour?" (Shrug.)
Say: Jesus told a story. A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Thieves stripped him, wounded him, and left him half dead. (Walk fingers on knees, then lie head down.)
Say: A priest saw him and passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same. (Turn your face away.)
Say: Then a Samaritan came, saw him, and had compassion. (Hand on heart.) He bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. (Wrap an arm.) He set him on his own beast and took him to an inn. (Pat knees like a donkey.)
Say: Next day he gave the innkeeper two pence and said, "Take care of him." He promised to pay anything more when he returned. (Hold out a hand.)
Say: Jesus asked, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour?" The lawyer said, "He that shewed mercy on him." Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise."
Say: Now let's think about what this story teaches.
Teaching: Mercy Stops and Helps (7 min)
Say: The priest and the Levite saw the hurt man, but they passed by. The Samaritan saw him and had compassion.
Say: Compassion means feeling for someone and then doing something to help.
Say: Notice what the Samaritan did. He stopped. He bandaged. He carried. He paid. His mercy cost him time and money.
Background: In Jesus' day, Jews and Samaritans usually did not get along. So Jesus chose a surprising hero. Our neighbour is not just a friend or someone like us.
Ask: Who is hard for kids to help at school? (Wait for answers.)
Say: Jesus did not only tell this story. He came to help us when we could not help ourselves. Because he loves us, we can love others.
Say: Jesus' words are simple: "Go, and do thou likewise."
Point out the three parts on a whiteboard or paper: SEE, STOP, HELP.
Say: Now let's practice with a game.
Game: Stop or Pass By? (8 min)
Setup before class: Write 6 situations on index cards, such as: a classmate drops all her papers; a new kid sits alone at lunch; someone falls on the playground; a friend is left out of a game; a neighbour's trash can has tipped over; a younger child cannot reach something. Put a masking tape line on the floor.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Children stand in a row behind the tape line.
2. Read one situation aloud.
3. Children who would STOP and help take one slow step over the line. Those who would pass by stay put. (There is no wrong place to stand. Be honest.)
4. Ask one child over the line: "What would you do?" Invite ideas, then step back and read the next card.
5. After the last card say: "Mercy sees, stops and helps, even when it is hard."
Safety: Walking only. No one is pressured to answer.
Craft: Helping Hands (8 min)
Setup before class: Put paper, pencils, crayons and safety scissors on tables. Cut a sample hand for display.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Each child traces one hand on paper with a pencil.
2. On each finger, write or draw one way to show mercy (examples: share, help carry, include someone, say kind words, pray).
3. Write "Go, and do thou likewise" on the palm.
4. Colour the hand and cut it out with safety scissors. Helpers cut for younger children.
5. Children take it home as a reminder.
Safety: Supervise scissors. Check for any allergy to markers or stickers before using them.
Talk It Over (5 min)
Ask the questions below. Take short answers.
1. Who helped the hurt man? (A Samaritan.)
2. Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan as the hero? (To show that mercy is for everyone, even people we think are different.)
3. What did the Samaritan do that cost him something? (Time, his own animal, oil and wine, and money.)
4. What can you do when you see someone who needs help? (Stop, ask if they are okay, get an adult, share, be kind.)
5. Which finger on your Helping Hand will you try this week? (Answers will vary.)
Say: Let's finish by learning our verse and praying.
Verse and Prayer (4 min)
Say: Our memory verse is Luke 10:37. Say it with me, line by line: "And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
Repeat twice, with a step forward on "Go."
Say: Let's pray. Repeat each line after me.
Dear God, thank you for loving us. (Pause.)
Help us to see people who need help. (Pause.)
Give us kind hearts to stop and help. (Pause.)
Thank you, Jesus, for showing us mercy. Amen.
Say: Go and be good neighbours this week!
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Index cards with situations written on them
- Masking tape (for a floor line)
- Plain paper
- Pencils
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors
- Stickers
Teacher notes
- Safety: craft uses scissors and markers. Supervise closely and check for allergies to materials or stickers before class.
- Adaptation: for children with special needs or mixed ages, pair buddies for the craft and use picture cards for the game. Offer a quieter option of drawing the Samaritan helping instead of writing.
- Do not add details beyond the text (the man's name, what the thieves looked like). Keep Background lines brief.
- In the game, never ask a child to share a personal or embarrassing experience.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Luke 10:25-37. A lawyer asked Jesus who his neighbour was. Jesus told of a man who was hurt, and a Samaritan who stopped, cared for him and paid for his care. Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise." Our neighbour is anyone who needs help.
- Who did you see this week that might have needed help?
- What is one way you could show mercy to someone who is different from you?
Read Luke 10:30-37 together. Then choose one neighbour or family member to help as a family, such as bringing in their mail or making a card.
Show mercy to one person each day. Use the Helping Hand craft to check off each act of kindness.
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