The Good Samaritan Sunday School Lesson
Introduction to Today’s Lesson: The Good Samaritan
In today’s lesson, we’ll dive into one of the most well-known parables of Jesus, the parable of the Good Samaritan. This is a great story for both younger and older children to learn about love, compassion, and being a good neighbor.
The Good Samaritan Sunday School lesson shows how Jesus calls us to go beyond our differences and help those in need, just as the Good Samaritan did for the wounded man he found on the side of the road.
Bible Reading: The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The story of the Good Samaritan can be found in the Book of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25–37. In this passage, a lawyer tests Jesus, asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds by asking the lawyer what is written in the Old Testament law.
The lawyer gives a good answer by quoting the great commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.”
But the lawyer wanted to justify himself and asked, “Who is my neighbor?” This is when Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Story of the Good Samaritan
There was a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Along the way, he was attacked by robbers. They beat him, took his clothes, and left him half-dead on the side of the road.
Several people passed by without helping the poor man. First, a priest came down the road, but when he saw the injured man, he crossed to the other side and continued walking. Next, a Levite also saw the wounded man but did the same thing, leaving him alone.
Finally, a Samaritan man came along. Even though Samaritans and Jews didn’t usually associate with each other, the Samaritan felt compassion for the hurt man. He bandaged the man’s wounds and poured oil and wine on them to help them heal.
He then placed the injured man on his own donkey and took him to an inn. The Samaritan took care of him through the night. The next day, he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and told him, “Take care of him. I will pay for any extra expense when I return.”
Jesus ended the story by asking, “Which of these three do you think was a good neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The lawyer responded, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
Key Themes and Memory Verse
The Good Samaritan Sunday School lesson teaches that anyone can be our neighbor, regardless of their background, race, or beliefs. It’s about showing love and kindness to everyone around us. A great memory verse for this lesson is Luke 10:27: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In this lesson, both younger children and older children can understand how Jesus wants us to be good neighbors and practice acts of kindness just like the Samaritan did.
Practical Ways to Be a Good Neighbor
After reading and discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan, it’s important to apply what we’ve learned in practical ways. Ask the children, “How can we be a good neighbor?” You may get a variety of children’s answers, but it’s crucial to guide them toward understanding that being a good neighbor is not only about grand gestures but small, everyday acts of kindness.
Here are some practical ways children can be good neighbors:
- Help someone who is hurt or upset.
- Share toys or food with a friend.
- Offer to help a classmate who is struggling with homework.
- Be kind to someone who seems lonely or sad.
Encourage the children to come up with their own ideas, and write them on slips of paper. You can collect them and discuss them as a group.
Following Activity: Bandaging Wounds
For the following activity, you’ll need some toilet paper and construction paper. Divide the children into pairs and have one child act as the injured man. The other child will use the toilet paper to “bandage” the man’s wounds, as the Good Samaritan did. This hands-on activity helps children visualize the story while reinforcing the lesson of compassion.
Afterward, you can have the children color a coloring sheet depicting the Good Samaritan helping the wounded man, giving them a visual reminder of the lesson.
Discussion Questions for Children’s Church
- Who passed by the injured man without helping?
- Why did the Samaritan stop to help the poor man, even though they were from different groups?
- What did the Samaritan use to help the wounded man? (Oil, wine, and bandages)
- What do you think Jesus meant when He told us to “Go and do likewise”?
- Can you think of a time when you helped someone, even though it might have been hard?
These questions encourage children to think deeply about the story and how it applies to their everyday lives.
Craft: Kindness Coins
For a fun craft, have the children create their own silver coins out of construction paper or aluminum foil. On each coin, they can write or draw a kind deed they can do for someone this week, such as sharing a snack or helping a friend. Encourage them to use their own words to describe their good deeds.
Afterward, they can exchange their coins with a partner and make a plan to do the kind deed they received, just like the Good Samaritan used his own money to take care of the injured man.
Older Children’s Application: Living Out God’s Word
For older children, the parable of the Good Samaritan has deeper meaning. You can discuss how the lawyer in the story was testing Jesus about the great commandment and how Jesus used the story to teach about fulfilling God’s laws. The Samaritan’s actions demonstrated love for his neighbor, not because it was easy, but because it was right.
Encourage the older children to consider practical ways they can follow God’s Word by loving their neighbors. Ask them to think of situations at school, home, or in their communities where they might be able to show compassion and kindness.
Wrap-Up and Reflection
As we wrap up today’s lesson, remind the children that this story is about more than just helping someone who is hurt. It’s about loving everyone we meet, no matter who they are. Whether it’s a friend or a stranger, God calls us to show love and kindness in all situations.
You can close the lesson by asking the children to pray for opportunities to be a good neighbor this week. Encourage them to ask God to help them see the needs of others and give them the courage to act in love.
Take-Home Activity
For a take-home activity, provide each child with a piece of paper where they can write or draw their own version of the story of the Good Samaritan. They can retell it in their own words or draw pictures of the key events. This activity reinforces the lesson and gives them a creative way to engage with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Conclusion
The Good Samaritan Sunday School lesson is a powerful teaching moment for children of all ages. It helps them understand what it means to love their neighbor as themselves and shows them the importance of helping others, even when it’s not convenient. By incorporating hands-on activities, crafts, and thoughtful discussion, children can walk away from this lesson with a deeper understanding of how to live out the teachings of Jesus.
Encourage the children to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their daily lives, whether it’s being kind to a sibling, helping a friend at school, or showing compassion to someone in need. Just like the Samaritan, we all have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
If you are a Sunday school teacher, you may also like our lessons on the 12 Apostles, Abraham and Sarah, or our Baptism games for Sunday school.
In what ways do you practice being a good samaritan in your day-to-day life? Let us know in the comments below!
Vanessa Rooney – LDS Mum