L E S SON

Year B
Who Is Your Neighbor?
1st Quarter
Lesson 7 GRACE God has made us part of His family.

References
Luke 10:25-37; The Desire of Ages, pp. 497-505.

Memory Verse
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, NIV).

Objectives
The children will:
Know that Jesus wants us to be kind to everyone, no matter who they are.
Feel sympathy for anyone who needs their help.
Respond by being a friend to everyone—even those whom others treat badly.

The Message

God wants us to show love to everyone.

Getting Ready to Teach

The Bible Lesson at a Glance innkeeper to take care of the Jewish man
A Jewish man is traveling from until he gets well.
Jerusalem to Jericho when he is attacked
by robbers, who take everything he has This is a lesson about grace.
and leave him lying bleeding beside the The Samaritan treats the injured man
road. A priest comes by but doesn’t stop as God treats us—with love and kind-
to help him. Another priest passes by ness. When we accept His love and be-
later, but he doesn’t stop to help the man come a part of God’s family, we will truly
either. At last a Samaritan comes by and treat others with love and kindness.
stops and takes care of the wounded man.
The Samaritan bandages his wounds, puts Teacher Enrichment
him on his (the Samaritan’s) donkey, and “This was no imaginary scene, but an
takes him to an inn. He even pays the actual occurrence, which was known to

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SEVEN
Program Outline
LESSON SECTION MINUTES ACTIVITIES MATERIALS NEEDED

Welcome ongoing Greet students at door; hear none

pleased/troubled

1 Readiness up to 10 A. Doctor/Nurse toy doctor’s bag, stethoscope,

Options bandages, toy thermometer, empty
medicine bottle, cloth bandages,
crutches, small flashlight
B. Circle of Friends small pieces of paper of two
different colors

* Prayer and up to 10 See page 73.

Praise* *Prayer and Praise may be
used at any time during the program.
2 Bible Lesson up to 20 Experiencing the Story bandages, Bible-times costumes,
child actors, donkey prop

Bible Study Bible

Memory Verse Bible

3 Applying up to 15 Colorful Collage old magazines, scissors, paper, glue

the Lesson sticks

4 Sharing up to 15 “Love Your Neighbor” House house pattern (see p. 77), paper,
the Lesson scissors, crayons

be exactly as represented. The priest and or faith to which we belong. It has no

the Levite who had passed by on the reference to race, color, or class distinc-
other side were in the company that lis- tion. Our neighbor is every person who
tened to Christ’s words” (The Desire of needs our help” (ibid., p. 503).
Ages, p. 499).
“God in His providence had brought Room Decorations
the priest and the Levite along the road Continue with the Israelite home and
where the wounded sufferer lay, that Temple from last week. If desired, add a
they might see his need of mercy and road made out of brown paper, with real
help. All heaven watched to see if the rocks and greenery beside it. Make a don-
hearts of these men would be touched key prop by using two chairs pushed to-
with pity for human woe” (ibid., p. 500). gether facing each other. The donkey
“Christ has shown that our neighbor prop will be used for Experiencing the
does not mean merely one of the church Story and may also be used for Lesson 9.

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 LESSON 7

Teaching the Lesson

Welcome
Welcome children at the door. Ask how their week has been—what
they are pleased/troubled about. Listen to last week’s memory verse and
encourage them to share any experiences from last week’s lesson study.
Have them begin the readiness activity of your choice.

1 Readiness Activities
Select the activity most appropriate for your situation.

A. Doctor/Nurse
Have the children use various items as they pretend to
You Need:
be doctors or nurses by “taking care” of each other.  toy doctor’s
bag
Debriefing  toy or real
Allow response time as you ask: Did you have fun pre- stethoscope
tending you were helping someone feel better? Who  adhesive
takes care of you when you are sick? When you are bandages
hurt? Today our story is about a man who took care  toy thermo-
of an injured person that he didn’t even know. meter
Should we show love and concern for people who  empty
need our help? Even if they are different from us? medicine
That makes me think of today’s message: bottle
 cloth
God wants us to show love to everyone. bandages
 crutches
Say that with me.  small
flashlight

B. Circle of Friends
Distribute a colored paper to each child. Try to have fairly You Need:
even numbers of each color. Tell the children to welcome
 small pieces
one another to Sabbath School (by saying “Hi,” shaking
of paper,
hands, giving a hug, etc.)—except that they can greet only
half of
the other children who have papers the same color as theirs.
them one
Allow time; then tell them that they can greet anyone, no
color, half
matter what color paper they have.
another
Debriefing
Allow response time as you ask: How did it feel when some of your
friends ignored you because your paper was the wrong color? Have
you ever felt as if you were left out because there was something
different about you? Our Bible story today is about someone who

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helped a wounded man even though that man was from a different
country and wasn’t part of his circle of friends. Whom does God’s
circle of friends include? To whom does God want us to show love?
Today’s message is:

God wants us to show love to everyone.

Say that with me.

PRAYER AND PRAISE *

Fellowship
Report the students’ joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reported
to you at the door (as appropriate). Allow time for sharing experiences from
last week’s lesson study, and review the memory verse. Acknowledge any
birthdays, special events, or achievements. Give a special warm greeting to
all visitors.
Suggested Songs
“I Want to Be Like Jesus” (Little Voices Praise Him, No. 194)
“Let Us Do Good to All Men” (Little Voices Praise Him, No. 265)
“Let Us Do Good” (Little Voices Praise Him, No. 263)
“Our Church Is a Family” (Little Voices Praise Him, No. 257)
Mission
Say: Many people in the world are lonely and hurting and don’t
know that Jesus has a family of people who love Him. Missionaries
tell and show people how Jesus loves them. Let’s read about one.
Use a story from Children’s Mission.
Offering
Say: When you bring your money, you are helping other people
become part of God’s family.
Prayer You Need:
Hold up each picture and ask: Does God want this
person to be part of His family? Let’s ask God to  pictures of
help us tell all kinds of people that He wants people of
them to be in His family. Pray a short prayer empha- different
sizing the desire to treat others as Jesus would. ethnic
back-
*Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program. grounds

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2 Bible Lesson

Experiencing the Story man, crumpled and bleeding. But the

Act out the story with children priest pretended that he didn’t see him.
You Need: acting as the traveler, robbers, He turned his head. He walked on by on
two priests, innkeeper, and the the other side of the road. He thought
 adhesive
Samaritan. the man might be a Samaritan, and
and gauze the Jewish priest didn’t like Samaritans.
bandages One day Jesus was talking to a Samaritans were different from the
 Bible-times
crowd of people when a teacher Jewish people.
costumes of the law asked Him a question. “A little while later another priest
 child actors
“What do I have to do to live for- came by,” Jesus went on. [The second
 donkey prop
ever?” “priest” walks by the wounded man.]
(see Room “What does it say in the law?” “He heard the poor traveler moaning in
Decorations) Jesus asked kindly. pain. The priest tiptoed over to take a
“The law says to love the Lord look. The man was so dirty and grubby
God with all your heart,” the man an- and bloody! The priest wrinkled up his
swered. “The law says to love your nose and hurried away. He didn’t want
neighbor as you love yourself.” to be bothered with someone who
“That’s exactly right!” Jesus ex- might be a Samaritan.
claimed. “Not long after that, a Samaritan
“But who is my neighbor?” the man riding a donkey came down the
teacher asked. road. [“Samaritan” walks/rides. Stops
Jesus then told this story to the people. at wounded man.] Remember that a
Samaritan man and a man from
“A man was traveling from Jerusalem Jerusalem usually weren’t friends. What
to the city of Jericho,” He began. “You is that? he thought to himself when he
all know that dangerous road. It goes saw the injured man. The Samaritan
down through the mountains where hurried over to see if there was some-
nobody lives. Robbers like to hide in thing he could do to help.
the caves and rocks there.” [“Traveler” “The Samaritan knelt down beside
walks slowly across the room.] the wounded man. [“Samaritan” treats
The people nodded. They all knew the wounded man.] He carefully washed
which road Jesus was talking about. his cuts and put bandages on them.
“Well,” Jesus said, “a group of rob- Then he helped the poor traveler up
bers attacked the traveler. They tore off onto his own donkey and slowly led
his clothes. They beat him. They stole his the donkey to town.
money and everything he had with him. “The Samaritan took the poor traveler
Then the robbers left him lying there on to an inn. [“Samaritan” helps “traveler” to
the road almost dead.” [Remind the the “innkeeper.”] ‘Please take care of this
“robbers” to be gentle.] man,’ he said to the innkeeper. ‘Please
The people nodded again. They knew feed him, and call a doctor to come and
all about the robbers on the Jericho road. care for him. Here is some money to pay
“Along came a priest (a priest is like for his care. If it is not enough, I will give
a pastor),” Jesus said. [“Priest” walks by you more when I come back on my way
the wounded man.] “He saw the poor home.’“

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When Jesus finished the story, He Bible Study

looked at the man who had asked Him Open your Bible to Luke 10:25- You Need:
the question. Now He had a question 37. Point to the text and say: Here
 Bible
for him. “Which one of those three men is where we find today’s story
was a neighbor to the traveler that the in God’s Word, the Bible. Read verses
robbers attacked?” 30-36 aloud, paraphrasing as necessary.
The man knew the answer. It was
easy. “The one who took care of him,” Debriefing
he answered. Allow response time as you ask: Who
“That’s exactly right!” Jesus said with is your neighbor? Is it only the per-
a big smile. “Go, and do the same.” son who lives next door to you?
Jesus taught us to show love to every- Jesus says that anyone who needs
one. It doesn’t matter what they look like your help is your neighbor.
or talk like or smell like; Jesus asks us to Remember our message . . .
help our neighbor. Our neighbor is any-
one who needs our help. Remember God wants us to show
what Jesus said: “Go, and do the same!” love to everyone.
Debriefing Say that with me.
Allow response time as you ask:
Did you enjoy acting out the story? Memory Verse
Who didn’t help the wounded Turn to Luke 10:27. Hold the You Need:
man? Who did? Why did the Bible so that the children can see
 Bible
Samaritan help someone who the verse. Say: This is where our
wasn’t his friend? Why do you memory verse is found in God’s
think the Samaritan and the Word, the Bible. Read the text aloud.
hurt man were supposed to be “Love your neighbor as yourself”
enemies? Do you think they be- (Luke 10:27, NIV).
came friends? Have the students repeat the verse
Does Jesus love only a certain after you, using the following motions:
kind of people? How do you know?
Who is your neighbor? Remember Love Cross arms over
... your chest.

God wants us to show your neighbor Point to others.

love to everyone.
as yourself. Point to self.
Say that with me.
Luke 10:27 Palms together,
then open.

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3 Applying the Lesson

Colorful Collage who showed love to someone who
Distribute the old magazines. was supposed to be his enemy.
You Need: Ask the children to cut out and glue Jesus tells us that we should show
onto their paper as many pictures love to our neighbor. Our neigh-
 old
of different people as they can find. bor is anyone who needs help,
magazines
 scissors
even if they are different from us
Debriefing in some way. Remember, today’s
 paper
Allow response time as you ask: message is:
 glue sticks
Will you show me your col-
lages? Let’s look at all the different
people. Ask the children to identify God wants us to show
differences, such as hair colors, clothing, love to everyone.
facial expressions, skin tones, etc.
Today we heard about a man Say that with me.

4 Sharing the Lesson

“Love Your Neighbor” Debriefing

House Allow responses while you ask: What
Make a copy of the house does the house say on it? Who is
You Need: pattern (see page 77) for each your neighbor? Take your house
child. Have the children color with you today and share it with a
 house
them and cut them out. (Make “neighbor,” someone you want to
pattern
your own house pattern if your tell about Jesus’ love. Remember . . .
(see p. 77)
local houses are different from
 paper
 scissors
that in the pattern.) God wants us to show
 crayons
love to everyone.
Say that with me.

Closing
Pray that the children will remember to show love to
others as God does.

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 LESSON 7
House Pattern
Lesson 7 – Sharing the Lesson

Permission to photocopy this page is granted for local church use only. Copyright © 2004 General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists®.

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 LESSON 7

S T U D E N T L E S S O N

Who Is Your Neighbor?

References Who is your neighbor? Is it the person who lives next door to you? Jesus said that to
Luke 10:25-37; be a good neighbor means more than that!
The Desire of Ages,
pp. 497-505
One day Jesus was talking to a crowd The priest wrinkled up his nose and
Memory Verse of people. A teacher of the law in the hurried away.
“Love your neigh- crowd asked Him a question. “What do “Not long after that, a Samaritan
bor as yourself” I have to do to live forever?” man riding a donkey came down the
(Luke 10:27, “What does it say in the law?” Jesus road. The Samaritan rushed over to
NIV). asked kindly. see if he could help.
“The law says to love the Lord with “The Samaritan knelt down beside
The Message all your heart,” the the wounded
teacher answered, man. He carefully
God wants us “and love your washed his cuts
neighbor as you and put bandages
to show love love yourself. on them. Then he
to everyone. But who is my helped the poor
neighbor?” traveler up onto
Then Jesus his own donkey
told this story. and slowly led the
“A man was donkey to town.
traveling from “The Samaritan
Jerusalem to the took the injured
city of Jericho. man to an inn.
You all know that ‘Please take care
dangerous road. of this man,’ he said
Robbers like to to the innkeeper.
hide there.” ‘Here is some
The people nod- money. If you
ded. They all knew spend more, I will
which road Jesus give you more
was talking about. when I come back.’”
“Well,” Jesus said, “a group of rob- Then Jesus looked at the teacher.
bers attacked the traveler. They tore off “Which of those three men was a neigh-
his clothes. They beat him. They stole his bor to the traveler?” He asked.
money. Then they left him lying there, The man knew the answer. “The one
almost dead.” The people nodded again. who took care of him,” he answered.
“Along came a priest” (a priest is like “That’s exactly right!” Jesus said with
a pastor), Jesus said. “He saw the poor a big smile. “Go, and do the same
man, beaten and bleeding. But he thing.”
turned his head and walked by on the It doesn’t matter what people look
other side of the road. like or talk like or smell like. Jesus asks
“A little later, another priest came by. us to help our neighbor—anyone who
He heard the poor traveler moaning in needs help. Let’s be like the good
pain. The man was so dirty and bloody! Samaritan.

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Do and Say
Sabbath their different clothing, hair and skin color, etc.
Each day this week, read the lesson story together, Then talk about how they are similar to you.
and review the memory verse by using the following Ask Jesus to help you show love to everyone,
motions: no matter where they live.
Love . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cross arms over your chest.
your neighbor . . . . .Point to others.
as yourself. . . . . . . .Point to self. Wednesday
Luke 10:27 . . . . . . . .Palms together, then open. Ask your child to name some
people who do helping jobs for
others (doctor, nurse, firefighter,
Sunday police officer, missionary pilot,
Together read Luke 10:25-37. Say: We call this pastor, etc.). Have your child
“The Good Samaritan” story. Why was the Samaritan role-play their favorite one.
man good? Do you think it mattered to him where If possible, visit a fire sta-
the wounded man was from? tion and thank the firefight-
Help your child name and count people they know ers for the work they do.
who are from different countries.

Thursday
Monday Have your child put an adhesive bandage on you
Have your child share their “Love Your Neighbor” while you tell them about a time God used someone
House made in Sabbath School. (Or help them draw a you didn’t know to help you.
picture of a house and write the memory verse on it.) Sing a song about loving or helping others.
Let them share it with a “neighbor” and tell that
person the Bible story.
Thank Jesus for His love that you can Friday
share with others. Act out the story, using bandages or
strips of cloth, a blanket, a pillow, etc.
Plan to do something to help
Tuesday somebody you don’t know. For
Look in magazines or books for pictures example, drop off some food at a
of people from different countries. Notice food bank, or visit a nursing home.

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