YEA Lesson Library
Who Should I Love?
About This Lesson
Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, this lesson teaches that, as Christians, we should demonstrate our love for God by helping others.
Scriptures
Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 10:40-42
Matthew 22:34-40
Matthew 25:41-46
Mark 12:28-34
Luke 6:30-38
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 14:13-14
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 2:4-7
Words to Know
SAMARITAN - an inhabitant of ancient or modern Samaria
LEVITE - a member of the tribe of Levi, especially one appointed to assist Temple priests
The Lesson
One day, an expert in the law decided to test Jesus. So he asked Him what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded by asking him what the law said. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus told him if he would do this he would live forever. The man continued to test Jesus by asking ‘Who exactly is my neighbor?’ In reply to this test question Jesus gave the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
A Jewish man was on his way to Jerusalem when he was attacked by robbers, who stripped and beat him and left him by the road half-dead. A priest came along, and after seeing him, crossed over to the other side of the road. He didn’t even want to walk on the same side of the road! A Levite came by and did the same thing. It wasn’t until a Samaritan came by and saw this poor bleeding man that anyone had enough compassion to stop and help. He cleaned and wrapped the wounds, put the man on his donkey and took him to an inn where he could be cared for. Even though the Samaritan had probably never seen this Jewish man before, he gave the innkeeper two denarii and instructed him to take care of him. He felt such a responsibility for the injured man that he told the innkeeper he would be coming back that way and would repay him for any further services.
A very significant aspect of this parable is that this good man was traveling in Judea where Samaritans were generally despised so much that the two different races didn’t speak to one another. In spite of that, he went out of his way to help this Jew. He had a respect for human life regardless of the nationality. Respect for people shows you value them and feel a measure of responsibility for them. It didn’t matter to this Samaritan that he was from a different group, race or religion. When a person needs help, should we allow personal ties or social systems to prevent us from helping? James 4:17 says, “Remember, too that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.”
God’s Spirit in us will cause us to look beyond personal characteristics or nationalities as the Good Samaritan did. Since God created all mankind, shouldn’t you, as a Christian, feel a responsibility for others regardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender or social standing?
Now spend a few minutes meditating on the love chapter in this easy to read translation.
Love is . . .
If I can speak beautifully and can sing like an angel, but don’t love others, I sound like a child banging on a piano or screeching radio.
If I’m very smart, almost a genius, if I can figure out the hardest math problems and understand sentence diagrams, but don’t love others, I am nothing.
Love will stand in line and wait its turn. Love looks for the good in others. Love doesn’t always want what others have, and it doesn’t brag about what it does have.
Love is polite, even when the other person is rude. Love doesn’t always have to be first.
Love doesn’t get angry over the small things, and it doesn’t remember one reason after another to be hurt.
Love isn’t happy when someone else fails but is happy with the truth.
Love will always protect others, especially those who are often picked on or teased.
Love always believes the best about others and is steady and true.
Love never gives up. Preaching will stop someday. So will speeches. Knowledge will come to an end.
Today we only know part of what there is to know. We can preach and speak only with a small part of understanding, but when perfection comes then what is imperfect will go away.
I am now young, and so I talk and think and speak like a teenager. When I become an adult I will put adolescent ways behind me.
Now we see only a poor reflection, like in a mirror;
Then we will see face to face. Now I only know part of what there is to know; then I will know fully and will be fully known.
Only three things really matter in life; Faith, Hope and Love.
But the greatest of these is LOVE.
This translation is from the New Adventure Bible with minor alterations. (New International Version Study Bible for Kids)
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Luke 10:25-37
Monday - Leviticus 19:18
Tuesday - Matthew 10:40-42
Wednesday - Luke 6:30-38
Thursday - Matthew 25:41-46
Friday - Ephesians 2:4-7
Saturday - Luke 14:13-14
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe their God given responsibility to help human beings regardless of their nationality, religion or gender.
2. Explain the value that God places on human life.
3. State that if we know that we should do good, it is a sin not to do it.
Topics & Themes
Eternal Life
Loving God
Loving Others
Parable
Good Samaritan
Samaritan
Materials Needed
Bible, Yea students and teacher’s books, balloons, paper, pencils, attendance and memory verse charts, songbooks, CD, music player and rewards for recitation
How to Teach This Lesson
The Parable of the Good Samaritan helps answer the question, “Who should I love?” By sequentially following the questions laid out below, you will be better equipped to complete every section, stay on track and meet the objectives of this lesson.
Who can tell us of an incident you have seen or heard about where someone got hurt and people ignored them, or refused to help? Do you know if any of these people professed to be Christian? Ask one of the better readers to read Luke 10:25-37 aloud. What is the greatest commandment? To love God. What is the second greatest commandment? To love your neighbor as much as yourself. What will you do when you learn of a “neighbor” who is hurting? You’ll do your best to help him.
What does the term “tough love” mean to you? It may entail withholding something from a person for their own good to bring them to their senses so that they will do the right thing. Do you see a contradiction between tough love and the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Give an illustration of when you would use tough love and how you would do it. A person gets drunk and passes out. They are in a safe place so you leave them there and throw a blanket or coat over them, rather than putting them to bed.
How many people do you think are in your circle of friends? (Let every student give their estimate.) What different races and religions are included in your circle of friends? Do you think your groups of friends would be considered by others as a clique? How often do you reach out to others and try to include them in your social life? How often do you reach out to others and try to include them in your religious life? What ways could they be included?
How many families on your block do you really know? (Let each student give an answer to this.) Have you ever visited any of them when they were sick? Do you have any elderly of lonely people living alone on your block or nearby your home? When you visit them, what kinds of questions could you ask to help get acquainted? What was life like for you when you were my age? What kind of work did you do? How many children do you have? How many grandchildren do you have? Were you in World War II, the Korean War, etc. Where were you stationed? Tell me about your most frightening experience. What was it like for you during the Great Depression? How much did you make an hour? Where do you attend church? Encourage your students to set goals to visit elderly and lonely people. If they have none living near them, they can find plenty of people to visit in a nursing home. This type of visit will not only help the person visited, but the student as well. Remind them to graciously thank the person they visit and to keep them in their prayers.
When you get to know an elderly or lonely person, do you think you have a responsibility to check on them from time to time? Why or why not? Yes, they are my neighbor.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Buy enough balloons for each student to have two. Before class, write the following characteristics that will build friendships on separate pieces of paper and put one in each balloon: “honest,’ “forgiving,” “supportive,” “fun to be with,” “trustworthy,” “has a sense of humor,” “listens well,” “loyal,” “dedicated Christian,” “caring person,” “understanding,” and “encouraging.”
Place the deflated balloons on the floor and have the students form a circle around them. Each one can select two balloons, blow them up and tie them off. Then get them to compare the balloons with friendships – they come in different sizes, colors, they are fun and you must treat them carefully. After this discussion is finished, let them burst their balloons and read aloud the characteristics that will build friendships.
This is the week for each student to recite 1 Corinthians 13. Allow time in class for this. It would be good if you gave those who can repeat it an award, even if it is no more than a book marker or a ribbon. You might ask the minister if your students would be allowed to recite this chapter during the worship service. You may also want to consider video-taping these presentations.
Song
“I’m Yours” is on page 65 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer. Suggest that they remember to thank God for their friends and ask Him to provide them with even more friends so they can share God’s message and love with them.
Printable Pages
