Discussion Guide for The Good Samaritan
In order to do this lesson as a family, set aside 15-20 minutes and grab a Bible, whether that's looking at the biblical text with older kids, or at the Spark Story Bible that we use for younger kids. And while it's obviously not the same as going to church, I'd encourage you to think about ways to help make your home a worshipful space: light a candle, say a prayer, sing a hymn or a Chapel song, or maybe take a moment of silence and some deep breaths. Everything listed below is meant to be optional -- you can pick and choose what will work best with your family.
Opening Your Time Together:
Reading the Bible:
Discussing the Passage:
Closing Your Time Together:
Opening Your Time Together:
- Checking In - If your family is anything like mine, we're all still trying to grapple with this rapidly changing reality as best we can, but we aren't necessarily intentional about talking through how we're feeling. So take some time before you begin to ask your kids where they're at. How are they feeling? Is there anything that they're worried about? What are some things that they are really missing right now? Remind them that you love them and that you're there for them no matter what during this time. Brainstorm ways you can recreate things they're missing; we're committing to a video chat with one other family per day and trying to do 20 minutes of family yoga watching an online instructional (don't ask how well that's doing with a 2.5 year old).
- Opening Prayer - God, it's been a really hard week as we've all tried to adjust to this new reality. We're feeling a little stir-crazy at home, we miss our friends and family, and we miss so much of our regular life. But we know eventually things will return to normal - and we know that you are here with us whether we're at home or at church. So we pray that in our time of family worship that you might help us sense your spirit. Help us to hear the message that you want us to hear, and help us be patient, be kind, and show love to one another. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
- Opening Hymn - Great is Thy Faithfulness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1MqM0NAgQE - the link is to an piano instrumental of this song. You'll get to see a pianist in action, but you can also sing along via the verses below:
- Verse 1 - Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been,Thou forever wilt be.
- Refrain - Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
- Verse 2 - Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above; Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
- Refrain - Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
- Verse 3 - Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own great presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
- Opening Chapel Song - Doxology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUco1i7fEns - the link is to a piano version, which is exactly what we play at the start of Chapel each Sunday. See if your kids remember the hand motions that go along with this hymn - they might be able to teach you too!
Reading the Bible:
- Open up to the passage, whether in the Bible or the Spark Bible. Ask your kids if they are familiar with this passage and, if so, what they remember.
- Read the passage together. Bible - Luke 10:25-37, Spark Bible - pages 360 to 365
- (Optional) You can also practice something called lectio divina, which basically means you read through the passage once, asking kids to listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at them. After reading, everyone shares their answers and then you read the passage again, listening for new insights!
Discussing the Passage:
- For Younger Kids
- Jesus tells a story about a man who helped someone in great need - what are ways that you, and the church, try to help people in times of need?
- Think about the last time you donated something - clothes, toys, money, etc. - and then imagine how someone might have felt when they received it. What did that person's face look like when they received it? How did they use it? That's why God wants us to give and share with others - to spread joy and happiness!
- Jesus reminds us that God wants us to help everyone, no matter who they are or where they're from. Is it easy to show love to everyone, or is it hard? What makes it easy or hard?
- For Older Kids
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan wants us expand our idea of who our neighbors are... how can we practice being good neighbors to each other, even in a time when all of us are at home and away from one another?
- One of my favorite sayings about being Christian is: "Being Christian means loving God and loving your neighbor. It's that easy, and it's that hard." How might loving God or loving our neighbor be hard? What gets in the way of loving God? How does this passage challenge us to change the way that we look at, talk to, or treat other people?
- Back in Jesus' time, Samaritans were not well liked by people living in Jerusalem - are there people or groups who our society treats poorly today? How might we be called to stick up for them, or show them love?
- Fun Chapel Song
- Every week in Children's Chapel, we sing a fun song that often relates to our Bible lesson. In looking around on the internet, I realized how tough it is to find versions of these songs that aren't a little cringeworthy, but perhaps you can encourage your kids to sing along to Father Abraham if they remember it from our Chapel time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3DjT6kS4-4
Closing Your Time Together:
- Closing Prayer - God, as we remember that you call us to be good neighbors like the Good Samaritan, remind us that by staying home this week and next week we are doing just that. We are helping keep others safe and healthy by keeping ourselves safe and healthy. It isn't easy to do, but we know that you have given us the strength and the patience to keep going. We again pray for all of the doctors and nurses out there working to treat the sick. We pray for city, state, country, and world leaders as they make decisions that affect so many live. And we pray for all those who have impacted by this disease - praying that they might recover fully and well, and that they would know of your presence with them. We lift up other prayers to you now, Lord: (ask for your kids to share prayers, if they'd like). We lift up all these prayers to you, Holy God. Amen.
- Closing Hymn - Bless the Lord, My Soul - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Svh-9ohg4 - this simple, meditative hymn comes from the Taize Monastery in France. Feel free to close your eyes and sing along for a peaceful conclusion to your time together.
- Verse - Bless the Lord, my soul - and bless God's holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul - who leads me into life.