This lesson teaches children that loving God and loving their neighbor go together, and that everyone is our neighbor. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a few questions, and one simple activity.
Big Idea
Jesus wants us to love God with our whole heart and to love our neighbor the way we want to be loved. Anyone who needs help is our neighbor, even if they are different from us.
Memory Verse
Luke 10:27
He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
(WEB)
Put one hand on your heart for “love God,” then open both arms wide for “love your neighbor.” Say the verse together twice, doing the motions each time, and then try it with your eyes closed.
The Story: Luke 10 for Kids
Jesus sent out seventy followers, two by two, to every town he was about to visit. He told them to bring no bags and no extra shoes, and to trust that people would welcome them. When they went into a home, they were to say, “Peace be to this house.” Some towns welcomed them, and some did not, and the followers came back full of joy.
One day a teacher of the law stood up and asked Jesus a question to test him. “What must I do to have life that never ends?” Jesus asked him what the Scriptures said. The man answered that we must love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said, “You have answered well. Do this, and you will live.”
The man wanted to know who his neighbor really was, so Jesus told a story. A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, took his things, and left him hurt on the road. A priest came by, saw him, and walked on the other side. A Levite did the same thing.
Then a Samaritan traveler came along. He saw the hurt man and felt sorry for him. He cleaned his wounds, lifted him onto his own donkey, and took him to an inn. He even paid the innkeeper to keep caring for the man. Jesus asked which one acted like a neighbor, and the teacher said, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
Later, Jesus visited the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha was busy cooking and cleaning, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to him. Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus gently said, “Martha, you are worried about many things. Mary has chosen what is most important, and it will not be taken from her.”
Read It Together
Luke 10:2
Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus told his followers to pray for more workers. Explain that caring for people and telling them about God is something we can all be part of, even as children.
Luke 10:30-35
30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’
(WEB)
Read this slowly and let children act out the robbers, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. Ask them to notice each small kind thing the Samaritan did, from bandaging to paying for the room.
Luke 10:41-42
41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
(WEB)
Show children that Jesus did not scold Martha for working hard. He wanted her to notice what mattered most, which was spending time with him. Ask them what they think “the good part” means.
Talk About It
- Who is someone who needs help that you could be a neighbor to this week?
- What did the Samaritan do to help the hurt man, and what might you do the same way?
- Why do you think the priest and the Levite walked past the man?
- How can you show God that you love him when you are busy with chores or school?
- What is one thing you can do to make sure you spend time listening to Jesus each day?
Activity Ideas
Neighbor Picture Frame
You will need paper plates, crayons, markers, and glue. Have each child draw a picture of a person they can help in their neighborhood, school, or family, and glue it in the center of the plate. Let them write “My Neighbor” along the edge and bring it home to remind them of their kind actions.
Good Samaritan Relay
You will need a few soft toys or rolled-up towels, a bowl, a spoon, and a small blanket. Set up two stations about 10 steps apart, and let children take turns carrying a “hurt friend” from one station to the other while another child cheers them on. Ask them afterward how it felt to help someone carry something heavy.
Kindness Card for Home
You will need index cards, pencils, and stickers. Have each child write one way they can show love to someone at home, such as helping with dishes or saying a kind word, and decorate the card with stickers. Encourage them to give the card to that person during the week and tell them it is a reminder of Luke 10:27.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that loving God and loving people are connected, and that God’s kingdom is about sharing his care with others. The Good Samaritan story reminds us that our neighbor is anyone in need, including people others may overlook or consider different from us. The story of Martha and Mary helps us see that serving others matters, but spending time with Jesus is the first priority.
Try not to suggest to children that they can earn God’s love by being kind enough or good enough. Jesus teaches that love is a response to God’s love for us, and children should hear that their kindness flows from who God is, not from a need to prove themselves.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, help us love you with our whole heart. Show us who our neighbors are, and give us kind hands and kind words for them. Help us listen to you like Mary did and trust you with our worries. Thank you for loving us. Amen.
