Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS HEALS TEN LEPERS

MISSIONS WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Luke 17:11-19

Key/Memory Verse: Luke 17:15; Psalm 136:1

PURPOSE

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Rotation

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Missions Workshop

Children will hear the story of Jesus healing the 10 Lepers.

Children will begin to understand that Jesus’ healing grace is for everyone.

Children will begin to explore our universal call to support missions.

PREPARATION

Materials List

• Bible(s)
  
• Internet access
  
• Journal or paper, 1 per child
  
• Map of Africa or globe
  
• Markers
  
• Newsprint
  
• Pencils or pens
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

Pray for the children attending your class.

Read the United Nations World AIDS Site, www.unaids.org, for updated statistics and initiatives. You may also wish to find information and ideas to enhance your study at www.reliefweb.int and http://www.worldvision.org/. Many denominations also have national and international initiatives addressing this crisis.

Make a poster on newsprint of the Rick Warren Acrostic:

C are for and comfort the sick
H elp test and council
U nleash an army of voluteers
R emove the stigma
C hampion healthy behavior
H and out medications and nutrition.

Become familiar with a current world map of the African Continent.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Greet the children by name at the door. If you have new students introduce yourself to them and then introduce them to the class.

Tell the children that today we will be talking about people who are sick and are often mistreated because they are sick with a misunderstood disease called HIV/AIDS. Explain that when Jesus lived, there was another misunderstood disease called leprosy and that people were forced to live apart from their families and communities when it was discovered that they were lepers.

Tell the children they will be reading a story from the book of Luke. Have them find the first page of the book of Luke and hold their Bibles over their heads when they find it. Explain that the big numbers are the chapter numbers. Ask them to find chapter 17 and hold their Bibles across their chests when they find it. Explain that the small numbers are the verse numbers and that we will start reading at the 11th verse. Ask each child to find verse 11 and put their finger on it when they find it.

Have the children read the story out loud verse by verse. If you have new readers you may wish to read it out loud yourself.

Dig – Main Content

Explain that no one knew how to take care of people who had leprosy and that most healthy people were afraid of catching this disease so they would send the sick people away to live with each other. Ask “How would you feel if you were sick and had to live away from your families and friends?”

Then tell the children that today there is a newer disease called HIV/AIDS. It is all over the world but that in parts of Africa many people are infected and affected. [Please add the most current statistics from the above web sites here.] Show the children a world map or globe as you share the statistics. Be sure to include statistics for your own country too.

Explain that this, too, is a misunderstood disease and that many people are mistreated because of it.

Ask the children what we could do to help these sick people. List the answers on newsprint.

Read out loud John 15:12. Explain that Jesus told us in these words that it is necessary to show each other compassion and love at all times. Explain that some people are called by God to specifically go to different parts of the world and minister to those that are sick. These people are called medical missionaries. Tell the children that not all of us are called to be medical missionaries but that we are all called to support these people with prayers and or money. [You may want to talk about some specific missionaries that your church is involved with here.]

Explain that there are many organizations that are trying to help people with HIV and AIDS, but there is one that feels it is the responsibility of churches to help and have even created an acrostic that tells us how to care. Share the “CHURCH” poster. Allow the children to discuss each statement or to ask questions.

Explain to the children that today we each going to write our own acrostic about how we can help, using the word HELP. Print the word vertically on a pieces of newsprint and compose an example with the class such as:

H ealthcare
E ntertain
L etters
P ray.

Hand out journals or paper and pencils or pens. Show the children how to write HELP down the side of their papers. You may want to ask the children to work in groups since some children will find this quite challenging. Guide the group as they create their Acrostic poems. When the children finish, ask them to share their acrostics.

Close with a prayer asking God to show each of us how we can help.

CONTRIBUTOR: Kim Harding