Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS HEALS TEN LEPERS

GAMES 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 Games Workshop

At the end of this lesson the children will:

Explain the terms leper and Samaritan and understand they were labeled as outcasts in Jesus' time.

Learn that Jesus' love is for everyone, even outcasts.

Recognize that faith results in acts of obedience - doing what God asks.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Construction paper
  
• Scissors
  
• Tape
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

Cut out construction paper circles and put tape bubbles on the back.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Greet the children as they enter.

Dig - Main Content

To teach the children about leprosy, play the leprosy tag game.

Find a large, open area in which to play.

Give one child a construction paper circle to tape to himself. This child has leprosy.

Place the remaining circles with tape already attached on a nearby table.

When the game begins, the children with leprosy can take large steps, while the “clean” children take baby steps.

The child with leprosy will take a circle and “tag” another child by sticking the circle on that child, who will then have leprosy as well. Explain that leprosy was a communicable disease -- you had to be near who had it in order to become infected with it.

The children with leprosy will go back to get another circle and try to infect someone else.

Continue until all children are infected.

Play the game again, this time letting the “lepers” take baby steps and the “clean” children take large steps.

Discuss the following:

How was leprosy transmitted?

How did it make you feel to have leprosy?

Why were the lepers in the story told they could not enter the city again until they were clean?

In the story of the ten lepers, who came back to say thanks? [Explain that a Samaritan was also considered an outcast in Jesus’ time just because of where they lived.]

Who are some people that might be considered outcasts today?

Do you think Jesus loves all these people?

What do you think Jesus would want us to feel and think towards these people?

If time allows, play a game of “Jesus, May I?” to demonstrate the faith and obedience of the ten lepers.

Find a large, open area in which to play.

Pick one child to be “Jesus.” Have this child stand at one end of the room.

Have all the other children, the lepers, line up on the other side of the room.

“Jesus” starts the game by telling one child to do something: take two baby steps, jump forward three times, do five jumping jacks. The child then needs to say, “Jesus, may I?” “Jesus” then says, “Yes, you may.” The child performs the requested task and “Jesus” picks another child.

If the child who is asked to do something forgets to say, “Jesus, may I?,” “Jesus” may send that person back to the beginning.

The first child to reach “Jesus” is “healed” and should go to the priest, the teacher, to be presented as clean.

Keep playing the game until all the children have been “healed.”

Discuss:

What did Jesus ask the lepers to do in the story in order to be healed?

Did it make sense for the lepers to go to the temple without first being clean?

What healed the lepers?

How was playing this game and doing funny things like what Jesus asked the lepers to do?

How can we show our faith in God with our obedience? In other words, what is God asking us to do every day?

Did any of you thank our “Jesus” for your healing?

How many of the lepers returned to thank Jesus?

How are we often like the other nine lepers in the story?

How can we be more like the leper who returned to say thanks?

Reflect – Closure

Have the children form a circle. Close with a popcorn prayer having the children stand up to say their prayer. Ask each child, if he or she is comfortable, to contribute to the closing prayer by naming something they can do this week to show their obedience to God.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Younger children may not understand the term “outcast” and may not have even thought that some people are treated differently because of social status or illness. You may need to do extra explaining about this topic. They will understand, however, about not getting near people who have germs!

Adaptations - Older Children

Older children, especially in fourth grade and up, are well aware of social and economical differences and how society treats those of lesser means. Use these games and discussion questions to get the children talking about these social and economic issues as they apply to us today. Ask probing questions to have the children think about what Jesus would do today. Make the corollation that what Jesus would do is what he wants us to do.

SOURCES

Children’s Ministry Magazine Live – Out of the Box Workshop (leper tag game)

CONTRIBUTOR: Stephanie Smith