Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS HEALS TEN LEPERS

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Luke 17:11-19

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

PURPOSE

The children will hear the story of Jesus healing ten lepers, review it by storyboard, and then apply it through sharing their personal stories especially focusing on accounts of being an outcast, welcoming an outcast, and responding to God with thanks.

Objectives for Rotation

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Storytelling Workshop

By the end of the lesson, the children will

have considered ways of loving others, including outcasts;

have considered how to say “thank you” to God;

PREPARATION

Read the story in the Bible.

Read the Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Erasers
  
• Paper, 8 ½” x 11” white
  
• Pencils, colored and lead
  
• Rulers
  

Advance Preparation


Draw storyboard boxes on the white paper, creating two rows of four boxes each the long way across the paper like a comic strip.

Think about and be prepared to share your personal stories and experiences and ask your assistant or the Shepherd or any other adults in the room to do so also. If possible, sit with the students on their level during the discussion rather than standing above them. If the class is large, more than ten children, consider dividing it into smaller groups for the “Reflect” discussion and ask the additional adults to moderate a group. The adult leaders should be prepared to share first if necessary to “break the ice” and create a safe place for sharing. Also, sometimes it is easier to share someone else’s story than one’s own, so sharing of stories of movie and book characters and also of other people is acceptable. Remind the students not to share personal stories that could be embarrassing to others -- no gossiping.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Open with a prayer for illumination, such as, “Lord, send your Spirit to help us dig into your Word and see its meaning for our lives today. Amen.”

Distribute Bibles and have volunteers read the Bible story from Luke 17:11-19, one verse at a time.

Explain the terms “leprosy”and “Samaritan” in the context of the story. In later weeks of the rotation, ask the children who have been present the first few weeks to explain these words.

Dig - Main Content

Explain that one way to illustrate the action of a story and to show the plot line is to use a technique called a storyboard. Display a piece of paper that has been prepared for the project. Note that the students will draw pictures and write words in the boxes to tell a portion of the story in each section of the paper. Make sure the children understand that this will not be an art project so stick figures and smiley faces are fine. Captions or word balloons may be used to help explain what is happening. This story can be done in four boxes, but there are more on the page in case they want to show more detailed action or if they have time to try retelling the story a different way.

Reread the Bible story to the children, slowly and expressively. Have them listen and think about what action they could show and how they can depict it.

Ask some questions to help the children think about the story:

I wonder why the people with leprosy thought Jesus could help them? [Remember, they were separate from the rest of society. Discuss how they might have heard the news.]

When did the men go to see the priests? [Make sure the children see that they were immediately obedient – they went before they were healed.]

I wonder why one person from the group of ten reacted differently?

Invite the children to create their own storyboards. Distribute the prepared papers as well as pencils or other supplies. As they work, encourage them to think about what may have been said in addition to what was recorded in the Bible. Those who finish early can add detail with colored pencils.

Review the memory verse from Psalm 136:1. Note that maybe this is what the one person who returned to say thank you said. Divide the class into two groups, or into a group of boys and a group of girls, and have them say the verse as call and response:

1: O give thanks to the LORD,

2: for he is good,

1: for his steadfast love endures forever.

2: Psalm 136: 1

Switch group numbers and have them do it again.

Reflect – Closure

Ask life application questions, such as:

Who is an outcast in our community? [Encourage the children to think very locally, such as, class bully or nerd, a person with a disability or of another race.]

Have you ever felt like an outcast? When?

Have you ever welcomed an outcast? What happened? How did your friends react?

If the discussion is slow, ask the children to think about a playdate or recess with two other friends, a group of three. Was someone the “odd man out”? How can we make sure no one feels left out?

Jesus loved the ten outcasts in our story and helped them. Should we love and help outcasts? Why? [If necessary, direct the students to, or read to them, Matthew 5:43-48 or remind them of the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37.]

When do you say ‘thank you’ to God? How? Have you ever thanked God for something before it happened?

Close with prayer.

Encourage the children to use their storyboards to retell the story to a parent or friend today.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Outline the story on a flipchart or whiteboard as a group. Describe four “scenes” for them to draw.

Adaptations - Older Children

Have the children practice using their storyboards to tell the story to one another.

CONTRIBUTOR: Amy Crane