Parable of the Good Samaritan (June 10th)

Season of the Church Year: Common Time/ “Great Green Growing” Season  (green)

Story in Scripture: Luke 10: 25-37

This week, we learned about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. When we discuss parables with the children, we often equate them with a door… even though it is meant for entering into, sometimes it feels like it is locked. We can return to it again later and perhaps it will be open to us. This metaphor is meant to help the children realize that, although parables are meant to help us better understand God’s story and the Kingdom of Heaven, it is often difficult to truly grasp the meaning- but that’s okay. We can return to these stories again and again throughout our entire lives. The parable of the Good Samaritan is the same way. Our discussion in class focused on the idea that God calls us to love and serve ALL others, regardless of their background or what we think we have in common with them.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

Now I wonder who was a good neighbor to the robber?

I wonder how a Samaritan could be a neighbor?

Many people thought that Samaritans were not good. They were often looked

down upon and left out. How did the Samaritan show God’s love to the man?

Prayer:

“Lord, help me to understand your parables. Enter into my heart and mind so that I can be the kind of person that you have made me to be. I want to serve and love my neighbors- whoever they may be. Thank you for going alongside me as I try to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I love you and am so thankful for the stories that Jesus shared. Amen.”

Looking forward:

Next week, we will learn about the Parable of the Great Banquet, told in Luke 14: 15-24