Teaching kids -- Inspiring teachers

Clothe Yourself With Compassion
(Lesson #3 from the Zoo Series)

TO THE TEACHER
(For your devotion in preparing the lesson.)
I am thankful for the opportunity to teach, it causes me to study deeper than I may have otherwise, it forces me to think of creative ways to express a truth that brings it more to life for myself, and makes me take stock of my own walk. I challenge you to do the same as you pick up this and every lesson you read in preparing to present truth to children.

WORSHIP NUGGET
(Share with the children prior to worship.)
Let’s look up a book in our Bibles that we probably don’t get asked to find very often: Let’s see who can find Lamentations first! We are going to read Lamentations 3:22-23. (Read verses out loud after everyone has found it.) Isn’t that beautiful? Our God is great in compassion. He is full of mercy and compassion towards you, every one of you. No matter what you may have done this week, His love remains strong. That doesn’t mean we are never disciplined for wrongdoing, it means that He believes in us even when we do wrong, it means He will not stay mad at us when we ask for forgiveness, it means His love never lessens. His compassion is great. That makes me want to thank and praise Him … how about you? Let’s do that right now.

AFTER WORSHIP
End worship with a prayer thanking Him for His great compassion and asking for that kind of compassion to be birthed within everyone of us.

OFFERING NUGGET
We are going to talk a little about the Good Samaritan today. I know everyone has heard that lesson a time or two … but let’s just talk about it again today anyway. The part I want to point out to you at this time in our service is that one of the ways the Good Samaritan helped out the hurt man was to give of his money to take care of him. He gave of his money … that is what Jesus called being a good neighbor, doing what is right … helping people, caring about people, which includes money, too. What we do with our money is important to Jesus. Think about that point as we take today’s offering.

MEMORY VERSE
Colossians 3:12 "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, clothe yourselves with compassion…"

MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY
Needed: Clothesline, string or yarn and clothes pins and a laundry basket. The clothesline needs to fit across your room. Bring in some t-shirts, socks, hankies, etc. from home. Use double-sided tape and tape one word of the memory verse to each item of clothing.
Choose teams (or use boys vs. girls). Have first team come up one at a time and pull out an article of clothing from the basket. They should put it where they think it will go on the line -- in the right place for the verse. Each child can only place one item. If they feel something needs to be moved, they can move one, but they have to do that for their turn. They can only handle one piece of clothing per turn. You can be as strict with this as you want or as loose … depending on the skill of your class. But make it a race and make it fun. Then read the verse together a couple of times. You can run this again at the end of the service if you have time to see how well they remember the verse.

BIBLE LESSON
Needed: Have some band-aids opened and ready to be used, a long length of gauze bandage, and a cold soda or juice box. Arrange ahead of time with a helper to assist. Have him wait just outside the door so he can hear his cue.
As I mentioned earlier, everyone has probably heard the story of the Good Samaritan. It is a story that Jesus himself told. There was a man that went traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and along the way he was attacked, beaten, and robbed. (Helper outside beats on wall and door and groans and moans. Then he comes in with his hair a mess, clothes disheveled, glasses crooked, etc. He makes his way to the teacher gasping for air, hurting.) "Oh, I’ve been robbed! I’m not going to make it. AHHHH! (Falls to the floor by the teacher and lands in a "funny" position with tongue hanging out.)

Teacher: Well, then, boys and girls. Like I was saying, a man got beaten and robbed while he was traveling. The robbers left him to die. He looks pretty bad doesn’t he? (Go and pick out a child and have them walk along with you.) As he was laying by the roadside, along came a priest. (Whisper to the child to wave at classmates.) Yes, the priest definitely saw the problem. (Whisper in child’s ear to say "Now that is a problem.") Yes, sir -- he saw the problem, but ignored it and walked on. (Walk the child back to their seat and get another child.)

Next along the road came a friendly Levite. (Whisper for the child to say "Hello") The Levite also saw the need. (Whisper in their ear for them to say "Wow! What a need!") Yup, they definitely saw the need. But he also just walked on. (Return them to their seat and get one more child.)

Then, as we know, a good Samaritan came by. Greet my class, Mr. Samaritan. (Let them say hello and wave.) The Samaritan came by and saw the same problem. (Whisper to child to say "That is a big problem.") And he saw the need as well. (Whisper to child to say "That is a big need.") But this person acted differently. (As you talk, have the Samaritan help you by putting band-aids on the victim.) This person bandaged up the wounds. He reached out and did something. He could have walked on as well -- Samaritans and Jews weren’t even supposed to talk to each other, but he simply saw someone in need and knew he had to help. So he bandaged him all up (help wrap gauze around the head). Then maybe he reached into his donkey’s saddlebag and pulled out some refreshment. (Have the Samaritan get the drink you have waiting and open it for the victim and help him drink it.) Then he put him on his own donkey, which for some reason didn’t make it here today for me, so let’s just help him up here … and he took him to a hotel and told the hotel keeper to keep an eye on him and HE GAVE HIM MONEY! He went all out to help this guy. And Jesus said "Good job!" Jesus was telling us to "be like this guy … do what he did!" I want to pay attention, how about you? Ok, thank you Samaritan, and Levite and priest, and guy who got beat up. (Have class applaud.)

Everyone open your Bibles to James 2:14-17. (Read verses after everyone gets there.) Here James is telling us that if we see a need and say ‘big deal’ and walk on we are showing that our faith is dead. Dead stinky faith! Our faith is shown by our acts of kindness and compassion. This passage is specifically talking about compassion on physical needs. And James says acts of compassion prove we have faith. Let’s look at our memory verse again … it says "Clothe yourselves with compassion …" This means it is possible to put on compassion just like you put your clothes on every day. And once you begin wearing it all the time, you won’t want to go anywhere without it. People will know you by your compassion -- that thing you wear.

I want to read you a story about a girl named Lori who learned compassion in a monkey cage:

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Last modified: 08/19/08