Aim

To make children aware of Jesus' radical moral teaching.

Preparation

Before the lesson read the teachers notes, photocopy one worksheet for each child and read thee parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).

Lesson

Begin lesson by informing children that as they have spent the last five weeks learning about right and wrong, they should know what is the right thing to do in a number of situations.

Distribute copies of the worksheet and ask them to complete it.

Discuss their responses and their underlying reasons.

On the surface, the situations on the worksheet seem rather straight-forward. But are there any circumstances, however, in which right can be wrong and wrong can be right? For example: smashing a car window. Can it ever be right?

Present the children with this situation.

You pass by a car and notice a baby alone in the back seat. She appears to be choking. There is no-one else around. You try the car doors. They are locked. You look round and notice that in the wall next to you, there is a loose brick. What do you do?

Discuss.

What if, in the above situation you had stuck to the law, which states that it is wrong to smash car windows?

Discuss.

Jesus once told a story about this exact problem to do with right and wrong. Share with them the parable of the Good Samaritan. In turn, examine the actions of each character. Were they right or wrong to do what they did? (See Teachers' Notes for a explanation of this parable.)

Jesus had a very different view from most other people of his time about right and wrong. Even today, his ideas might seem a bit strange. Tell the children what Jesus said his followers should do in each of the circumstances on their worksheets. (See Teachers' Notes)

What are the children's opinions of Jesus' ideas?

Jesus told His followers they must love God and everyone else, even their enemies.

Conclusion

Inform the children that next half-term, they shall be looking more closely at what Jesus meant by the word 'love'.

Teachers' Notes

How Jesus' audience would have understood the actions of the characters in the parable.

The man on the journey.

Wrong. He should not have travelled alone on such a dangerous road.

The robbers.

Right. What did the man expect? He was asking for it.

The priest.

Right. Contact with blood would have made him 'unclean'.

The judge.

Right. He had to be seen to be above such everyday occurrences.

The Samaritan.

Wrong. The Jews were the enemy. He should have finished off the job.

Jesus' moral teachings.

If someone steals your coat - Give them your shirt

If someone punches you in the face - Invite then: to punch you again.

If someone who is not a friend says horrible things to you - Ask God to bless them.

A hundred people ask you for money - Give away all your money.

Someone keeps hurting you, but each time asks you to forgive - Forgive them.