A Thankful Heart Series

The Ten Lepers - Lesson 2

Warm up: Say: Every time you hear me say the word leprosy, you call out Unclean! Unclean!" Let us practice this. (Practice this several times with the kids). Every time I say the word ten say Jesus, heal us!. Lets practice this. (Practice this several times). Read the Memory Verse: Luke 17: 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. (NIV) Object Lesson: Leprosy is a skin infection caused by bacteria (mycobacterium) it causes great damage to a persons skin which results in

deformities around certain parts of the body. Years ago, there was no treatment for this disease so people had to go away from society and live in a place secluded from others. Today, there are antibiotics that are very effective to help with this disease. Here is a picture of someones feet that had leprosy. (Show picture on this cover page). Many times, when someone had leprosy, they
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had to ring a bell to let others know to stay away from them. Some would call out, unclean, unclean. Today when someone has leprosy, the medical field may refer to it as Hansens Disease (medicinenet.com)

Bible Sermon Based on Luke 17:11-19 One day, Jesus decided to travel to Jerusalem. On his way, He would pass between the two places of Samaria and Galilee. As Jesus arrived closer to the city, he saw a pitiful sight. There were ten (pause) lepers who were standing outside the city all alone with no family or friends nearby. How sad! Jesus felt sorry for them and he wanted to help them, but He wanted them to ask for His help. You see, Jesus will not push his own way on us. He waits for us to come to Him and ask for His help. Do you have a friend who tries to give you advice all the time even when you do not ask for it? How does it make you feel? How does it make you feel when someone tries to get you to do what they want all time? Maybe, they want to be the leader all the time or the one who it IT. Maybe they want to be the first in line or get the first piece of pizza all the time. Because of their leprosy (pause) these lepers were not allowed to live in the community around other people. They had an infection that made them unclean. I volunteer in a hospital once a week and see many sick people. Some of these people have infections. When I go into their rooms I may have to wear a gown, mask, and gloves. I cannot let my clothes touch anything in the room or near their bed. Sometimes, they want me to hold their hand when I pray with them. I do this sometimes. When I leave, I need to take my gown, gloves, and mask off a special way in order that I do not touch anything part that could be
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contaminated. Then, I go wash my hands with soup and water or a special solution that the hospital provides. I am very careful, because I do not want to get an infection. These ten (pause) lepers were isolated from others in society. They could not live in the neighborhood such as where you may live or go shopping to the grocery store like you do. They had to go away far from the people. Some of the people that I work with in the hospital are placed in isolation. They are all alone in the room with no other patients. All the workers that go into the room including family members need to put on a glow and gloves and sometimes a mask. Sometimes, these people feel bad and will tell me they do not like being treated that way. How do you think the lepers must have felt? No one wanted to touch them, or be near them. How Sad! Even if I do not like being around patients who have a serious contagious infection, I will put on a gown and go into these rooms at the hospital. Sometimes, I am tempted to pass them by and have at times, but it makes me feel bad because I feel that they need to be ministered to as well as anyone else and maybe more so. The ten (pause) lepers cried, Jesus, have mercy on us. Jesus heard their cry, and it made him feel happy that the lepers trusted in him to heal them. The lepers had heard Jesus was coming and acknowledged his authority and power. Jesus did not heal them of their leprosy (pause) until they came to Him to be healed. He did not push himself on them or require them to be cleansed of the leprosy. Jesus wants us to trust him when we

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ask for things in prayer. He wants us to exhibit faith by our words and actions. Jesus told the ten (pause) lepers, to go show themselves to the priest. It was not until they obeyed, turned around, and started walking in obedience that they noticed a difference. God will not answer our prayers if we are disobedient to him. We must obey Jesus and He will help us with any problem no matter how big or small it may seem to us or others. God is powerful. So the lepers left Jesus. Look! Do you see any spots on me? No, I cannot find one spot on you. What happened? They examined themselves and not one spot was on them. They became so excited and forgot all about what Jesus had done for them as they went to show themselves to the priest. One leper stopped and thought, I want to thank Jesus for what He has done for me. He turned and ran back as fast as he could and fell at Jesus feet thanking him over and over. He was so grateful for his healing. Have you ever given a gift to someone and they did not act like they liked it? Maybe, they did not even say thank you. How did that make you feel? Jesus wants us to be thankful people. Jesus asked the man who was helped. Where are all the other nine men? Didnt I heal ten (pause) lepers? Go your way for your faith has made you clean. We need to be t thankful for everything that God does for us. Even when things do not go the way we want them to, we need to count our blessings. When we pray and God does not heal our family
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member like we asked, we need to praise Him. We do not deserve anything from God. It is only in His mercy and great love that he responds to our prayers. Once the lepers showed themselves to the priest, the priest would examine them to see if all the leprosy was gone. Then, they would be free to enter back into society and go home with their families.

Comprehension Activity 1. Draw the outline of a person on a poster board. You can add some clothes to prevent the kids from laughing where cottons balls are placed if you wish. 2. Divide the kids into teams, or they can play as a group. 3. Call on one kid at a time to answer a comprehension question correctly. Allow them to go to the board and glue a cotton ball on the body that represents their team. Continue until all the questions have been answered. See which body has the most cotton balls - leper spots. If the glue is too messy or does not work, they can scotch tape the cotton balls to the poster board. Take the cotton balls and pull them slightly apart. 4. Questions for Comprehension Activity 1. What is leprosy? Ans. skin infection caused by bacteria 2. What two things did a person do to let people know they had leprosy? Ans. Cry out Unclean or ring a bell 3. Today when someone has leprosy, the medical field will call it what disease? (Hint: Begins with the letter H and is two syllables) Ans. Hansens Disease 4. One day, Jesus decided to travel to what place? Ans. Jerusalem
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5. What pitiful sight did He see? Ans. Ten lepers all alone 6. Why were these lepers were not allowed to live in the community around other people? Ans. They had an infection that made them unclean. 7. Although Jesus saw their sad condition, he wanted to _________ for His help? Ans. Ask for His help 8. How do we protect ourselves from others who may have bacteria today in the hospital? Ans. Wear gloves, wash our hands, wear mask, wear gown to cover our clothes 9. How do you think the lepers must have felt when no one wanted to touch them, or be near them? Ans. Sad 10. The lepers heard Jesus was coming and acknowledged his authority and his great _____? Ans. Hint: Begins with letter P power. 11. What did the lepers cry out to Jesus? Ans.Jesus, have mercy on us. 12. What did Jesus tell the lepers to go and do? Ans. To go show themselves to the priest. 13. What happened when they turned and walked away in obedience to Jesus? Ans. Their leprosy disappeared. 14. Before God will answer our prayers we must be willing to _________ Him? Ans. Obey 15. What did one leper decided to do? Ans. He turned around and came back falling at Jesus feet and thanked Him. 16. What did Jesus say to the one leper who returned to thank Him? Ans. Where are all the other nine men? Didnt I heal ten lepers? Go your way for your faith has made you clean. 17. Who did the lepers need to show themselves to in order to be declared clean? Ans. The Priest 18. Jesus wants to make us clean; how does he do this? Ans. Forgive us of our sins and cleanse us with his blood.

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The

Ten Lepers

Treasures from the Word

SMALL GROUP LESSON AND ACTIVITES Teaching the Memory Verse: Luke 17: 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. (NIV) In our lesson today, there were ten lepers that Jesus healed. However, in our memory verse today, only one came back to thank God for healing him. (Lay out ten sticks and take away one). Let us count together how many lepers did NOT come back to thank God for healing them. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9. Wow! Nine people did not come back to thank God. Our memory verse says that one leper praised God. He bowed down and worshipped Jesus honoring who He was. This was his way to express his thanks for such great and mighty power. He was not ashamed, but praised God in a LOUD voice. Let us say the memory verse together as if we are praising God. (Say the verse) Let us say the memory verse again, and this time when we say the word LOUD let us be loud. Do you think you can do that? (Say the verse) Now, we are going to do something different. Let us go around the room and each person say only one word of the verse. For example: The first person will say the first word of the verse and the next person will say the first word and add another word. Each person will keep adding on until the last person says the whole verse.

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Demonstrate a few words on the board to get them started. If you have room, write out the whole verse this way and then erase and do it without the words on the board. One One of One of them One of them, when

Teacher: Worksheets are provided for extra activity. You can do these together, let the kids to do alone, or let them work with a partner. Some children will need help with spelling words and you may want to write some suggestions on the board for them. Use your own discretion on how much help to give them.

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Memory Verse: Luke 17: 15 Word Bank: Saw, loud, one, back, God, 15

_______________ of them, when he __________________ he was healed, came _______________________, praising _________________in a __________________ voice. (NIV) Luke 17: ________

What are some things in which you can praise God?

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PRAISE GOD Think of 1-2 words of things that you are thankful for that begin with the letters below and write these words on the lines provided.

P ___________________________________________ R ___________________________________________ A ___________________________________________ I ____________________________________________ S ____________________________________________ E ____________________________________________

G _____________________________________________ O______________________________________________ D ______________________________________________

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Ten Lepers - Circle the Best Answer

1. Ten lepers came to Jesus to be healed of: Lice Colds Leprosy Chickenpox

2. Jesus told the lepers to show themselves to the: Doctor Nurse Mom Priest

3. Jesus healed them only when they ________ Him to: Told Asked Dreamed Demanded

4. Jesus healed how many lepers? One Eleven Seven Ten

5. How many lepers came back to thank Jesus? Ten One Seven None

6. Who all should we always give thanks to EVERY day? God Mom Dad Teacher

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One Leper Give Thanks

Coloring sheet taken from web site: http://www.sermons4kids.com/jesus-leper-colorpg.htm Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

NOTE: See The Thankful Series Overview for ideas for music, snacks, and crafts. http://www.scribd.com/doc/64022418/A-Thankful-Heart-KidzWorship-PREVIEW-of-Series

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Art. Give thanks book. Write things you are thankful for on each page. Fold.

Give Thanks

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Ten Lepers Skit

Characters: Leper, Jesus, Townspeople (2), Narrators (1-2).

Costumes: Leper (regular clothes that are in bad shape) Jesus (white robe and long dark hair or wig), Townspeople (robes and head coverings), Narrators (everyday clothes)

Skit Characters: Leper, Jesus, 2 townspeople, Narrators (2)

Narrator 1: Once upon a time

Narrator 2: What are you telling, Goldilocks and the Three Bears?

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Narrator 1: Of course not, besides you interrupted me. Once upon a time..

Narrator 2: There were three pigs!!!

Narrator 1: You mean three little pigs? No, that is not what I am trying to say. And if you would quit interrupting me, I would tell you.

Narrator 2: Ok. Im ready.

Narrator 1: (closed his eyes and crosses his arms ignoring him)

Narrator 2: Im ready.

Narrator 1: (Continues to do the same ignoring him)

Narrator 2: I SAID I am ready!

Narrator 1: Are you sure?

Narrator 2: I will not repeat myself.

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Narrator 1: Once upon a time, there was a leper.

Narrator 2: Youre making that up.

Narrator 1: No, for real.

Narrator 2: What is a leper?

Leper: (Enters calling loudly and crosses stage) Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! (Exits)

Narrator 1: It is a terrible, unclean disease.

Narrator: 2: You mean like chicken pox?

Narrator 1: Do you remember that kid last year at school who stank all the time? His hair was always greasy, and his clothes dirty?

Narrator 2: Hmmmmmmm.. Yeah! I do remember him now. He stuttered, and because he smelled so badly, no one wanted to sit by him in class. The teacher finally made him sit next to the window away from the rest of us.
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Narrator 1: How do you think it made him feel?

Narrator 2: Id say pretty badly. But I could not stand the smell.

Narrator 1: That was what it was like for lepers in Jesus time. People did not want to be around them. They were shunned in society for it was considered to be a bad disease. In fact, the people felt that God did not approve of lepers. They had to live alone, and cry out unclean when there were any people around. All the time.

Leper: (Enters calling loudly and crosses stage) Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! (Exits)

Narrator 2: How terrible!

Narrator 1: The Jewish leaders did not believe a person could hardly be cured of this. They felt it would be just as easy to raise someone from the dead.

Narrator 2: Poor man! All those leperswhy didnt they take some Benadryl for it? It helped me when I had the chicken pox. I itched all over before that (scratches).

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Narrator 1: This is different! You did not have leprosy!

Narrator 2: I had spots all over me (scratches again while looking at arms) His were white I noticedwhats the difference?

Narrator 1: A lepers skin is flaky and itchy, but Id say there was a big difference. Do you want to hear what happened to this man with leprosy?

Narrator 2: Sure thing! I like a good story.

Narrator 1: Well, this is what the Bible sayslisten here (Opens Bible)!

Leper: (enters scratching himself. Pulls up pant leg and scratches. Scratches head, arms, and feet.) Wears tattered clothes that are torn and bare feet.

Townspeople: You are not welcome here! Go home! Get out of here! (Begin to take a few steps threatening toward the leper)

Leper: Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! (Running off)

Townspeople: Wait a minute! (Leper turns) Why are you here in our town? This is a clean town and we do not want strangers here
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especially those who look like you do. This is a nice town and we pay taxes to keep it that way you know Uncle Sam?

Leper: Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! (Begins scratching all over again)

Townspeople: Some people never do learn. Im going home. I have a ball game this evening and we are having pizza home made, too. Wait! Who is that? Jesus: (Enters reading aloud from Bible - Luke 5:12-16) One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." (The Message) Townspeople: (Pointing) Thats Jesus! The healer! Jesus: (Continues reading from Bible) Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone. Leper: I wonder if Jesus can heal me? I wonder if He would think I was important enough to heal? Maybe, Jesus would not want to touch me. I guess it will not work. Jesus: (Keeps reading from Bible) Jesus instructed him, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." But the man couldn't keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their ailments. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. (The Message)

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Leper: Maybe its worth a try. He does seem like a nice person. Ill go ask Him.

Leper: (Runs to Jesus and kneels at Jesus feet)

Townspeople: Where is the leper going? No way! Hes not going to Jesus. Weve got to stop him. Hey there, leper, you stop!

Jesus: What would you have me do for you?

Leper: "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

Townspeople: Thats impossible. A leper cannot be healed. He does not know what he is asking.

Jesus: (Places his hands on the lepers eyes) I will be cleansed from your leprosy.

Leper: You did it! I am healed! I am clean, clean, clean, clean! (Dances around & then hugs Jesus). Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Townspeople: Jesus DID heal him! Can you beat that! Jesus must have SUPER POWER! No one could do that unless he had SUPER POWER!
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Leper: Clean, clean, clean, clean! (Looks at arms, pulls up pants shows clean legs) clean, clean. Jesus has made me clean! I am clean!

Townspeople: We may as well go home and eat that pizza now. I am already late for my game. But wait until I tell this news. What SUPER POWER!

Narrator 1: Wow! That was some story!

Narrator 2: (Closes Bible) We can be a witness for Jesus Christ, and be bold going to others and sharing the Good News. The leper showed such boldness to going to Jesus to be healed. Jesus will help us and go with us anywhere, too.

Narrator 2: He will also cleanse us like He did the leper. If we just ask Him it is as simple as ABC. Admit you are a sinner, and tell Him what you have done wrong, believe Jesus died for you and tell Him those sins, and claim that He has done for you what He said He would do.

Kidz Ministry Jeanne McIntosh, May 2009. All rights reserved.

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