Read/Hear from either NRSV, KJV or Bildad's version of the Samaritan story. Once one version is accessed, the TWIST BIBLE STUDY buttons are activated. Twist Text below.
Comment: Students will enjoy KJV version as it is done in Shakespearean English. The actor who did the voice gave the Samaritan a SCOTTISH BROGUE because Shakespeare often signaled to his audience who the outsiders were by giving them a dialect.
Twist #1: Jesus picks a Samaritan to be the hero of the story!
Jesus knew that a lot of people didn't like the Samaritans. They were different. They lived in their own part of the country. They were ridiculed for their different religious beliefs and practices. How could someone like that be the hero of the story! Yet the Samaritan practiced his faith when it counted. And that's what counted with Jesus.Twist #2: The Priest and Lawyer probably had good legal excuses for not helping.
Jesus knew that a lot of people looked up to the priests and teachers of religious law. He knew that many in his audience might excuse the two from helping the beaten man. Their religious laws had strict regulations about touching blood or what might be a dead body. It would make them ritually impure and unable to perform their religious duties for a time. They followed the letter of the law, but in doing so failed to follow the heart of the law.Twist #3: Who is my neighbor?
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says that not only are those in need your neighbor, but those who obey the heart of the law (which is love) are ALSO your neighbor! Imagine the look on the Lawyer's face when Jesus told him to go be like the Samaritan!Video Interviews with Priest, Lawyer, Innkeeper, Robbers and Samaritan. Each video is followed by a discussion question. Notice the Priest parked in the handicap spot!
Questions/Comments that appear after each video:
Excuses, Excuse Matching Game: Students read an excuse some people use for not getting involved and match the Bible verse which counters the excuse. Suggested follow-up discussion: Which ones do you use the most?
- 1. Excuse: I don't like that person --- Verse: "Love your enemies and do good.... expecting nothing in return." Luke 6:35
- 2. Excuse: I'm too young --- Verse: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example in speech and conduct...." I Timothy 4:12
- 3. Excuse: I don't know the person ---Verse: "When a stranger resides with you...you shall love them as yourself, ...for you were once aliens in the land of Egypt." Leviticus 19: 33, 34
- 4. Excuse: I don't have the time ---Verse: "Another disciple said to Jesus, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father (before following you).' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow me....'" Matthew 8:21
- 5. Excuse: I'll be ridiculed for helping them ---Verse: "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Matthew 5:11
- 6. Excuse: Nobody will notice if I don't help ---Verse: "The eyes of the Lord are on every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3
- 7. Excuse: Somebody else will help them ---Verse: "What good is it if you say you have faith but do not do good works?" James 2:14
Students browse map to learn more about the history of animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Most locations have audio recording as well as picture. Many end with a question. Below is a quick outline of the various map areas:
Samaria town: What is a Samaritan? What new meaning does Jesus give the term 'Samaritan' ?
Samaria region: History of region of Samaria.
Mt. Gerizim: What didn't Jews and Samaritans get along. What does Jesus say about the true center of Worship?
Judea: What made the Samaritans different? What would Jesus say about their differences?
Shechem: Jesus' encounters with people of Samaria and Samaritan woman by the well. Why is it that some believe and some don't?
Jericho factoid
Dead Sea factoid
Galilee factoid
Jerusalem factoid.... What town is 42 miles from you like Samaria was from Jerusalem?
Hebron factoid
Joppa factoid
Caesarea factoidWho Wants to Be a Samaritan? Quiz Show
- What is the Great Commandment?
- In which Gospel can you find the story of the Good Samaritan? (Luke)
- In which chapter of Luke's Gospel can you find the story of the Good Samaritan? (10)
- To whom did Jesus tell the story of the Good Samaritan? (crowd)
- What is the first "twist" in the story? (see above)
- What is the second "twist" in the story? (see above)
- What is the most likely excuse the religious leaders in the story would have given for not helping the beaten man? (blood)
- Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to the Teacher of the Law to teach him that...
- Why didn't the Jews like the Samaritans?
- In the biblical version of Luke 10:25-37, we are told that the innkeeper is... (no gender given)
- The two denarii or silver coins paid by the Samaritan to the innkeeper are worth approximately ___ in today's money. ($200)
- The story of the Good Samaritan is often called The _______ of the Good Samaritan. (parable)
- How long did the Samaritan help the beaten man? (overnight)
- Scramble Verses:
- ==You | shall | love | the | Lord | your | God | with | all | your | heart | soul | strength | and | mind | and | your | neighbor | as | yourself
- ==What |does | the | Lord | require | of | you | but | to | do | justice | love | kindness | and | walk | humbly | with | your | God
- ==which of these three | do you think | was a neighbor | to the man | who fell into | the hands of the robbers | the Lawyer said | the one | who showed him | mercy | Jesus said to him | go and do likewise
Music Video pulling together all the elements of the CD. Note the various images used to describe how God's love is there to help others, including Communion.
More to Learn and Do:
"Make a list of all your church's Samaritan-like mission projects."
"Discuss how your class could start a Good Samaritan project."
"Sing the song "Lend a Helping Hand" in worship or fellowship."
"Make posters for younger children's classrooms encouraging them to be Good Sams."
"Perform a skit of the Good Samaritan story set in Biblical and then modern times."
"Identify groups in your school or community that don't get along and think of ways to bring them together."Bildad's Comments and Questions
After Luke 10: Now here's a question I want you to think about and talk amongst yourselves about..."Have you ever been in a situation to lend someone a helping hand and NOT done it? What were YOUR excuses? How did it make you feel inside? Think and talk about it amongst yourselves.
After Sam Land: "People not getting along....it's one of the oldest diseases in the Bible and the only known cure is the love of God ...that leads to loving your neighbor no matter who you are, or who they are. Do you know of any groups in your school, or church or community that don't like each other? What could you do to bring a little mercy to the way people treat each other? Talk amongst yourselves.
After SaMtv: 'You may wonder who I am...' well, I'm Bildad the Bible Explorer, but when you and I show mercy and care for others, we're Good Samaritans too, the kind of people Jesus told us to be.
Good Sam Outline and Comments, copyright 2000, Neil MacQueen and Sunday School Software. For more about this great CD, go to our GOOD SAM PAGE at www.sundaysoftware.com/sam.htm
