Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
The Good Samaritan: Love
Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8 New Testament PrincipleLove
An expert in God's law asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told a story. A man was walking down the road to Jericho when robbers beat him up and left him half dead. A priest came by, but he passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same. Then a Samaritan came. Jews and Samaritans didn't get along, but he stopped. He bandaged the man, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. He paid for everything. Then Jesus turned the question around. "Which one was a neighbor to the man?" Love doesn't ask, "Who do I have to love?" It asks, "Who can I love?" We love because God first loved us.
Love means caring for others the way God cares for us. We don't ask who deserves it. We love anyone who needs it, because God first loved us.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s love
The hurt man couldn't help himself, and the Samaritan came to him and paid the cost. That's a picture of what God did for us. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We were helpless, but God came to us in Jesus and paid everything. "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This connection is an illustration; Jesus told the parable to teach us how to love our neighbor.
Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 4:9-11; 1 John 4:19
The Big Story · Redemption
God made people to love Him and love each other. Sin made us selfish, and we can't love perfectly on our own. But when we were helpless, God loved us. Jesus came to us, paid the cost and gave His life for us. Now His love in us helps us love others, even people who are hard to love.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Where does the road end?
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): The inn on the road
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Build the inn
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God loves me! I love others!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Stop and help!, Color the kind man and his donkey
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
A man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told a story. Robbers hurt a man on the road to Jericho. A priest walked by on the other side. So did a Levite. But a Samaritan stopped. He bandaged the man, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. He even paid for him to stay! Jesus asked, "Which one was a neighbor to the man?" The answer was the one who showed mercy. Love means caring for anyone who needs it, because God first loved us.
Start here
Do "Where does the road end?" Build a short brick road and ask kids where love can stop. Put a hurt minifigure at the end. Say, "Let's hear Jesus' story about a road and a man who needed love."
Bible story 6 min
A man who knew God's law came to Jesus. He wanted to test Jesus. He knew God said, "Love your neighbor." So he asked, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus told a story. A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers jumped out! They took his things and hurt him. They left him by the road. He could not get up.
A priest came down the road. He saw the man. But he walked by on the other side. Then a Levite came. He looked, and he walked by too.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Build the road and the inn 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people
- Pairs build the road to Jericho or the inn from the build guides.
- Lay a hurt minifigure by the road. Walk the priest and the Levite past on the other side.
- Walk the Samaritan down the road. Have him stop, help and carry the man to the inn. Pay the innkeeper two coins.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
An expert in the law asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" He wanted to justify himself. Jesus told of a man beaten by robbers on the road to Jericho. A priest and a Levite passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan had compassion. He bandaged the man, brought him to an inn and paid for his care. Then Jesus turned the question around. "Which of these three was a neighbor to the man?" Love doesn't look for a limit. It cares for anyone in need, because God first loved us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Who was a neighbor?, Build the inn
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
An expert in the law, wanting to justify himself, asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered with a story. A priest and a Levite passed a beaten man on the Jericho road, but a Samaritan, an outsider, had compassion. He treated the man's wounds, carried him to an inn and paid for his care. Then Jesus reversed the question. "Which of these three was a neighbor to the man?" Love doesn't hunt for limits. It acts for anyone in need. And we can love like this only because God first loved us in Jesus.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Love without limits, Be a neighbor
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Love
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Jesus Blesses the ChildrenMark 10:13-16; Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17When people brought little children to Jesus, His disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was upset and said, "Let the little children come to Me." He took them in His arms and blessed them. Jesus loves children and welcomes everyone who comes to Him like a child.New TestamentLove
Fruit of the SpiritFruit of the Spirit: LoveLuke 7:36-50; Galatians 5:22-23; John 13:34-35When a woman who had done many wrong things came to Jesus, she washed His feet with her tears and poured out perfume, because He had forgiven her. Simon, the proud host, gave Jesus nothing. Love is the first fruit God's Spirit grows in us, and it grows when we know how much we are loved and forgiven.New TestamentLove
God Shows No Favorites: Peter and CorneliusActs 10:1-48; Acts 11:18Cornelius was a Roman army officer who loved God, gave to the poor and prayed. An angel told him to send for Peter. At the same time, Peter had a vision of a sheet full of animals that Jewish law said not to eat. God said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Just then, Cornelius's men arrived. Peter went with them, even though Jews didn't usually visit Gentiles. He told Cornelius's household about Jesus, and while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on them. Peter said, "God does not show favoritism." God loves people from every nation, and we should too.New TestamentLove
Seeing God's WorldMade for RelationshipsMatthew 22:34-40; Genesis 2:18-24; 1 John 4:19-21When someone asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, He gave two that belong together – love God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself. From the beginning God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." We were made for relationship with God and with each other.New TestamentLove
Jesus the KingThe Lost SonLuke 15:1-32Jesus told a story about a son who ran away and wasted everything, and a father who ran to welcome him home, showing how much God loves lost people.New TestamentLove
The Woman at the WellJohn 4:1-42Jesus stopped at a well in Samaria and talked with a woman others avoided. He knew everything about her and still offered her living water, and He told her He was the Messiah. She ran to tell her town, "Come and see!" Jesus loves us first, so we love others too.New TestamentLove