Elementary Level, Block 9—Jesus
Week 87
Jesus—Including Others
Point to Emphasize: We want to be those who include others, not merely the ones like us.
Reading Reference: Matthew 9:36; 14:14-21; Mark 8; 10:46-52; Luke 9; 15
Memory Verse: …But always pursue what is good both for one another and for all.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15b)
Story Sample
Let’s think about being in a playground at school. Have you taken a minute to look at the children around you? God created each one of us wonderfully and perfectly! But we all look different.
We all have skin, but you will see many different colors of skin. We all have a mouth to speak, but you might hear children speaking in English, Spanish, Korean, or Chinese. We all have eyes, but you might see some children that need eyeglasses. You might even see some children who are blind. We might all look different, but in God’s eyes we are all wonderfully made!
I wonder, how do you choose the ones you will play with? Do you choose the ones who look like you? Do you think that the children that look different from you are less interesting or less fun to be with? I have a story for you!
I knew a boy who sat in a wheelchair because he had an illness that prevented him from walking. I had the thought that this boy had no fun at all, and I always felt sorry for him. One day I visited him at his house. His parents built this ramp in front of his house so he could go in and out of their house. When I went inside the house, I couldn’t believe my eyes! This boy had a room much better than mine! His bed could go up and down and lift his head and his legs. My bed was plain flat. He even had a swing inside his room. Then, I started talking with him and found out that this boy was SO smart! He knew all about math and science. From that day on we became friends, and I am happy that I have a friend like him! But I always wondered how much he was included by others. [Storyteller, share a personal story of being with someone who was physically different than you, but you learned something from him/her or are friends with.]
Jesus was a person who included others around him. There are many stories in the Bible about this, but I will tell you one of them. There was a blind man called Bartimaeus. When he heard that Jesus was walking by him, he started calling Jesus to be healed by Him. Many of the ones there asked him to be silent. But this man kept calling His name more and more. Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here!” The ones who were around didn’t think Jesus had any desire to see this poor blind person, but they had no choice but to bring him to Jesus. Jesus was interested in seeing him and helping him. Jesus healed him! Bartimaeus was now able to see! Jesus included different kinds of people among those who were with Him. He even included the ones whom the people around Him tried to keep away.
WOW! Hearing this story about Jesus inspires me to include all kinds of people! It makes me want to help and play with others around me, even the ones who don’t look like me. Jesus was not concerned about how people looked on the outside. He cared for and included others around Him.