(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will compare the story of the healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) with the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23).
Learning Goal: Students will compare the responses of the lepers that Jesus healed.
Enlist a student to summarize today’s passage (Luke 17:11-19). Make sure the student highlights the lepers’ desperate need, the response of the Samaritan, and the response of the other nine lepers. Ask: What was the response of the two groups in this story? Say: We don’t know much about the mindset of the nine lepers that didn’t return to Jesus. We can assume they were too excited by the fact that they were healed that they did not return to show gratitude. Remind the students that this moment dramatically changed the lives of these lepers forever but they were focused more on the results than the healer. Say: There is another possible response to Jesus.
Enlist a student to read Luke 18:18-23. Lead the students in a discussion about this passage. Ask: What was this man’s initial question? What does this imply about the man? (At least to some degree, he was seeking Jesus.) After Jesus got through the basic requirements, he told the man to sell everything and give it to the poor. Ask: Why do you think Jesus asked the man to do this? (Jesus knew the man was not really ready to give up everything for Jesus.) Explain that from this passage we see a third way to respond to the goodness of Jesus—turn away from Jesus. Ask: Why do you think this was the man’s response? (He was happy with his blessings, but he didn’t really want to acknowledge that his good things came from God.)
Say: Like the men in these stories, we have the opportunity to respond to God in one of three ways: accept His gifts with gratitude, accept the good things He provides but forgetting to than Him, or deliberately turn away from Him.