Sign Language: “Thank you, Jesus”
Hi children! You are all well-mannered children. I want to ask you something — when you need something or want your Daddy/Mummy to help you do something, what do you say? <Please> Very Good! And after someone gives you something or helps you, what do you say? <Thank You> That’s right. Do you know who always gives us so much blessings/good things every day? <Jesus> Yes, that’s why we must learn how to appreciate the many good things He blesses us with, and to say “Thank You”.
Do you know that there are some people who cannot speak or hear? But they can also say “thank you” to Jesus. How do they do that? With their hands! It’s called sign language.To say thank you, start with your right hand in front of your face, vertical, with your fingertips touching your chin. Then move your hand down and out in front of you, keeping your palm flat. To say Jesus, begin with your hands open in front of you, palms up. Keep one hand still and use the middle finger of the other hand to touch your open palm. Repeat with the other hand. Ask the class to say some things that they are thankful for, then lead them to use their new sign language skills to say thank you to Jesus.
2. STORY: Jesus Heals the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-18)
11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosymet him. They stood at a distance13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
We’ve learnt about leprosy before. What is leprosy?
A dreaded and contagious skin disease that causes disfigurement. Lepers had to leave their family and homes and live outside the city. They can’t go near other people. They have to call out, “Unclean, unclean” every time they come into the city.
That’s why when the 10 lepers saw Jesus, they stood at a distance from him.
They called “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” They must have known that Jesus was not an ordinary person. That He cared for people, and He had the power to do something about their situation.
Interestingly, Jesus didn’t stretch out His hand or pronounce healing on them. He just told them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” The only way for a leper to be able to go back to their homes and families is if they go to a priest and the priest certifies that they are healed and clean.
Even though their skin was probably still white with leprosy, the 10 lepers went off to see the priest. Normally this would be considered quite silly — Imagine going to the priest when you are still sick! But the Bible calls this FAITH — trusting in Jesus’ words even if you haven’t seen the results yet.
And as they went, miraculously they were healed! Their skin was not white and rotting anymore! They were whole! Happily they rushed to see the priest. They must have been so eager to be declared “clean”. That means they can now go home and see their wife, their children, their home.
But one guy didn’t rush off. He saw that he was healed. He was overjoyed. He ran back to Jesus, praising God with a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.
This leper knew that he didn’t deserve anything. He was a Samaritan, who was hated by the Jewish people. He was probably not “qualified” to be healed. But because of His love and grace, Jesus (a Jew) healed him without any question. That’s the love of God — unconditional and for everyone.
Jesus asked, “Weren’t there 10 who were healed? Where are the other 9? Why is it only this one man came back to give praise to God?” Then He told the man, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Let’s understand how deep and wide and amazing the love of God is for us. When we realize that, then our hearts will be filled with thanksgiving and joy for all that He has done for us!
3. LESSON
Key lesson from this miracle: Jesus heals — He doesn’t care who you are; He just wants to show you God’s power and love.
Know the HEART of Jesus!
Then we can call out to Him in our time of need and know that He will help us.
Act in FAITH!
Trust Jesus’ words and promises even when circumstances and facts show otherwise.
Respond in THANKSGIVING!
We have every blessing in Christ Jesus. Let’s rejoice and be glad in it and thank Him for it every day!
4. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
Around the room:
God has given us so many gifts to be thankful for. We can be thankful for Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins. We can also be thankful for good health, food to eat, our church, etc! Let’s remember to thank God today, like the one man did in our Bible lesson.
What are you thankful for today?
Have students sit in a circle. Have the first student say one thing they are thankful for (try not to have similar things as others). Have the next person repeat the first and add a second. Continue around the room. Last person has to be able to name all the things everyone is thankful for.
If group is big, divide in 2.
Testimony Time: Get kids to come up to give their testimonies of thanksgiving. If group is big, divide them into 2 groups to share.
Song: “I can be thankful” (to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”) I can be thankful; yes I can
For my family; for my friends.
God has given so much with His Son
Thank you Jesus for all You’ve done.
Song: “Ten Little Lepers” (to the tune of “Ten Little Indian boys”) One little, two little, three little lepers
Four little, five little, six little lepers
Seven little, Eight little, Nine little lepers
Ten little leper menThe lepers said, “Jesus come heal us”
The lepers said, “Jesus come heal us”
The lepers said, “Jesus come heal us”
And that is what He didJust one man came back to thank him
Just one man came back to thank him
Just one man came back to thank him
Thank you Jesus for healing me
Craft: Paper Leper Man Healed Prepare cut-out gingerbread man-shapes. Have kids draw a sad face and white spots on one side, and a happy face on the other, with the words “Thank you Jesus!”
