Note to the Teacher

This lesson focuses on gratitude, using the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 to explore the importance of being thankful and how gratitude leads to praise and faith. The icebreaker, "Gratitude Chain," has students sharing their blessings with the group, creating a visual representation of gratitude and connection. The discussion explores the role of gratitude in faith, Jesus’ response to the healed lepers, and how gratitude can lead to wholeness. The activity, "Gratitude Mapping," encourages students to reflect on how gratitude affects different areas of their lives and helps them visualize how gratitude can grow and spread throughout their community.

Times are based on a fifty-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Icebreaker: Gratitude Chain (10 minutes)

Give each student three strips of paper and a marker.

Ask them to write something they’re grateful for on each strip.

After all students have written what they are grateful for on the strips of paper, give one student a stapler and ask that person to read each note of gratitude out loud, while creating a chain by stapling each piece of paper into a circle.

Once the chain is complete, reflect on how gratitude can connect and build a sense of community, just as the chain is a symbol of connection.

Bible Reading (5 minutes)

Read Luke 17:11-19.

Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

Who was the only person who returned to thank Jesus, and what was his background?
What did Jesus say to the one who returned to thank him?
Do you remember other stories from scripture that involve Samaritans? What do you know about them and about how Samaritans and Jewish communities interacted during Jesus’ time?
What do you think the Samaritan’s return to Jesus might symbolize regarding gratitude and faith?
Think of a time you received something important but didn’t express thanks. What do you think would have been different if you had expressed your gratitude immediately?
How do we see gratitude connected to faith in the story? What might Jesus be teaching about how gratitude strengthens our relationship with God?
Have you ever received a gift you did not think you deserved? What was that experience like? Have you ever given a gift that you were sure was beyond the receiver’s expectations? What was that experience like?
If you were to create a ritual for showing gratitude in your community or church, what would it look like?

Active Learning Activity: Gratitude Mapping (20 minutes)

Instructions:

Introduction: Explain that gratitude can lead to positive change and that gratitude is not just about feeling thankful because gratitude affects our actions and relationships.

Creating the Map: Have students draw a "gratitude map" on a sheet of paper or whiteboard. In the center, ask them to write, "Gratitude." From there, they will create branches representing different areas of their life— relationships, school, family, community, church, and so on.

Exploring Connections: Ask students to create three branches for each area and write something for which they are grateful. Ask youth to consider differences and similarities between “gratitude” and “thankfulness” as they create their maps.

Sharing: Once students have completed their maps, ask them to share one or two examples of the things they are grateful for. Ask them who they could tell of their gratitude —as the Samaritan did in the parable.