Script:
Luke 17:11-19
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!
Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I just wanted to thank you for doing a great job.
Pastor: Thank you, Sammy.
Sammy: You always listen to me, tell me stories, teach me about the Word of God, and you are a great friend to me.
Pastor: That’s very kind of you, Sammy.
Sammy: I just wanted you to know.
Pastor: You know, Sammy, your thankfulness reminds me of the Gospel reading for today. Jesus healed ten men with a skin disease.
Sammy: A skin disease?
Pastor: Yes—they called out to Jesus and asked him to heal them. He healed them by telling them to go show themselves to the priests. On the way to the priests, they were healed.
Sammy: But why did he tell them to go to the priests? Why not just heal them right away?
Pastor: What do you think, boys and girls? Why did Jesus send the men to go to the priests instead of healing them right away?
[Allow time for responses]Pastor: These are great answers and ideas. Jesus wanted the men to act in faith. Walking toward the priests meant a commitment of faith for them. And men with a skin disease were considered unclean. They were unable to worship God at the temple if they had a skin disease.
Sammy: So that would be like if we couldn’t go to church?
Pastor: Yes.
Sammy: But they couldn’t help it!
Pastor: That was the rule. In Jesus’s time, there was no cure for this skin disease.
Sammy: That’s horrible. They were forever banned from church. I love church. I want to be here every day.
Pastor: I know, Sammy. But you know, what? Jesus healed all ten of these men, and then they could go to worship God in the temple.
Sammy: And one of them went back to thank him. That man is my favorite. Jesus gave him his life back.
Pastor: Jesus gives each of us a new life in him, and it’s important to thank our God for the many gifts he gives us. In fact, let’s pray and thank him right now. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your head? Dear Jesus, we thank you for your healing power. We praise you for directing us to you. Help us to be thankful for everything you give us. Amen.
Sammy: Bye, everyone!
Pastor: Bye, Sammy!
