Single lesson
A Samaritan Village Refuses Jesus
Luke 9:51–56
In this lesson, children will follow a short but important moment in Jesus’ journey. They will notice who made choices, what happened next, and how Jesus showed the kind of response that fits his mission.
Before you teach
These verses describe a point when Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for him, but the village did not receive him because he was travelling toward Jerusalem. James and John reacted strongly, and Jesus answered them before moving on.
Children will be able to retell the sequence in Luke 9:51–56 and explain that Jesus rejected destroying people and continued on his way to save lives.
Welcome: Where is Jesus going?
5 minBegin by telling the class they will hear about a village that refused to receive Jesus. Ask children to listen for where Jesus was going and what he decided to do. Read Luke 9:51 slowly and explain that “set his face” shows a firm decision to go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51
Read and explain: The village says no
7 minRead Luke 9:52–53. Explain that Jesus sent messengers ahead into a Samaritan village to prepare for him. The village did not receive him because he was travelling toward Jerusalem. Help children put the story in order: Jesus was travelling, messengers went ahead, and the village refused him.
Luke 9:52, Luke 9:53
Discuss: James and John choose a harsh response
6 minRead Luke 9:54–55. Ask children what James and John wanted to do when they saw the refusal. Point out that they asked about calling down fire from the sky, but Jesus rebuked them. Explain that Jesus clearly rejected their response.
Luke 9:54, Luke 9:55
Make and respond: Sequence cards
8 minChildren make four simple cards showing the order of the passage: Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, messengers enter the village, the village refuses Jesus, Jesus rebukes the disciples and goes to another village. As they place the cards in order, ask them to say which choices led to each outcome.
Luke 9:51, Luke 9:52, Luke 9:53, Luke 9:55, Luke 9:56
Closing: Jesus keeps going
4 minRead Luke 9:56 again. Emphasise that the Son of Man did not come to destroy lives but to save them. Then notice the final action: they went to another village. Finish by inviting each child to say one thing Jesus did in this passage.
Luke 9:56
Questions to explore
What shows that Jesus was determined about where he was going?
Look at the words in Luke 9:51 that say he “intently set his face to go to Jerusalem”, which shows a firm decision.
Luke 9:51
Why did the Samaritan village not receive Jesus?
Use the exact reason given in Luke 9:53: they did not receive him because he was travelling with his face set toward Jerusalem.
Luke 9:53
How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ idea, and what reason did he give?
Luke 9:55–56 says Jesus rebuked them and said the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
Luke 9:55, Luke 9:56
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Luke 9:51–56 together and list four main moments from the passage.
- Have children draw one scene on each card: Jesus heading to Jerusalem, messengers entering the village, the village refusing Jesus, and Jesus rebuking the disciples before going to another village.
- Mix the cards and ask children to put them back in order.
- Let each child retell the story using the ordered cards and name one choice made in the passage.
This activity helps children sequence the account and connect each person’s choice with what happens next in Luke 9:51–56.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the four story moments orally and let them draw simple pictures without writing full sentences.
- For older children, ask them to add a short caption from the passage under each card, such as “didn’t receive him”, “rebuked them”, or “to save them”.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you that you came to save. Please help us learn from your words and choose responses that fit your way.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Luke 9
51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem
52 and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.
53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set toward Jerusalem.
54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
55 But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.
56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.