Car Wreck / Good Samaritan

Do not read ahead, just follow the instructions

1. Read the following bible passage from Luke 10:30-37.

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.

A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.

He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"  He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

2. Answer the following questions (write with complete sentences, using the question in the answer.)

a. Where was the man going to?

b. What is a Samaritan?

c. How much did the Samaritan spend on the man?

d. The Samaritan knew that the injured man would look upon him with disgust and view him as an enemy, yet the Samaritan helped him anyway.  Why do you think the Samaritan helped a man who he knew viewed him with scorn? (write at least 30 words)

e. What do you think would you do in a similar situation?

3. Imagine you drove a car today that you really care about or that your parents really care about and it is parked in the school parking lot.

a. Imagine that someone comes into the room and says that a car in the parking lot was just totaled.  Write your immediate reaction below, including how you feel.  (Please no cuss words.)  Use complete sentences.  Write at least 2 sentences.

b. Imagine that someone comes into the room and says that the car that was totaled belongs to a classmate whom you do not like. Write your immediate reaction below, including how you feel.  (Please no cuss words.)  Use complete sentences.  Write at least 2 sentences.

c. Imagine that the car that was totaled belongs to your best friend or a person you care about. Write your immediate reaction below, including how you feel.  (Please no cuss words.)  Use complete sentences.  Write at least 2 sentences.

d. Imagine that the car that was totaled belongs to you. Write your immediate reaction below, including how you feel.  (Please no cuss words.)  Use complete sentences.  Write at least 2 sentences.

4. Is there a difference in the answers to A, B, C or D?  If not or if so, state below and why it is that way.

5. Look back at the story of the Good Samaritan.  Write below at least 50 words comparing the car wreck activity to the story of the Good Samaritan.  Make connections and draw conclusions as you write.  What is the main point?

Read the following:

The story of the Good Samaritan was no doubt baffling to Jesus' audience.  The Samaritan treated a complete stranger—someone who himself probably was prejudiced toward Samaritans—as if he loved him.  The Samaritan treated the stranger in need in the same fashion that he would treat his best friend or that he would want shown to himself.  Imagine that you had responded with the same concern when you heard that the totaled car belonged to the student whom you do not like as when you heard that is was your car.  Such a response would parallel that of the Samaritan to the stranger.

Throughout this course, we will hear about people who are suffering, about people in need, and about conflicts among people.  We will better be able to appreciate the meaning underlying these topics if we can cultivate the spirit of the Good Samaritan.  If we share in the pain of the victims of our world, we will be more open to hearing about the injustices and more eager to seek solutions.  In this course we need to see the world differently—through Jesus' eyes.

6. Short Essay:  Imagine you are downtown in the Old Market with a group of friends.  A man comes up to you and asks for some change.  He is dressed in old, dirty clothes.  He has a sour odor about him and looks as if he is homeless.  In the space below, write out the conversation you would have with him.  Include your reasons for your actions and for what you say to him.  Your conversation needs to be at least 50 words.