Teaching Gratitude with the Story of the Ten Lepers
Some Bible stories capture children’s hearts in a very simple way — and the story of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19) is one of them. It’s short, memorable, and full of lessons about faith, kindness, and gratitude.
Whether you’re teaching in Sunday school or guiding a Bible lesson at home, this story opens up a beautiful opportunity to talk about what it means to be thankful — not just for gifts, but for God’s presence in our everyday life.
Helping Children Understand the Story
When Jesus met ten men who had leprosy, they cried out asking Him for mercy. He sent them to show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were healed. But only one came back to say thank you.
This simple act is a powerful reminder that gratitude is a choice. With young children, it helps to pause and ask:
How do you think the man felt when he realized he was healed?
Why do you think only one came back to say thank you?
What are some ways we can thank God today?
Talking through feelings and choices helps the story move from “something that happened long ago” to “something that can happen in my heart.”
Why Teach the Ten Lepers Story?
The story reminds children that being thankful matters — not only for blessings received, but also as a way to show love and faith in God.
When Jesus healed ten men with leprosy, only one returned to say “thank you.” This short but powerful moment becomes a perfect discussion starter for themes like:
-Gratitude and kindness
-Obedience and faith
-Remembering to thank God every day
By using visual and interactive materials, children can better understand not just what happened, but why it matters.
How to Use This Lesson in Sunday School
In Sunday school, the Ten Lepers story companion works beautifully for a 20–30 minute class. Here’s a simple flow you can follow:
Start with the Story: Read Luke 17:11–19 or share a child-friendly retelling.
Discuss the Message: Ask simple reflection questions — Why do you think only one came back? How can we say thank you to God today?
Do a Craft or Coloring Page: Let children create their own Ten Lepers craft while you talk about being thankful.
Act It Out: Use the printable puppets or headbands for a short role-play. Kids love pretending to be the lepers calling out to Jesus!
Close in Prayer: Thank God together for all the blessings He gives.
This lesson is perfect for ages 4–8, but can easily be adapted for older children with the included writing prompts.
Ideas for Christian Homeschool Families
For homeschool families, this companion makes a wonderful weekly Bible study unit.
You can:
Read the story on Monday, color the pictures on Tuesday, and make the craft midweek.
On Friday, encourage your child to write or draw one thing they are thankful for.
Use the story sequencing cards as a family review game — mix them up and let your child put them back in order.
Learning about gratitude together as a family builds a meaningful faith foundation and creates lasting habits of thankfulness.
Hands-On Ideas for Sunday School
If you’re teaching in Sunday school, here are a few easy ideas to bring the story to life:
1. Act It Out
Invite children to take turns being Jesus and the ten lepers. Have them call out, “Jesus, have mercy on us!” and walk around the room pretending to be healed. This helps them feel the story.
2. Thankful Hearts Craft
Give each child a paper heart. On one side, write “Thank You, Jesus.” On the other, they can draw or write something they’re thankful for — their family, health, friends, or faith.
3. Counting Gratitude
Use the number 10 as a visual connection to the story. Ask children to name ten things they’re thankful for. Write their answers on the board or make a gratitude poster for the classroom.
4. Gratitude Prayer Circle
Close the lesson by forming a circle. Each child can say one short sentence beginning with “Thank You, God, for…”
These activities help children express gratitude in their own words and actions — the very lesson the healed leper teaches us.
A Lesson to Remember
The healed man who came back to thank Jesus teaches a timeless truth: gratitude grows faith.
When we take the time to thank God, we remember how deeply we’re loved.
Whether in a Sunday classroom or around a kitchen table, the story of the Ten Lepers gives children a simple way to practice faith through thankfulness. And sometimes, that’s the most powerful lesson of all.
The story reminds children that being thankful matters — not only for blessings received, but also as a way to show love and faith in God.
When Jesus healed ten men with leprosy, only one returned to say “thank you.” This short but powerful moment becomes a perfect discussion starter for themes like:
-Gratitude and kindness
-Obedience and faith
-Remembering to thank God every day
By using visual and interactive materials, children can better understand not just what happened, but why it matters.
How to Use This Lesson in Sunday School
In Sunday school, the Ten Lepers story companion works beautifully for a 20–30 minute class. Here’s a simple flow you can follow:
Start with the Story: Read Luke 17:11–19 or share a child-friendly retelling.
Discuss the Message: Ask simple reflection questions — Why do you think only one came back? How can we say thank you to God today?
Do a Craft or Coloring Page: Let children create their own Ten Lepers craft while you talk about being thankful.
Act It Out: Use the printable puppets or headbands for a short role-play. Kids love pretending to be the lepers calling out to Jesus!
Close in Prayer: Thank God together for all the blessings He gives.
This lesson is perfect for ages 4–8, but can easily be adapted for older children with the included writing prompts.
Ideas for Christian Homeschool Families
For homeschool families, this companion makes a wonderful weekly Bible study unit.
You can:
Read the story on Monday, color the pictures on Tuesday, and make the craft midweek.
On Friday, encourage your child to write or draw one thing they are thankful for.
Use the story sequencing cards as a family review game — mix them up and let your child put them back in order.
Learning about gratitude together as a family builds a meaningful faith foundation and creates lasting habits of thankfulness.
Hands-On Ideas for Sunday School
If you’re teaching in Sunday school, here are a few easy ideas to bring the story to life:
1. Act It Out
Invite children to take turns being Jesus and the ten lepers. Have them call out, “Jesus, have mercy on us!” and walk around the room pretending to be healed. This helps them feel the story.
2. Thankful Hearts Craft
Give each child a paper heart. On one side, write “Thank You, Jesus.” On the other, they can draw or write something they’re thankful for — their family, health, friends, or faith.
3. Counting Gratitude
Use the number 10 as a visual connection to the story. Ask children to name ten things they’re thankful for. Write their answers on the board or make a gratitude poster for the classroom.
4. Gratitude Prayer Circle
Close the lesson by forming a circle. Each child can say one short sentence beginning with “Thank You, God, for…”
These activities help children express gratitude in their own words and actions — the very lesson the healed leper teaches us.
A Lesson to Remember
The healed man who came back to thank Jesus teaches a timeless truth: gratitude grows faith.
When we take the time to thank God, we remember how deeply we’re loved.
Whether in a Sunday classroom or around a kitchen table, the story of the Ten Lepers gives children a simple way to practice faith through thankfulness. And sometimes, that’s the most powerful lesson of all.
👉 Download the Ten Lepers Story Companion today and make your next Sunday school or homeschool Bible lesson meaningful, creative, and full of joy!
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