"Forgiveness is great!"
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: The story Jesus told about the son who
sinned against his father and then was forgiven when he returned
is a familiar one. The story is often called the "Prodigal Son,"
but it is really more appropriate to focus not on what the son
did, but on what the father did when the son returned. It is the
father's willingness to forgive this son that is the key lesson of
the story.
*Ask each child to think of something that someone else did
that hurt or offended him in some way. After they have had some
time to do this, ask volunteers to tell about the situation that
they thought of. Ask the key question: "Have you forgiven this
person who offended you?" Ask them what they think God would want
them to do in this matter of forgiveness. Relate the story of the
Prodigal Son to show the way the father forgave his son. Isn't
this the way God wants us to forgive each other?
*Bring some nice candy and show it to the children. Explain
that the candy will be the reward for anyone who correctly answers
three Bible questions that you will ask. Then ask them three
questions about something in the Bible. At least one of the
questions will be so hard that nobody will know it, i.e.: On what
date did Ezekiel receive his call to be a prophet? At the
conclusion of the three questions, when everyone can see that they
can't answer the questions, tell them that you are going to
forgive them for not knowing the answer and give them the candy
anyway. Show them that this is the way the Father in heaven
forgives us, his children. We can't do all that God commands us to
do, but God forgives us and gives us heaven anyway because we
believe in Jesus Christ.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the story of the Prodigal Son as it is printed in
Luke's Gospel. After verse 19, ask them why they think the son
wanted to go back to his father. After verse 24, ask them to
explain why the father was so happy. After verse 30, ask them why
the older son was unhappy. After verse 32, ask them to explain why
the father forgave his son.
(You are looking for ways to show that our Father in heaven
loves us so much that he will forgive our sins if we come to him
with a repentant heart as this son did. We want the children to
see the importance of forgiveness in all Christians. The Father
forgives us, and we need to forgive each other.)
sinned against his father and then was forgiven when he returned
is a familiar one. The story is often called the "Prodigal Son,"
but it is really more appropriate to focus not on what the son
did, but on what the father did when the son returned. It is the
father's willingness to forgive this son that is the key lesson of
the story.
*Ask each child to think of something that someone else did
that hurt or offended him in some way. After they have had some
time to do this, ask volunteers to tell about the situation that
they thought of. Ask the key question: "Have you forgiven this
person who offended you?" Ask them what they think God would want
them to do in this matter of forgiveness. Relate the story of the
Prodigal Son to show the way the father forgave his son. Isn't
this the way God wants us to forgive each other?
*Bring some nice candy and show it to the children. Explain
that the candy will be the reward for anyone who correctly answers
three Bible questions that you will ask. Then ask them three
questions about something in the Bible. At least one of the
questions will be so hard that nobody will know it, i.e.: On what
date did Ezekiel receive his call to be a prophet? At the
conclusion of the three questions, when everyone can see that they
can't answer the questions, tell them that you are going to
forgive them for not knowing the answer and give them the candy
anyway. Show them that this is the way the Father in heaven
forgives us, his children. We can't do all that God commands us to
do, but God forgives us and gives us heaven anyway because we
believe in Jesus Christ.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the story of the Prodigal Son as it is printed in
Luke's Gospel. After verse 19, ask them why they think the son
wanted to go back to his father. After verse 24, ask them to
explain why the father was so happy. After verse 30, ask them why
the older son was unhappy. After verse 32, ask them to explain why
the father forgave his son.
(You are looking for ways to show that our Father in heaven
loves us so much that he will forgive our sins if we come to him
with a repentant heart as this son did. We want the children to
see the importance of forgiveness in all Christians. The Father
forgives us, and we need to forgive each other.)
