Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com

If you would like to do a daily lent reading plan as a family, the Jesus Storybook Bible has a great free printable one (that includes a fun paper chain) to use to count down! 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Who, Me? Forgive?

Based on: Matthew 18:21-35  Luke 6:37

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

I confess. I don’t watch much TV. But what I’ve noticed from the snippets of reality TV shows I’ve seen (besides being so downright strange) is that the highest ratings seem to go to shows with the most vicious judges! In REAL reality, because of the good news that Jesus died and rose so that we can be forgiven, we are freed from cowering in fear before either human judges or God’s eternal judgment!

 

In our world today, the easiest attitude to take is one of judgment or even revenge. When judging others is so ingrained in us, how can we become better forgivers? Simply by remembering the grace and forgiveness God gave to us in Jesus. He has forgiven all of my sin—and I keep discovering new things I need forgiveness for! Because I’m so immensely forgiven, I can honor my forgiver best by forgiving others in the same way He forgave me.

 

In the story Jesus told about the forgiving king, there is an unmistakable parallel to Jesus Himself. King Jesus showed us what true love and forgiveness are by His death on the cross. Jesus paid the full price for our sin so that He could offer complete forgiveness to all who join His kingdom. Jesus is the true forgiving King.

 

Mary Davis

Senior Editor

 

Activity 1:  STORY

Introduction:To read the children:

Peter wanted to know when he could STOP forgiving someone. He was willing to forgive, but he thought there should be a limit! As I read Matthew 18:22  listen to hear Jesus’ answer.  “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” What do you think Jesus meant? When Jesus said to forgive 77 times He meant that we should forgive over and over again, not that we could forgive 77 times and then stop forgiving!

 

Jesus went on to tell a story to help Peter understand just how important forgiveness is. Let’s watch the story and see how God wants us to treat others when they do something wrong to us.

 

Watch the video:

 

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

 

In the story of the forgiving king, we see how important forgiveness is. This story reminds us that Jesus, the King sent to Earth, is the One who makes our forgiveness possible. Jesus showed that He can truly forgive us and make us part of God’s family. Jesus is the true forgiving King.

• What important question did Peter ask Jesus? What was Jesus’ answer?

• What did the king do when his servant couldn’t pay what he owed? What did the servant do to the person who owed him money?

• Why do you think God wants us to forgive other people? (Because He has forgiven us. Because He loves other people.)

• When might it be difficult to forgive someone else? (When they hurt our feelings. When we don’t want to forgive them. When they have hurt us too many times.)

• What can you do the next time you find it difficult to forgive someone? (Ask for God’s help. Remember how many times God has forgiven me.)

 

Invite children to use the word “forgive” in prayer sentences that tell times they need God’s help in forgiving others.  Encourage kids not to say names of people they need to forgive but to say “a friend who copied me” or “a friend who was mean to me.”

 

Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

 

 

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY

#1 Print and color activity page.

God wants us to treat others in the same wonderful, forgiving way He treats us. God’s forgiveness is the reason Jesus wanted Peter to discover that he should keep forgiving others!

 

I haven’t added up how many times God has forgiven me, but I know it’s a lot! God doesn’t keep track of how many times He forgives us. Read Luke 6:37 aloud. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” 

 

Keep on forgiving others—God NEVER stops forgiving you!

 

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

I’m so glad that God has chosen to forgive you and me. Remember to be quick to forgive others because God never stops forgiving us when we do wrong.

 

(______________),  May you always remember how much God has forgiven you so you, in 

 

turn, will be willing to forgive others as much.