LEADER S GUIDE th- Lesson Overview We re finishing our series called, How Stuff Works. It s important to know how stuff works so we don t make mistakes that can hurt us or those we care about. Today, we re going to talk about forgiveness. If you forgive someone, that means you don t hold a grudge against them. Instead of staying angry or wanting to get them back, you let them off the hook. Forgiveness is a gift you choose to offer. It can be hard to forgive someone, especially if they really hurt your feelings. But, we can do it if we remember that Jesus has forgiven us for lots of things. If Jesus can forgive every sin we commit, then we can forgive our friend for whatever they did. And, remember, just because you forgive someone doesn t mean it s okay that they were mean to you. It just means you don t hold it against them. So, make sure you re good at giving the gift of forgiveness. Classroom Agenda Big Idea We should forgive because Jesus has forgiven us. Key Question Why can it be hard to forgive? Memory Verse Colossians 3:13 Make allowances for each other s faults, and forgive anyone who has offended you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 1. (5 min) PLAY: Let kids start working on Activity Page #1. 2. (5 min) WARM UP: Share a time someone hurt your feelings. How did you respond? (Tip: Our friends will fail us from time to time. Instead of holding a grudge, we need to be ready to forgive them.) 3. (5 min) PREVIEW: Write out the Big Idea, Memory Verse, and Key Question on a whiteboard. Have the kids copy it down on Activity Page #1 (if applicable).. (20 min) LARGE GROUP: Gather for songs and videos with other kids. Then return to class to finish this guide. 5. (2 min) RECAP: Read the Lesson Overview (see above). 6. (3 min) KQ: Answer the Key Question. (Answer: It s hard to be nice when our feelings have been hurt. (Payback seems more satisfying when someone hurts us. When someone is mean to us, we want to be mean back. But, the Bible tells us to do the opposite. When someone hurts us, we should choose to be nice and forgiving. This is how Jesus responds to us when we mess up. He forgives us.) Bonus Questions: Why shouldn t we want paybacks? How should we respond when others fail us? -: What is likely to happen if you never forgive others? 7. (5 min) EXPLORE: Read 1 Peter 3:9. What shouldn t we do when people hurt us? What do you think it means to pay them back with a blessing? (Answer: This verse tells us not to retaliate or get paybacks. When people are mean to us, we should do the opposite and be nice. That s what it means to give a blessing. Instead of being mean, we should be nice, generous, thoughtful and forgiving. This is how Jesus responds to us. He blesses us with his forgiveness.) 8. (10 min) PLAY: Choose a group activity from Activity Page #2. 9. (5 min) CLOSE: Share prayer requests and pray as a class. Encourage kids to use the Family Guide at home with their parents - and remind them to go online to pursuegod.org/kids to find this week s lesson video. 1
ACTIVITY PAGE #2 Teacher instructions: Choose an activity for your classroom. OPTION 1:CHOOSE TO FORGIVE WORD SCRAMBLE Instructions: Before class, cut up the words for the Scramble template (page 5) and put them in a bowl. Have kids take turns coming up and pulling a word from the bowl and taping the word up on the whiteboard. Continue until all the words are taped on the board. Then, work as a class to get the words in the correct order to say the message. (Message: We should choose to forgive because Jesus forgives us. ) Supplies needed: Scramble template (pg. 5, precut, 1 set per class), Tape Bonus Activity: Bible Hangman Words or phrases: Jesus forgives, Bible, Don t hold a grudge OPTION 2:BE A SMARTIE AND FORGIVE REVIEW Instructions: Read a question below to the class, first to raise their hand gets a chance to answer. If correct, they get a smartie candy and are out of the game (so other kids have a chance to win some candy) Continue until all the questions have been asked. Make sure that all the kids get candy by the end of the game. Questions: 1. What was the Big Idea today? (see board) 2. Who has forgiven us of our sins? (Jesus) 3. T or F: Forgiveness means we hold a grudge. (F). From what book is our memory verse found? (see board) 5. What book is full of God s truth? (Bible) 6. T or F: Forgiveness is a gift. (T) 7. Where did Jesus die for our sins? (on cross) 8. Who should we forgive? (people who hurt us) 9. Who created the world? (God) 10. T or F: God wants us to get paybacks (F) Supplies needed: Smartie candies (1 per kid) Bonus Activity: Find the Book Have the class divide into pairs and give each pair a Bible. Have them race to find the books below. First to find has to say if it s in the OT or NT. Books: Amos, Jude, Acts 2
FAMILY GUIDE th - 3
ACTIVITY PAGE #1 Instructions: Solve the puzzles. Big Idea Key Question Memory Verse Colossians 3: Make for each other s, and anyone who has offended you. Remember, the forgave you, so you must forgive others.
th- WE SHOULD CHOOSE TO FORGIVE BECAUSE JESUS FORGIVES US 5