What is the purpose of these activities?

Lesson Goal: The children will learn it is important to apologize and ask for forgiveness from people and God. Main Point: God Provides Forgiveness When We Ask For It! Bible Story: Prodigal Son (Luke 15). Bible Verse: 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT) What is the purpose of these activities? Animal Games (General Opening Activity) This activity will introduce the Main Point through animal-themed games. Forgiveness Dodge Ball (Specific Opening Activity) This activity will show kids the benefits of being forgiven. The General Opening Activity is an added feature in this Elevate series. You can use multiple opening activities or pick the ones your kids will most enjoy. Skit and Bible Story (Large Group Activity) The Skit and Bible Story teach children that it is important to apologize and ask for forgiveness from people and God. Bible Story Safari (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children review the Bible Story. Follow the Tracks (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children find the Bible Verse and help them apply today s lesson. Say It Like You Mean It (Small Group Activity) This activity will give your kids an opportunity to practice apologizing in different situations. Fred The Forgiven (Small Group Activity) This activity will show the children that it is important to apologize and ask for forgiveness, and that they should back up apologies with action. Sin Backpack (Small Group Activity) This activity will show the kids that they don t have to carry sin around with them. They can ask for forgiveness at any time. Sunny Sam s Super Safari (Large Group Activity) This is a strategic time to review and reinforce the content of the lesson. 2007 Fellowship Church

LES 7: GOD PROVIDES FORGIVENESS WHEN WE ASK FOR IT! Teacher & Co-Teacher version - Perform DVD Performing the Bible Story and Skit live Purpose Statement: This Skit and Bible Story teach children that it is important to apologize and ask for forgiveness from people and God. Materials/Props Needed: Costumes for The Son (both clean and shabby versions), The Father, The Apple Seller, The Jewelry Seller, Friends 1,2,3, 1 Basket With Apples, 1 huge necklace, 1 Seller s cart with 2 interchangeable signs ( Apple Seller and Jewelry Seller ) 1 printed or drawn signpost, 1 printed or drawn pig, 1 printed or drawn pig s trough (artwork for signpost, pig and pig s trough is available on the Environmental Graphics CD Rom) 1 # 1 2 # 1 Lead the children through the opening activity Animal Games and/or Forgiveness Dodgeball. Begin Worship Time. Note: This script uses Soundtrack CD # 2. Teacher (CD Track # 1) Hello everyone and welcome back to the zoo. I don t know about the rest of you, but I think it s time to get warmed up with a song. Everybody up! Teacher and Co-Teacher lead the children in singing the song. (CONT D) (CD Track # 1) I m feeling pretty good after that. Thanks for singing with us. Today we are talking about forgiveness. As human beings, we re going to mess up. We re going to let each other down and we re going to hurt each other s feelings. Thankfully, God offers us forgiveness. When we forgive someone that means we choose not to be angry with the person that hurt us and we don t try and get back at them. Forgiveness can be a very powerful thing. Yeah I could use some of that these days. Really? Did you do something bad? Yeah, it s pretty rough. I borrowed my friend s bike without asking and accidentally left in my driveway. Well, later that day, someone backed the car out of the garage and ran over my friend s bike. The frame is all twisted and bent. The tires were ripped off the rims. It s ruined and my friend is never going to forgive me for this. 1 2 How do you know that your friend won t forgive you? 2007 Fellowship Church

3 Because it was really bad! Have you asked your friend for forgiveness? Of course not! I wouldn t forgive me for it so why should my friend? I don t deserve forgiveness. Exactly. None of us really deserve to be forgiven. But God chooses to forgive us even though we don t deserve it. That sounds great but what do we have to do for that forgiveness? We just have to ask God for it. It s actually pretty simple. And it s today s Main Point: God Provides Forgiveness When We Ask For It! Let s give this Main Point the usual treatment. I need everybody shouting and doing the motions with me. Teacher leads the children by first demonstrating the Main Point with motions. Then have the children repeat the Main Point two or three times. Wow, God s forgiveness sounds awesome. So if I ask God to forgive me for destroying my friend s bike He ll forgive me? 3 Yes. Sweet, then I m all set! Well, not quite. Yes, God will forgive you but you still have to make this right with your friend. You need to tell your friend what happened, apologize and then ask your friend for forgiveness. (discouraged) Oh...do I have to? You don t have to, but you need to. It s very important that we are honest with each other and that we admit when we ve hurt someone. I have a Bible story that I think might help convince you of the importance of apologizing and asking for forgiveness. This story is found in the book of Luke chapter 15. It s a story that Jesus told and it s called the Parable of the Lost Son. Listen to this. 2 2007 Fellowship Church

4 # 32 5 # 33 6 7 8 9 10 Note: Play Bible Story Intro Video chapter 4. We all make mistakes. (CD Track # 32) Sometimes we re disobedient or sometimes we hurt someone s feelings, but in the end it s all the same, we know that we ve messed up. At those moments, there s nothing like a second chance. Thankfully, we serve a God who continually shows us grace and gives us second chances. (5) In Luke chapter 15, Jesus explains God s grace and willingness to forgive us by telling a parable about a son who left home. (CD Track # 33) (6) The story began with a wealthy father and his two sons. One day the younger son came to his father and said, Younger Son (7) I want my share of your estate now before you die. This was a big deal. In those days a father s estate usually wasn t divided until the father had died. It was very disrespectful to demand an inheritance early. (8) However, the father didn t punish his son. In fact, he didn t even seem to get angry. Instead, the father agreed and divided his wealth between his sons. Soon after, the younger son packed up everything he had and moved away to a distant land. He spent his money on whatever he pleased. He threw parties and bought things he didn t need. And pretty soon he had wasted all his money. Now to make matters worse, a famine swept over the land. Food became hard to come by for everyone. For someone with no money, it was nearly impossible. This young man began to starve. He begged a local farmer to hire him and he was sent to care for the pigs. He had gone from living in the home of his wealthy father to tending pigs. Pigs were considered to be filthy animals and normally Jews avoided them at all costs. The Bible says that the young man became so hungry that even the food he was feeding the pigs, looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. (9) Eventually, he came to his senses. He looked at his situation and said, Younger Son (10) At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 # 34 11 This was the smartest thing the younger son had done in a long time. He was finally going home. However what would happen? After all, the son had insulted his father and lost all of the money. The father might not want him around anymore. He might turn him away or even refuse to speak to him at all. The younger son needed a second chance, he needed grace. (CD Track # 34) (11) So even though he didn t know what would happen, the son returned home. 11 3 2007 Fellowship Church

12 13 # 35 14 15 The Bible says while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. The son tried to tell his father what he d planned to say. He talked about sinning against him and heaven. He talked about not being worthy to be his son anymore. But instead of being angry with his son the father did something wonderful. He said to his servants (12), Father Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost but now he is found. (13) And the family began celebrating. The son had come home and been given a second chance. He had been given grace from a loving father. In the same way that the father in this story welcomed his son home, God is faithful to forgive us and give us second chances as well. (CD Track # 35) God loves us very much and, even though we don t deserve it, He shows us grace and forgives us when we ask. Keep that in mind the next time you mess up. Don t wait a long time like the son in the story. Pray to God and ask for forgiveness. He will give it to you. (story end) So the father forgave his son even though the son didn t deserve it at all? Yes. That s the grace we ve been talking about. And just like the father in the story, God is faithful to forgive us of our sins when we ask Him. I ve got a Bible verse that tells us all about it. Check it out. 12 13 14 15 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT) I like that verse. It s another way of saying the Main Point. God provides forgiveness when we ask for it. But it s still all about forgiveness from God. I still don t understand why I have to talk to my friend about the bike. Weren t you paying attention to the story? It showed how important it was for the son to come home and ask his father for forgiveness. Even though God forgives us we still need to apologize and ask for forgiveness from each other. What s the worst that can happen if I don t talk to my friend and ask for forgiveness? 4 2007 Fellowship Church

16 # 36 # 37 17 # 38 Well, a lot of things could happen. Your friend might not trust you anymore. And your friend might not even want to be friends with you anymore. But in all honesty, I don t know what will happen. Instead I think we can imagine what could have happened to the son in today s Bible Story if he hadn t asked for forgiveness. (to children) We re going to imagine what things might have been like if the son hadn t come home and asked for forgiveness. It s time for! Note: Play Intro Video and Narrator Video 1 chapter 16. NaRRATOR (IN Video) (CD Track # 36) This week on,we re talking about the story of the lost son. When Jesus tells this story it has one of the happiest endings you can imagine. A son returns home to his father who forgives him. But that s in the real version of the story. Let s take a moment and see what might have happened... (CD Track # 37) Father and son enter. Son has his bags packed. Father Well, son. It wasn t easy but I sold off part of my estate and here s the money that you would have recieved after my death. (hands the money to the son) Now, I love you son and I want what s best for you. Are you sure that you re making the right decision? Son (snatches money from Father s hand) I got my money and that s all that matters. So long, Pops. Son abruptly exits. FATHER Wait! Son please...(sighs) Goodbye, son. Be careful. Father exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 2 chapter 17. NaRRATOR (IN Video) The son took the money, left home, and traveled to a distant land where he wasted the money very foolishly. (CD Track # 38) Son enters. Son Here I am, finally on my own. What could be better?...hmm, food would be better. Very hungry. There s got to be somewhere around here that has some decent food. Apple Seller enters. 16 17 zoop video 5 2007 Fellowship Church

Apple Seller Apples! Get your fresh, delicious apples right here! Apples! Mmmm, an apple sounds great! (to Apple Seller)Tell me, my good man, how much are your apples? For you, one dollar. APPLE SELLER Tell you what? I like you and to celebrate my first apple here in this distant land, I m going to give you not one dollar, but one hundred dollars for it! (hands over money) 18 # 39 APPLE SELLER Sir that s insanely generous! Thank you! Here s your apple. (hands over an apple) Apple Seller exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 3 chapter 18. Narrator (IN Video) But the son didn t stop there. Oh no, he found other things to spend his money on. (CD Track # 39) Friend 1 enters. 18 zoop video Son (hands money to friend 1) Here, take this. Please be my friend. Friend 1 (confused but excited) Sweet! 50 bucks! Of course I ll be your friend! Excellent. Friend 2 enters. Son (CONT D) (hands money to friend 2) Here, take this. I m desperate for attention. Please be my friend. Friend 2 (confused but quickly catches on) 50 bucks? 100 bucks. Warmer... FrIEND 3 6 2007 Fellowship Church

19 # 40 I admire a person who knows their own worth. 150 bucks! FRIEND 3 You know, I normally charge a bit more, but for you...i ll take the deal. Excellent. I got my own family now. Life is gettin good for this guy. (points at himself) Note: Play Narrator Video 4 chapter 19. NaRraTOR (IN Video) But the son still wasn t finished spending. No, no, no, he kept on spending. (CD Track # 40) Son and Jewelry Seller enter. Let me see what you got. No, no, I need something bigger. JEWELRY SELLER (pulls out a massive necklace) Well, the only thing I have that is bigger is this thing. 19 zoop video I ll take it! JEWELRY SELLER But sir, this is to big to be even worn as a necklace. Are you sure you want to take this? I ll take it! JEWELRY SELLER But I only have it as a joke piece. I mean, it s ridiculas looking. I ll take it! JEWELRY SELLER I don t even know what I would charge you. I d have to charge you 10...20...50... 100,000 dollars for it. Are you sure you really want it? You ve brought up some very interesting points and I am going to have to think carefully before...i ll take it! (takes necklace and hands a huge wad of money to the Necklace Seller) Friends and Necklace Seller exit. 7 2007 Fellowship Church

20 # 41 21 Note: Play Narrator Video 5 chapter 20. NARRATOR (IN Video) However, we know that the good times didn t last forever. Soon a famine swept through the land. Food became scarce. Unfortunately, the son had wasted all his money and he had to get a job. No, not a nice job like selling apples or jewelry or even being paid to be someone s friend. No, no, no, he got a job taking care of pigs. Son enters wearing worn out clothes. Pig enters. (CD Track # 41) Time to feed the pigs. (puts a bucket of feed where a pig can reach it) Note: Play Narrator Video 6 chapter 21. NARRATOR (IN Video) Now remember that because of the famine food was scarce, the son was extremely hungry at this point. So hungry. Need food. Pig Mmmmmm...I can t get enough of this stuff! Yumyumyumyumyum! Seriously. Anything would do as long as it s edible. (looks at the pig eating) Hey...whatcha got there. (licks lips) (looks up from eating) Oh, me? Just the usual pig slop. (goes back to eating) (moves closer) Oh. Slop, eh? Sounds pretty good. Can I have some? (coughs and chokes) Ack! Thbptbpt! What?! You re kidding, right? This stuff s great for pigs but garbage to you. I don t mind. It s better than going home. You have a home to go to? Then why are you here? 20 21 zoop video I insulted my dad and made him give me a bunch of money. Now, 8 2007 Fellowship Church

back to that slop. Do I need to chew it or can I just sort of slurp it up like you do? Hold on a second. It sounds like you a made a mistake. Why don t you go home and apoligize and everything will be better. Apologize?! Admit that I was wrong?! Ha! Why would I want to do that? Yeah feeding pigs is miserable. Yeah I haven t eaten in weeks. Yeah I m a shadow of my former self with little to no hope of surviving out here on my own through this wretched famine. But that doesn t mean that...uh...what were we talking about? How you should go home and apologize to your dad and beg for his forgiveness. Or I could stay here and eat the pig food. Come on. He might forgive you. And even if he doesn t you could always ask to be a servant in your father s house. You d be away from us pigs and back to the regular food. A servant? I do have some dignity. Now move over and give me some of that slop. (kneels down and pushes the pig out of the way, shoves head into the bucket and starts eating) Yumyumyumyumyum oh, that s awful! 22 # 42 23 Hey...that s mine. Leave me alone! I m hungry! (goes back to eating) Note: Play Narrator Video 7 and Skit Outro Video chapter 22. NaRRATOR (IN Video) (CD Track # 42) Instead of going home, apologizing and asking for forgiveness, the son decided to stay out here with the pig and eat slop. Not a very wise decision; and thankfully we know that in the real Bible story, the son went home and the father forgave him. It s the same for you and me. No matter what we ve done, God will forgive us but we still need to admit when we ve done wrong, and thankfully we can ask for forgiveness and God will forgive us. (skit end) Note: Play Who s Fastest Video chapter 23. 22 23 Yeah, I guess for the son, things were definitely better for him 9 2007 Fellowship Church

24 when he went back and apologized to his father. But I don t know if my situation will be like that. What if my friend doesn t forgive me? Well, it is possible that your friend won t forgive you. However, you need to do the right think and be honest about what you did and apologize for it. If your friend still doesn t forgive you, you can take comfort in the fact that God forgives you, and that s the important thing. You re right. I know it won t be easy but I m going to tell my friend what I did and apologize for it. That s good to hear and I hope your friend forgives you. Like I said earlier, forgiveness is a very powerful thing. It can even heal relationships that have been broken for years. We are incredibly lucky that God loves us and forgives us. Let s take some time to sing to God and thank Him for forgiving us. Everyone up. 24 # 8 25 Teacher and Co-Teacher lead the children in singing the song and then begin the offering time. OFFERING Teacher (CD Track # 8) Thank you for singing with us. We re going to continue worshipping God with our offering. This is a time when we give back to God part of what He has given to us. We do this to say, Thank You! to God for His many blessings. First, I ll lead us in prayer and then it will be your time to come up and give. Let s pray. 25 Lead the children in prayer. If you want to, include elements of the lesson you are teaching today. For instance, today we are talking about God providing grace and forgiveness when we ask for it. So you might say, God, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving us and giving us second chances even though we don t deserve them. Help us to try and do better in the future. Amen. Take up the offering. 26 # 1 26 27 (CD Track # 1) Thank you, everyone. And now you re all going to learn a few ways that you can apply today s lesson to your life. It s time for Small Groups! SMALL GROUPS 27 Teacher greets the kids as they come back from their Small Groups. 10 2007 Fellowship Church

Welcome back. It s time Teacher for our review game, Sunny Sam s Super Safari! 28 28 Note: Lead the children through the questions. Hit play when a child has given you the right answer. CLOSING # 1 Teacher (CD Track # 1) Thanks for coming. It was great to see all of you here. Don t forget our Main Point for today: God Provides Forgiveness When We Ask For It! See you next time. 11 2007 Fellowship Church