Week 1 Forgiveness 2 empty gift/shoe boxes. Papers or sticky notes to write on. Something to write with. 2 movie clips on pain or unforgiveness (*suggestions at the bottom). 2 real examples about the power of forgiveness. Scriptures promises and commands about forgiveness. Statement from the Cross #1 Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34 Read allowed Luke 23:34. Spend time talking about scenarios of how we can be hurt by others. Ask for real examples, or use your own stories to make it personal. Watch Video Clips Using media, find 2 movie clips that show hurt and un-forgiveness (for younger children, use a cartoon or a picture book). After watching the clips, talk to your family about the power of forgiveness and how it is not a power that we have but something that God possesses. *It is very important to emphasize that Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Gift/Shoe Box Activity Have 2 gift boxes prepared. One gift box will have papers inside that are blank. On those papers you can list things that people do that can cause hurt or tempt us to be unforgiving. If you are doing this with older children, you can list actual people or situations they are facing currently. Put the lid on the box and seal it. The box represents Jesus taking our pain, anger, hurt, and frustration when we make the choice to forgive and surrender it to him. In the second box, have verses written out inside that talk about the power of forgiveness, as well as the command to pray for our enemies.
The Boxes Explained FORGIVENESS is an ACTION WORD. When we forgive others, we must do three things: - We surrender or {LET IT GO} to Jesus - We personally {RECEIVE} God s forgiveness - We pray and {GIVE FORGIVENESS} to someone else. Have some real life examples that demonstrate the power of forgiveness. Explain that the way we know we have really received forgiveness is that our pain will be overcome by the love of God. When we are tempted to open our box of pain, we can reach for the other box instead and choose a promise or say a prayer of blessing for someone who has hurt us. We do this all through Jesus name. That is when we will experience the POWER and MIRACLE of forgiveness because our hearts will begin to be transformed, and so will others around us! It is not what we do, but what God has already done for us that makes this possible and changes our hearts. If someone in your family my question if they have actually forgiven the person or situation. As the Spiritual Leader in the family, remind them that they can continue to surrender that situation to God. Using the box activity, explain that you cannot hold on to both boxes at one time. It is important to {Let Go} the box of pain, and {Receive} the box of God s forgiveness. While holding onto God s forgiveness, we now have the ability to {Give Forgiveness} to others. Remind your family that they are not doing the forgiving on their own. As they continue to surrender to God, He continues transforming their heart (John 15:5). Often, in our stubbornness, we do not want to forgive others until they are willing to apologize to us. This is not what we are called to do. We forgive others regardless of their reaction, or how it is received. Remember, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14 Close your evening with prayer and thankfulness for the forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ. *Suggested Video Clip Ideas: Veggie Tales- God wants me to forgive them (youtube) Love your enemies (youtube) Animated friendship- (youtube) Corrie Ten Boom How to forgive (youtube) Let it go-inspiring true story (youtube) Steven Curtis Chapman s story part 2 Larry King Live (youtube) Related Scripture References Proverbs 17:9; 2 Chr. 7:14; Matt 6:14; 1 John 1:9; Matt 5:44; Mark 11:25; Psalm 32:1
Week 2 Redemption A lighter Pilot FriXion erasable ink pens (easy to find) White paper Statement from the Cross #2 Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 Read allowed Luke 23:43. Spend time talking about scenarios of how we can be hurt by others. Ask for real examples, or use your own stories to make it personal. Disappearing Ink Activity Using the Pilot FriXion erasable ink pens, draw a picture that represents sin and death (Note: You must use the specific pens listed in the lesson in order for the ink to disappear.). Be creative! Remember, we are not looking for the next Rembrandt here. Relax and have fun as a family. Carefully take a lighter and hold it under the paper until it heats up (do NOT catch the paper on fire!). The ink will disappear. Disappearing Ink Explained Explain that the paper represents our life, while the ink represents sin and darkness in our lives. Talk about what each person wrote or drew. - How does sin affect our lives? - How does sin affect our relationship with God and each other? Jesus redeems each and every one of us when we choose to put our faith trust in him. He snatches us from death and darkness so that we can be with him forever.
Remind everyone that through redemption in Christ, are sins are washed away, and we are as white as snow. Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. - Isaiah 1:18 Close your time in prayer.
Week 3 Compassion Video Clip Hannah s vision - The Ladybug Foundation (youtube) Scrap paper and a pen Calendar Statement from the Cross #3 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty. John 19:26-27 Read allowed John 19:26-27 Read the verse on what Jesus said to his mother and the disciple. Explain that a woman during this time period would be left with no way to support herself if she lost her husband or her family. Jesus was showing compassion for his Mother, even from the cross. Video Clip: Hannah s Vision Show the video clip Hannah s vision. Hannah s Vision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9sxocslzac Birthday Activity Write down everyone in the family and their birthday. Take time to brainstorm ideas as a family ways that each of you would like to help others. Choose one day during each birth month (the actual birthday would be the most special) to bless someone who is less fortunate, sick, or has special needs. Document these events in some way, and start a tradition in your family to help others on your special day/month. There are many possibilities! Have fun doing it! In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. - Acts 20:35 Remind your family that it is better to give than to receive. Spend some time praying for the God of compassion to teach your family compassion.
Additional Resources http://www.ladybugfoundation.ca/
Week 4 Sacrifice Special guest: Ahead of time, invite a special guest who works in public service to come over to your family night. Ask them to prepare a story about a sacrifice they have made. If you do not have a personal story or guest, use 9/11 firefighter clip (for older kids). Have your child(children) prepare a dessert for your special guest. Have your children prepare a thank you card for your special guest. Statement from the Cross #4 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani? (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ). Matthew 25:46 Read allowed Matthew 25:46 Talk about different service people that help us everyday. Ask children if they ever wanted to be a firefighter, police officer, or service person when they grow up? Activity: Special Guest Invite your special guest to share a story about personal sacrifice on the job. If you cannot find a special guest to come over. Watch this video clip made as a tribute to the firefighters who sacrificed their lives on 9/11. Into The Fire - 9/11 - Firefighters Tribute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ead8ewcq8 Share the special dessert with your guest and listen to them tell their stories of sacrifice. Honor the guest for their service by having a card or something the kids can give them. Ask the family members at the end if they have a story of sacrifice or how they can sacrifice for someone else. Close the evening in prayer by thanking Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice for us.
Week 5 Thirst Different foods for a taste test A thimble or something tiny that holds water Water Statement from the Cross #6 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty. John 19:28 Read allowed John 19:28 Talk about how Jesus was fully human and fully God, and how water is a necessity for human beings to survive. Remind your family that Jesus was trying to reveal something to us from the cross. Thirst Activity After talking about why Jesus was thirsty, gather everyone to the kitchen for a taste test. The goal of this taste test is to actually become thirsty. The older the children are, the more fun you can have with trying certain foods. Eating several saltines at a time can make you very thirsty (not safe for young children). After achieving thirst, give a very small amount of water to each person; like a thimble filled with water. This will probably cause a reaction from those participating. Most likely, they will want more water! Thirst Activity Explained Use this activity to introduce Jesus as being the Living Water, and how he said that if we drank from the living water we would never thirst again (John 4:14). Discuss how we can receive this water, and why it would be important to tell others about this Living Water. Close the evening by thanking God for His living water.
Week 6 Freedom Old deck of playing cards that can be written on. Blindfolds Picture book or short video about the Underground Railroad ( Harriet Tubman) Statement from the Cross #6 It is finished. John 19:30 Read allowed John 19:30 Ask your family what they know about slavery. Read a book or watch a short video about the Underground Railroad. Activity: Underground Railroad Game Preparation On the deck of cards - Write the word Slave owner on one playing card (1 person) - Write Underground Helper on another card (1 person) - Write Slaves on the number of playing cards you would need for the rest of the players Playing the Game Shuffle the card and hand them out to the players. The Slave Owners job is to gather all the slaves and keep them in prison on one side of the room. The trick is the Slave Owner and Slaves will be blindfolded. The Underground Helper s job is to free the slaves through the Underground Railroad He/she will not be blindfolded but can only whisper the word free in the Slaves ear. The Slaves will have to crawl across the room to Base without being caught (tagged) and sent back to prison. The object of the game is to free all the Slaves. When everyone is free, the Underground Helper will yell It is finished!! Underground Railroad Activity Explained Talk about how we were all in slavery and held captive and how Jesus set us free by dying for our sins. Through his death we became free forever! Talk about our freedom in Christ
Divert the discussion to move into talking about the slavery that is still happening around the world today through human trafficking, child labor and young soldiers that are trained to kill at 7-9 years old. Talk about ways that you can, as a family, reach out to different organizations and help those who are still experiencing slavery*. *Additional Resources www.freethechildren.com www.warchild.org www.awareoftheinhumanity.blogspot.com Spend time praying prayers of thankfulness for being set free by Jesus. Spend time praying for those groups of people as a family.
Week 7 Obedience The Veggie Tales Jonah Movie (for younger children) Evan Almighty (for older children) 2 Hours Statement from the Cross #7 Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Luke 23:46 Read allowed Luke 23:46 Activity: Movie Night! Have a movie night! Make sure that you have popcorn and treats! For Younger Children Watch The Veggie Tales Jonah Movie movie After the movie is over, ask your children questions about what happened to Jonah, and why he was swallowed by a whale. Ask them if they know anyone who has been swallowed by a whale before. Talk about what it looks like to be obedient to God For Older Children Watch Evan Almighty Talk about peer pressure and how God can ask us to do crazy things sometimes that do not appear to make sense. Remind kids that He always has our best interest at heart, and does everything for a purpose. Come up with some real life examples of times you obeyed God with something even though it did not seem to make sense. Spend time praying for your family to always walk in obedience to God.