Forgiveness a Second Chance How Many Second Chances Do I Give? Key Faith Foundation: Seventy Times Seven Forgiveness Key Scriptures: Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 17:3-4; Colossians 3:13 71
Bible basis for teachers Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 17:3-4; Colossians 3:13 O Grapple Question: How Many Second Chances Do I Give? O Key Faith Foundation: Seventy Times Seven Forgiveness Have you ever been asked for forgiveness by someone who hurt you who then turned around and did the same thing again? It can be tough to forgive those who hurt us, especially if they do it again and again and again. Use this lesson to teach kids that Jesus wants us to forgive each other not once, not twice, but an infinite number of times! Jesus asks us to make a sacrifice that s small in comparison to the huge sacrifice he made for us. He asks us to forgive others no matter how many times it takes. In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive others. In response, Jesus told the parable of a man who was forgiven his own debts but then refused to forgive someone who owed him money. The parable refers to how much God has forgiven us. Because we ve received forgiveness for a debt we couldn t possibly repay, we re called to forgive everyone else for their much smaller debts. Use this passage to encourage kids to recognize God s incredible forgiveness in their own lives. Although Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven times, we see in Luke 17:3-4 that Jesus really meant we re called to forgive others every time they hurt us. This passage says, You must forgive some one even if that person wrongs you seven times a day. Use this passage to help kids understand that because we ve received grace from God, we have no excuse not to forgive others. Paul emphasized forgiveness in Colossians 3:13 because forgiveness is absolutely essential for living the Christian life. In nearly every human conflict, there is a choice to forgive and be reconciled or to hold grudges, hate, and seek revenge. Jesus warned that a servant who was forgiven much by his master but refused to forgive someone indebted to him would bring God s judgment upon himself. Encourage kids to examine their own lives and think about people they might need to forgive again even if they ve already forgiven them seventy times seven times. understanding preteens 72 Kids this age have learned to keep score when they re wronged. They may be reluctant to extend forgiveness repeatedly, especially when it seems as if they receive nothing in return. Use this lesson to point out why God wants us to forgive as he has forgiven us.
the lesson at a glance Lesson Sequence What Kids Will Do Supplies 1 grapple community (5 minutes) 2 grapple games (10-15 minutes) 3 grapple time (10 minutes) Build relationships. Choose two games to play. Try to make baskets and then discuss second chances. DVD player Christian music music player snacks a long rope 2 chairs 2 small blankets, twin sheets, or towels several soft, lightweight balls a playing area with clearly marked boundaries paper a treat for each person in the group 4 grapple team time (15 minutes) Explore the meaning of forgiving someone seventy times seven. Bibles pencils copy of the Grapple Team Guide for each person paper 5 grapple team reports (10 minutes) Report what they learned from the Bible passage they studied. paper items around the room 6 grapple prayer (5 minutes) Choose a prayer option. paper pencils 7 grapple dare Hear the dare for the week. 73
1 grapple community Play Christian music as kids enjoy snacks and friendship. Give kids this discussion starter as they eat. Say: Discover if anyone in our group has ever been given a second chance to try out for a sports team or school play. Play one of the three-minute countdowns (included on your Grapple DVD) to let kids know how much time remains. 2 grapple games Say: We re going to play a game, but you ll get to choose. Would you rather play Ask the Answer Man! (p. 104), where you can get any question answered? Or would you like to play Blanket Volleyball (p. 104), where you toss balls as a team? Have kids vote on the game they d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game. Say: Now we ll play another game. Would you rather play Everybody s It (p. 105), a game of Tag where everyone is It at the same time? Or would you like to play Back Artist (p. 104), which involves drawing pictures on one another? Have kids vote on the game they d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game. 3 grapple time Have kids form two lines, facing each other, about 8 feet apart. Give everyone in one line a sheet of paper. Tell kids to wad the papers into balls. Tell kids in the other line to each make a circle a basket with their arms. ALLERGY ALERT (see page 5) If you have a ball, toss it into the basket across from you on the count of three. I have a special treat for anyone who makes a basket on the first try. Ready? One, two, three! Allow time. Give each person who made a basket on the first try a treat. Then have kids switch places and allow the other line to try to make the baskets. Do you think it s fair that you only got one try? Why or why not? How would you react if I told you to try again and again and again until you made it? Tell about a time you got a second chance to get something right. What was that like? 74
Let kids in each line try to shoot the paper wads into the baskets until they make it, and then give each person a treat. You may need to have kids move closer together. I ll read some statements out loud. Based on how you feel about each one, you ll stand in a certain area of the room. Designate places for strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree. Read the following statements. Once kids have picked a place to stand, have them talk with their group about why they chose the answer they did. No matter what someone does wrong, he or she always deserves another chance. Some things people do are not forgivable. I have taken a second chance someone offered before. I think it s difficult to give someone a second chance. What did you talk about? Depending on the situation, it can be really hard to forgive someone who s hurt us, especially if they do it again and again and again. How many second chances should we give? Let s grapple with that today! 4 grapple team time Break into Grapple Teams. Encourage Grapple Team leaders to check in with kids about their week. Grapple Team leaders will facilitate discussion, using the Grapple Team Guide on pages 77-78. 5 grapple team reports At the end of Grapple Team Time, have kids work with their team to choose one of the options below to report what they discovered. Option 1: Hot Potato Toss a paper ball from one person to the next as quickly as possible while you share what you discovered. Option 2: Stuff of Forgiveness Find an item in the room that represents something you learned about second chances, and use it to share what you ve discovered. 75
Match Grapple Teams that chose Option 1 with Grapple Teams that chose Option 2. Have teams present their reports. (Do this one team at a time if you have only two Grapple Teams.) 6 grapple prayer Read the Grapple Prayer options. Have the group choose one prayer option that everyone will do. Allow kids time to pray about what they discovered. Then close in prayer. Option 1: Throw It Away Prayers On a piece of paper, write about either someone you need to give a second chance to or something you d like a second chance to do right. Then crumple up your paper and talk to God about the person or situation. Option 2: Pointing It Out Prayers Hold your hand as if you re pointing at someone you know who needs a second chance. Then notice the three fingers pointing back at you. For each of those fingers, think and pray about a way you can reach out to that person. 7 grapple dare Say: Jesus wants us to forgive each other not once, not twice, but infinite times! He s asking us to make a sacrifice that s small in comparison to the huge sacrifice he made for us. This week, I dare you to think of someone who s wronged you someone you need to forgive. I dare you to ask God for help in forgiving that person and letting go of the anger, hurt, and pain. I dare you to give that person a second chance just as God gives you infinite chances. (Find the Parent Page for this lesson on the enhanced DVD. Have each child give a copy to his or her parent. Alternatively, send the file to parents via email.) 76
grapple team guide In your Grapple Team, use this guide to grapple with today s question. Tell about a time you saw someone in real life get or give a second chance. What do you think you would ve done in that situation? How many times do you think people can make the same mistakes or mess up before it s time to stop giving them second chances? Explain. Read Matthew 18:21-35. Work together to write a modern-day script of this story as if it happened at your school or in your family. What are some things we can learn from this parable? Give an example of a way this parable could apply to you. Read Luke 17:3-4. What do you think Jesus meant when he said we should forgive seventy times seven?
Read Colossians 3:13. Think about someone who s hurt you and you ve had trouble forgiving. According to this Bible passage, what does Jesus want you to do? How can you follow through on that this week? Make up a symbol using body language to represent seventy times seven. Whenever you have a tough time forgiving someone in the coming week, do the symbol again, or think about it, and remember how many times Jesus wants us to forgive others grapple team reports With your team, choose one of the options below to report what you discovered. Option 1: Hot Potato Toss a paper ball from one person to the next as quickly as possible while you share what you discovered. Option 2: Stuff of Forgiveness Find an item in the room that represents something you learned about second chances, and use it to share what you ve discovered. W grapple team guide