Lesson: John 20:23 (Ages 6-8)

📖 John 20:23 – Ages 6-8

Explanation

In this verse, Jesus is telling his followers that when we forgive others, their sins are forgiven by God too. It's like when you say sorry to your friend for accidentally bumping into them, and they forgive you. Then, everything is okay again, and you both feel happy.

But Jesus also says that if we choose not to forgive someone, it's like holding onto a heavy rock. It makes us feel sad and angry inside. And if we don't let go of that rock by forgiving, it can weigh us down and make us feel bad.

Jesus wants us to forgive others because it helps us feel light and free in our hearts. Just like how a balloon feels light and can soar high up in the sky when it's not weighed down. So, forgiving others is like letting go of that heavy rock and feeling happy and free inside.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, in a colorful forest, there lived a little squirrel named Sammy. Sammy loved to collect acorns and play with his friends. One day, Sammy’s friend Benny the Bunny accidentally knocked over all of Sammy’s acorns. Sammy was very upset and didn’t want to forgive Benny.

Sammy’s wise old friend, Owlbert, told him about a special verse in the Bible. Owlbert explained that just like how God forgives us when we say sorry and ask for forgiveness, we should also forgive others when they make mistakes. Sammy listened carefully and realized that holding onto anger only made him feel sad.

So, Sammy decided to forgive Benny and they became friends again. Sammy felt happy and light in his heart, just like how God wants us to feel when we forgive others.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for helping us understand that when we forgive others, their sins are forgiven. Help us to show love and kindness to everyone. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What do you think it means to forgive someone's sins?

Why do you think it's important to forgive others?

How do you feel when someone forgives you for something you've done wrong?

Do you think it's easy or hard to forgive others sometimes? Why?

Life Application

In John 20:23, Jesus is teaching us about the power of forgiveness. For children your age, this means that when someone says they are sorry for something they did wrong, we should forgive them. Just like how Jesus forgives us when we ask Him for forgiveness.

So, in your everyday life, when someone does something that upsets you or makes a mistake, try to forgive them just like Jesus would. This could be forgiving a sibling for taking your favorite toy without asking, forgiving a friend for saying something mean, or forgiving a classmate for making a mistake during a group project.

Remember, forgiving others doesn't mean that what they did was okay, but it means that you choose to let go of your anger or hurt feelings and show them kindness instead. By practicing forgiveness, you are showing love and reflecting Jesus' teachings in your own life.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a forgiveness jar activity! Have the child decorate a jar with forgiving and loving designs. Explain that just like how we can forgive others and ask for forgiveness, they can write down things they want to forgive or ask for forgiveness for on a piece of paper. They can then place these notes in the forgiveness jar. This activity will help them understand the power of forgiveness and the importance of letting go of grudges.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

When we forgive, hearts are light,
In God's love, everything's made right.
Forgive others, let them be free,
Just like Jesus does for you and me!

Songs or Videos

One Christian song that relates to the message of forgiveness in John 20:23 is "Forgiveness" by Matthew West. Another great song is "Forgiven" by Crowder. Both of these songs emphasize the importance of forgiveness and how it reflects God's love for us.

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