===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, December 25, 1999 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date: November 1, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, JESUS TEACHES HOW TO FORGIVE ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: God never runs out of forgiveness for me. When I forgive, I am acting like God does. Memory Verse: "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - MONEY MATTERS Materials needed: Play money Small table Toy cash register or drawer to keep the money in WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Place the cash register or drawer and money on the table to simulate a bank. Place a chair behind the table so you can be the "teller". WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Tell the children that you are a bank, an institution that lends money to people. They will take turns coming to you and requesting how much money they would like to borrow. Any amount is acceptable. If any child asks for more than the bank has, write their dollar request on a slip of paper and give it to them. They then take turns sharing with the rest of the group how they will spend their money. Give the children an opportunity to borrow and lend money to one another from what they have been given. Remind the children about the difference between giving money away and lending it. Have the children stick the money under their chairs. (IT WILL BE REFERRED TO LATER.) In our story today a large sum of money is loaned and a small sum of money is loaned. When the time comes to pay the monies back Jesus has an important lesson to teach the disciples that has more to do with than just money. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BOWLS OF FORGIVENESS Materials needed: Seven Tupperware bowls Seven coins for each child (Preferably pennies, nickels or quarters; they're heavier than dimes) Bibles Masking tape WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Line the seven bowls in a horizontal row across the front of the room. Put them about one foot apart. Make a masking tape boundary line on the floor about 5-6 feet back from the row of bowls. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children look up the memory verse in their Bibles and read it together with you. Remind the children how many times Peter suggested people be forgiven. (Seven) There are seven bowls at the front of the room. Each bowl represents a word of the memory verse. The first bowl is the first word, the second bowl is the second, etc. The last bowl is the text, Luke 6:37. Give the children seven coins apiece. Have them take turns tossing them one at a time into each bowl saying the word of the memory verse that goes with that bowl. When children miss the bowls, talk about how many chances they should have to try again. Ask them how many opportunities they give their friends to try again when they've messed things up? Jesus says our forgiveness is directly related to how we forgive others. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - FORGIVENESS PATH Materials needed: Play money from Getting Their Attention Activity WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children retrieve their paper money from under their chairs. Line the children up in a horizontal row at the back of the room. Instruct them to make a path coming towards you with their money. The person with the longest path will be the one who will get the reward. (As the children make their money paths, remind them that money loaned earlier can be requested back now.) Be observant of the children's reactions and dealings with one another. When the paths are finished discuss the following questions: 1. Who do you think should get the reward? The person who borrowed the most or the person who borrowed the least? 2. If you lent money to any of your friends, how did you feel about trying to get it back? Why was it so important to you? Whether you have committed big sins or a lot of sins like that long row of dollars or only a few small sins, Jesus' reward for each of us is the same. What is it? Forgiveness. He wants us to have that same attitude. Whether someone has sinned against you many times or only a few times our reward to them should be the same, forgiveness. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - TIMES TABLE FORGIVENESS Materials needed: Copy of following rhyme for each child: 1 X 1 is 1 2 X 2 is 4 How many times do I have to forgive When I've already done it before? 1 X 2 is 2 1 X 3 is 3 If I forgive you every time you ask Jesus says He'll do the same for me. WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations except for making sure each child has a copy of the rhyme. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Start a rhythm going slapping your legs, clapping and smacking palms together with another person in front of you. Say the rhyme using the rhythm. Have the children get in pairs and practice it together. (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Palms) One times one is one (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Palms) Two times two is four (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Snap) (Snap) (Palms) How many times do I have to forgive (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Snap) (Palms) (Palms) When I've al- ready done it before (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Palms) One times two is two (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Palms) One times three is three (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Clap) (Snap) (Snap) (Palms) If I forgive you every- time you ask (Legs) (Legs) (Clap) (Snap) (Palms) Jesus says He'll do the same for me