Overview & Learning Objective(s):
Today the children saw the traffic light turn red as we moved our discussion to what happens when a person fails to resist temptation - they sin!
What better way to begin than to retell the story of the Prodigal Son. This is one of the most famous Bible stories, and it is about how God the Father rejoices when we come back after distancing ourselves from Him. He understands we make mistakes and live messy lives. No matter how far we wander, regardless of how recklessly we act, despite the poor choices that we make over and over again, He never stops loving us and longing for our love in return. How blessed we are to have such an understanding and forgiving Father.
God is relational. We know this because the one God comprises three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Holy Trinity and they not only delight in a personal relationship with each of us, but enjoy seeing us in strong friendships with others.
Forgiveness is at the heart of every healthy relationship, and it involves both forgiving and asking for forgiveness. Sometimes our insecurities or arrogance get in the way of practicing these important life skills. As a result, the quality of our lives suffer, we feel separated and are filled with many of the negative emotions that come with that separation.
It is the Prodigal Son story that teaches us the way to close the gap - showing us how to behave whether we are the offender or the offended. In either position, it is selfless love (one that bears no resentment, regret, guilt, bitterness, jealousy or revenge) that will deliver us from the heavy pain of loss and separation.
When we pray the Our Father, we ask God to "... forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...", we are admitting an understanding of how our forgiveness is intimately tied to how we extend forgiveness to others. Like it or not, it will have eternal implications. As such, we had better learn to "let go" and unburden our lives of past transgressions.
We also heard the story of the Paralytic Man as a way to process the fact that we need to help each other find Jesus and, when we go to Him, we are healed. It is important to note that Jesus' priorities were clear, in that He forgave the man's sins before curing his paralyzed body. A sick soul that is riddled with sin, is far more serious than a failing mortal body.
This is the first time that Jesus showed that He had the power to forgive sins. In this story Jesus leaves us all to ponder, "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Get up and walk'"?
For God the Son, the healing of a man's body is straight forward, but the healing of a man's heart and soul is complicated by free will. This is true for us, as well, in that we need to actively participate in the spiritual healing. When we repent and ask for forgiveness, we figuratively pick up our mats and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
We then talked more about a sick soul - using analogies such as an unclean room or a flower garden filled with weeds. In each case, we discussed what steps you would take to remedy the situation - how to clean up the mess, and what specific changes could be made so that the mess can be prevented in the future. When you have a sick soul, the process is similarly straight forward.
First, you need to keep working on forming your conscience so that right and wrong become more clear and less relative. Second, when you do sin, you feel remorse and say that you are sorry from the heart. And lastly, you tell your sins to a priest in confession. This is an amazing sacrament that helps you reconcile your relationship with God. In confession you hear the same words that Jesus spoke to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." Four words that liberate and empower - setting you up for a new beginning on a path that is righteous. A priest can be your spiritual coach who trains you to look inward to discover what it will take for you to find your way and become the best you can be. Now that would be cause for one awesome celebration for through YOUR best, and by the grace of God, the world is uniquely changed for the better.
In Class Reinforcement Activity:
We made Reversible Forgiveness Badges as a reminder that we have the choice to both forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Hopefully these badges will be worn proudly. We also offered personal, real-life examples of instances where we could have used our badges in enforcing an attitude of forgiveness in our respective lives.
New Words:
Parable, Prodigal, Paralytic, Reconcile
At Home Reinforcement:
Hold a family meeting. Review today's lesson, adding a new layer of complexity to the discussion - the natural inclination to expect fairness before forgiveness. Most often, the two are incompatible, and when we truly forgive, we relinquish the right to get even. In releasing the anger that we might feel towards another person, we are relieved of a burden that is not ours to carry. God will handle the matter in a way that is not driven by the human sense of fairness.
The ability to "let go" is one that your child can develop over time as you cultivate an attitude of forgiveness in your family life by (1) helping them adjust their expectations of others, (2) encouraging them to see other people's perspective, and (3) explaining that true forgiveness is unconditional.
Jesus was the ultimate role model of forgiveness. He was unjustly condemned, beaten and nailed to the cross, yet He still said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.
Go to the cross and you will experience the healing power of forgiveness, and the redeeming grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today the children saw the traffic light turn red as we moved our discussion to what happens when a person fails to resist temptation - they sin!
What better way to begin than to retell the story of the Prodigal Son. This is one of the most famous Bible stories, and it is about how God the Father rejoices when we come back after distancing ourselves from Him. He understands we make mistakes and live messy lives. No matter how far we wander, regardless of how recklessly we act, despite the poor choices that we make over and over again, He never stops loving us and longing for our love in return. How blessed we are to have such an understanding and forgiving Father.
God is relational. We know this because the one God comprises three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Holy Trinity and they not only delight in a personal relationship with each of us, but enjoy seeing us in strong friendships with others.
Forgiveness is at the heart of every healthy relationship, and it involves both forgiving and asking for forgiveness. Sometimes our insecurities or arrogance get in the way of practicing these important life skills. As a result, the quality of our lives suffer, we feel separated and are filled with many of the negative emotions that come with that separation.
It is the Prodigal Son story that teaches us the way to close the gap - showing us how to behave whether we are the offender or the offended. In either position, it is selfless love (one that bears no resentment, regret, guilt, bitterness, jealousy or revenge) that will deliver us from the heavy pain of loss and separation.
When we pray the Our Father, we ask God to "... forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...", we are admitting an understanding of how our forgiveness is intimately tied to how we extend forgiveness to others. Like it or not, it will have eternal implications. As such, we had better learn to "let go" and unburden our lives of past transgressions.
We also heard the story of the Paralytic Man as a way to process the fact that we need to help each other find Jesus and, when we go to Him, we are healed. It is important to note that Jesus' priorities were clear, in that He forgave the man's sins before curing his paralyzed body. A sick soul that is riddled with sin, is far more serious than a failing mortal body.
This is the first time that Jesus showed that He had the power to forgive sins. In this story Jesus leaves us all to ponder, "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Get up and walk'"?
For God the Son, the healing of a man's body is straight forward, but the healing of a man's heart and soul is complicated by free will. This is true for us, as well, in that we need to actively participate in the spiritual healing. When we repent and ask for forgiveness, we figuratively pick up our mats and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
We then talked more about a sick soul - using analogies such as an unclean room or a flower garden filled with weeds. In each case, we discussed what steps you would take to remedy the situation - how to clean up the mess, and what specific changes could be made so that the mess can be prevented in the future. When you have a sick soul, the process is similarly straight forward.
First, you need to keep working on forming your conscience so that right and wrong become more clear and less relative. Second, when you do sin, you feel remorse and say that you are sorry from the heart. And lastly, you tell your sins to a priest in confession. This is an amazing sacrament that helps you reconcile your relationship with God. In confession you hear the same words that Jesus spoke to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." Four words that liberate and empower - setting you up for a new beginning on a path that is righteous. A priest can be your spiritual coach who trains you to look inward to discover what it will take for you to find your way and become the best you can be. Now that would be cause for one awesome celebration for through YOUR best, and by the grace of God, the world is uniquely changed for the better.
In Class Reinforcement Activity:
We made Reversible Forgiveness Badges as a reminder that we have the choice to both forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Hopefully these badges will be worn proudly. We also offered personal, real-life examples of instances where we could have used our badges in enforcing an attitude of forgiveness in our respective lives.
New Words:
Parable, Prodigal, Paralytic, Reconcile
At Home Reinforcement:
Hold a family meeting. Review today's lesson, adding a new layer of complexity to the discussion - the natural inclination to expect fairness before forgiveness. Most often, the two are incompatible, and when we truly forgive, we relinquish the right to get even. In releasing the anger that we might feel towards another person, we are relieved of a burden that is not ours to carry. God will handle the matter in a way that is not driven by the human sense of fairness.
The ability to "let go" is one that your child can develop over time as you cultivate an attitude of forgiveness in your family life by (1) helping them adjust their expectations of others, (2) encouraging them to see other people's perspective, and (3) explaining that true forgiveness is unconditional.
Jesus was the ultimate role model of forgiveness. He was unjustly condemned, beaten and nailed to the cross, yet He still said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.
Go to the cross and you will experience the healing power of forgiveness, and the redeeming grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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