Family Day 5: Repentance and forgiveness
Today's Scripture
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantages that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged." -John 16:7-11 (NKJV)
Additional Scripture
Luke 15:11-32
Supplies
- Vitamin C chewable tablet (or a spoonful of sugar)
- Clear glass of warm water
Reflect on the Word
Read the story of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32 (using a storybook Bible if needed for little ones). Bonus points for acting out the parable as you read!
Why do you think Jesus told this story? What do we learn about God from the story? The Bible tells us we all sin. We all do things our way instead of God's way sometimes. So, the question becomes, what do we do when we sin?
God invites us to repent and experience His promised forgiveness. To repent means to turn away from sin and turn toward God. When we confess our sins to God, we are promised forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
Parents, now is a great time to share an example of when the Holy Spirit prompted you to repent, and you experienced God's forgiveness.
Reflect, pray + bless
- Reflect: Remind children that "God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure." (1 John 1:9, NIRV)
- Pray: Ask God, "Is there any sin in my life I need to confess?" As you talk to God, add the tablet to the water and watch it dissolve. Let it remind you of God's promised forgiveness and the wiping away of our sins.
- Bless: "[Child's name], may you always know that God loves you. In the moments when you stumble, may you always return to Him, experience His forgiveness and be made pure again."