During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38–39
Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Nothing! No difficult circumstance. No broken relationship. No sinful thing you do or error you make. Nothing can separate you from His great love. Do you believe that? If not, what keeps you from believing it?
God’s Word says that He has not only given us love but also demonstrated it to us while we were still in our sin. While we were in our sin. His love does not depend on us doing everything right. His love is not dependent on us at all! It is freely given because God is love.
Share with the families about God’s unchanging love. It could be that the families also need to know that God loves them, even when they make mistakes!
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet your children warmly as they come into class today. When you are ready to begin, divide the children into 2 teams. If you have a large number of children, just have 2 teams of 8–10 children each. The others can watch and cheer.
Have the teams line up. Each child will hold 1 hand out in a fist with the back of his hand facing up. Place a small stone on the back of the fist of the first person in each line. When you say, “Go!” the team members will pass the stone down the line—from fist to fist. They cannot touch it with the other hand. If someone drops the stone, that child can place it on her fist and keep passing it. The first group to get the stone all the way down the line wins. If your children find this too easy, you can make the game more difficult by making them start at the beginning of the line each time the stone is dropped or having them try to do it with their eyes closed.
When the game is over, ask the children to sit down to talk about the game.
In life, we all make mistakes sometimes. We choose wrong things—we sin. We are careless. That happens to everyone. Often when we make mistakes, others around us get angry or disappointed. We may sometimes feel that no one could love us when we make so many mistakes. Today we are going to talk about how God feels about us when we sin and make mistakes.
Optional: If you are using The Action Bible, have the children read the story on pages 628–629, 649.
Listen to this true story from the Bible. Here is some background to help you understand the story we are about to hear. It happened at the end of Jesus’ time on earth. Jesus had been arrested and was brought to trial before the religious leaders. Most of Jesus’ followers scattered when Jesus was arrested. But not Peter.
Peter followed behind the crowd and went into the courtyard to wait and see what would happen.
If you have a Bible available, read this story directly from it instead of this guide.
One of the servant girls said to Peter, “You were with Jesus of Galilee.” “I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter denied.
Peter moved out by the gateway. Another servant girl accused him before the people, “This man was with Jesus!”
Peter again denied it. “I do not know the man!”
After a while, some others approached Peter. “Surely you are one of Jesus’ followers. Your accent gives you away.”
“I do not know the man!” Peter exclaimed loudly. Immediately a rooster crowed.
Peter remembered that Jesus had told him earlier that he would deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed. Peter went outside weeping bitterly.
When we make mistakes, people are often angry and disappointed with us.
Jesus died on the cross the day after Peter had denied Him. The disciples did not know what to do after Jesus died. Peter and some others decided to return to their lives as fishermen. While they were out in the boat, they saw someone on the shore. It was Jesus who was alive again!
Allow the children to offer ideas before continuing.
If possible, show The Action Bible images of Jesus and Peter as you tell the story.
Peter was so excited that he jumped into the water and swam to shore. After the disciples and Jesus ate a meal together, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?”
Peter quickly answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Again, Jesus asked him, “Do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord, You know that I love You!” Peter said.
A third time Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him a third time.
The Bible does not tell us, but it could be that Peter was remembering how he had denied Jesus 3 times. Peter may have felt that he could never receive Jesus’ love again because of his mistakes.
Peter said, “Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You.”
Sometimes we make mistakes and even sin. Sometimes hard things happen to us. But there is 1 thing that never changes—God’s love. Listen to this verse.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Help the children to see that God loves them even while they are doing wrong things. His love for them never changes!
Have the children stand in a circle. Give each child a small stone. Tell the children to grip the stone tightly with both hands. They should lift the stone up over their heads and hold it there until you say they can drop it. If any children start to drop their arms, encourage them to keep their arms raised. The point of this activity is that the children will experience a release when they let go of mistakes and receive God’s love.
God’s love is not like human love. It is not just some romantic thing. It is strong. It is constant. It never changes. God loves you!
Think of times when you have made mistakes that upset, angered, or disappointed people in your life. It may have been friends, family members, or teachers. Maybe you feel that you have made so many mistakes that no one will love you. Maybe you feel that you have denied Jesus like Peter did. Those mistakes can become too heavy for you to hold, just like the stones you are holding above your heads.
God wants you to know that He loves you no matter what you have said or done. He loves you even when you are still making mistakes. His love never changes. If you want to let go of the mistakes and receive God’s love, lower your arms and drop the stone in the middle of the circle.
Tell the children that they can drop their stones. Then allow them a few minutes to respond quietly to this release. They can think of a prayer or song they would say to God about His unchanging love.
Optional Supplies: Give paper and coloured pencils to the children. They can write prayers or draw pictures of how they feel knowing God loves them even when they make mistakes or sin. If you are using the Student Pages, allow the children to respond by writing short prayers to God on them.
Close your time by praying this blessing based on Psalm 86:15 over the children.
Blessing: May you know that the Lord is compassionate toward you. He is slow to anger. He loves you with an abundant love that never changes.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
