PRETEEN MINISTRY LESSON ON FORGIVENESS

Bible: Mark 11:25

Bottom Line: Instead of getting revenge or holding on to our anger towards others, God has a different way.

OPENING ACTIVITY – A BIG MESS

SUPPLIES  

3 blank sheets of white paper

Red cones (or masking tape)

One pencil or pen per preteen

Use the red cones or masking tape to split the room down the middle.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Give three sheets of white paper to each player and tell them to write one ‘mean’ action on each sheet of paper.

Examples: brother hits sister, friend gossips about classmate, or kid calls someone a nerd.

Next, have preteens make a paper airplane out of each sheet of paper.

If someone doesn’t know how to make one, have those that do help.

Divide the group in half.

On GO, preteens throw their airplanes on the other side of the masking tape or red cones.

They keep throwing until time is called.

Stop the game after 2-3 minutes.

Say: When we fight mean actions with mean actions, all we do is make a big mess.

Just like you see here on the ground – a big mess of mean actions all over the place.

TEACH

Instead of getting revenge or holding on to our anger towards them, God has a different way.

Read Mark 11:25 

“When you are praying, if you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins.” – Mark 11:25 (NCV)

Say: When somebody is mean to you it is always best to forgive.

Most ignore it, get even, or stay mad.

Ignoring the situation or your feelings about what happened won’t solve the problem.

It’s okay to feel mad, sad, or embarrassed.

Just don’t stay that way because your anger will come out sooner or later.

Bring it to God and ask him to help you forgive the person.

If you get even, then it just makes the problem worse.

Just like when you pour gasoline on a fire – the fire gets even bigger.

And staying mad won’t help either because you’re the one who pays in the long run.

Your anger will eventually spill over into other areas of your life.

Before you know it you’ll be screaming at your friends, kicking your cat, and having an attitude with your parents.

Forgiveness is always the best road to take.

Close in Prayer.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Talk about a time when somebody was mean to you or hurt your feelings.  How did it make you feel?

When somebody is mean to you, do you want to get even?  Why or why not?

Why is it hard to forgive?  Explain.

Why is it better to forgive rather than get even?  Explain.

More Bible Verses on Forgiveness: Psalm 86:12; Matthew 6:14; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; Luke 17: 4; Colossians 3:13

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