Keep On Forgiving Group
Group Activities


Interactive Group Activities
by Carol Williams & Charles Kirkpatrick

Sermon Title: "Keep On Forgiving"

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

"FORGIVENESS" SQUIGGLE CHART: Children can use neon markers to write or trace FORGIVENESS on their construction paper. Then draw or trace (for younger children) "squiggles" circles all around the big word FORGIVENESS. Children can then begin to color the little squiggle circles with various crayons, while trying to count to 7 (for younger children), or 70 for a little old child, or to 490 for the older children! The picture will be colorful and will remind them of their lesson today!

SOCCER BALL GAME: Have several soccer balls outside or in an open area. Let the children take turns kicking the soccer ball around the area and counting as high as they possibly can or even counting TOGETHER each time someone kicks the ball. This will lead into the lesson today and how many TIMES we should be FORGIVING

70 X 7 POPCORN MUNCHING: Let children each have a bowl and count out 70 pieces of popcorn from a big bowl , while talking about today's lesson and the 70 TIMES 7, to forgive someone! Children could be given 7 M& M's if desired too, etc.

RED CARD/YELLOW CARD FROLICK: The teacher or another leader can stand in front of the children who are lined up on the other side of the room against the wall or behind a line. When the leader holds up a YELLOW CARD, they can hop, skip, jump, crawl, toward the leader but as SOON AS the leaders hold up the RED card, the players must STOP and wait for the YELLOW CARD AGAIN. The teacher can tell the children what "action" they can do each time until the RED CARD is held up. Children will need to keep their EYES on the leader and the cards. If they don't see and STOP at the red card, they'll be OUT! Teacher can go faster and faster until many more children are OUT! Talk about forgiveness and then let ALL the children come back in the game and play it again, if time allows!

FORGIVE ACROSTIC: On a chalkboard or a long piece of banner paper, write FORGIVE and then let children go to the board and write a word to describe our lesson word FORGIVE today! Let children discuss the new word and how THEY can forgive someone!

FORGIVE FLOWERS: Children can be given paper and markers and colorful "buttons" for the middle of the flowers (to glue on). Encourage children draw large flowers and then write F-O-R-G-I-V-E in each of the petals, so each flower should have 7 petals so one letter will fit on each petal! Give children some chenille wire for the stems, if desired.

BIBLE VERSE FORGIVE HUNT: A large poster board can have the stem and leaves drawn for a flower to be formed by the children. They will hunt around the room or designated area for leaves of the big flower and each petal that they find will have a word or words from today's Bible verse on it. Then children will tape or glue the petals onto the large flower onto the poster board and try to read or memorize today's verse! Each child could be given an artificial flower if they can say the Bible verse or can say some words from the verse about forgiving each other 70 x 7!

Song:  "To Be Like Jesus" 

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

This song is in the public domain.

Song:  "Share His Love"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

About Carol Williams
Carol and her husband have served churches in Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, and Indiana.  Carol loves to work with children so you will find her teaching in Junior Church and children's Sunday School.  She also has clowning ministry in which she is known as Bubbles tc (the clown).
 
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