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Memory Verse

“Do to others as you want them to do to you.” Luke 6:31, NIrV

 

Bible Story

The Story of the Lost Son

God will always forgive you.

Luke 15:11-32

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Daily Devotionals

Read Psalm 86:5

Have you ever messed up really badly? Whatever the situation and whatever the mess up, there’s good news. God doesn’t choose to forgive some things and not others. God forgives all things.

Grab a piece of paper and draw a large heart in the center of the page. Write the words of this verse in puffy letters and then decorate your heart any way you choose. Put your heart next to your bed as a reminder this week that when you ask, God will forgive you.

Read 1 John 1:9

Jesus came to earth so that we can be forgiven. When you trust Jesus as your Savior, you become a part of God’s family forever. Following Jesus doesn’t make you perfect. You’ll still mess up and need to ask God and others for forgiveness. Thankfully, when you ask, God will always forgive you.

To confess means that you admit when you’re wrong. You let God know how you know you messed up. When you’re honest with God, it helps you feel connected to God.


Fill it in
Fill in the blank with what’s missing.
“But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will _________ our sins. He will _____________every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.”
1 John 1:9, NIrV


Remember, God always forgives us.

Read Psalm 130:4

Who is the “you” in this verse? Who forgives? God!

And who can you serve with respect? God!

Because God forgives us so completely, God deserves all our respect and honor and praise.

 

 

Read Luke 15:21-24

In this story Jesus told, the son dishonored his father in every way. But when he decided to go home and beg for forgiveness, what did his father do? He ran toward his son! Instead of anger, the father called for a celebration. He chose to restore his son to the family. This is what God does for us!

When you need forgiveness, picture God running full speed toward you!

Grab some paper and a pencil. Draw the son on one side, scared of what he might face. Then draw the father on the other, running to embrace him. Write “God will always forgive you” along the top of the page to remind you of God’s great love for you.

As your kid starts their day, remind them that you love them—no matter what. And nothing they do or say could make you love them less.

At a meal, share the definition of forgiveness for this month, “Deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.” Talk through some examples and real-life scenarios to explore what that means and how to do that.

While on the go, ask your kid: “Who is someone you know who needs some encouragement? What is something nice we can do for them?”

Pray for each other: “God, thank You that no matter what we do, no matter how bad we think it is, You will always forgive us when we come to You.”