The Unforgiving Debtor

This lesson is taken from Matthew 18:21-35

Peter went to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me?  7 times?”  But, Jesus told Peter, No!  You are to forgive people who sins against you 70 times 7.

For this reason, the kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.  While the King was doing this, one of the servants that owed him money was brought in who owed the king millions of dollars.  The servant couldn’t pay the king, so the king ordered that the servant, the servant’s wife, and his children, along with everything he had to be sold to pay the debt.

But the servant fell down before the king and begged the king to be patient with him, and he would pay all of the debt.  Then the king was filled with pity for the servant.  The king released the servant and forgave the debt the servant owed.

Now when the servant left the court of the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.  The servant grabbed his fellow servant by the throat and he demanded instant payment.  His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time.  His fellow servant ask him to be patient and he would pay what was owed.  But the servant wouldn’t listen to his fellow servant.  For the servant had his fellow servant arrested and put in jail until what was owed could be paid in full.

Now, when some of the other servants saw what had happen they were very upset.  So these other servants went to the king and told him what had happened.  Then the king called for the servant that he had forgiven and said to the servant, “you evil servant!  I forgave you that large sum of money that you owed me because you pleaded with me.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?  Then the angry king sent the servant to prison until he had paid every penny that he owed the king.

That’s what God in heaven will do to you as well, if you don’t forgive other people in your heart.

Lesson Questions:

1.  How many times did Jesus tell Peter to forgive people?	a.  Had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid in full.
2.  When the servant fell down before the king and begged the king to be patient with him.  What did the king do?	B.  you evil servant
3.  The servant went to another servant that owed him money.  What did the servant do to the other servant?	c.  went to the king and told him what had happen.
4.  Some of the other servant saw what happen and they were upset.  What did they do?	d.  He sent the servant to prison until he had paid every penny that he owed the king.
5.  The king sent for the servant.  What did the king call the servant?	e.  forgive,  heart
6.  The king was very angry with the servant.  What did the king do?	f.  70 times 7
7.  That’s what God in heaven will do to you as well, if you don’t _______ other people in your ______.	g.  the king was filled with pity and forgave the debt the servant owed.

 

Unscramble the words

Laij Svernat Gavefro Giverof Ienttpa Terep Susje Gnik restared

Jesus Peter Forgive Patient King Servant forgave Arrested jail

 

Lesson  Answers

1.  How many times did Jesus tell Peter to forgive people?  F	a.  Had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid in full.
2.  When the servant fell down before the king and begged the king to be patient with him.  What did the king do?  G	B.  you evil servant
3.  The servant went to another servant that owed him money.  What did the servant do to the other servant?  A	c.  went to the king and told him what had happen.
4.  Some of the other servant saw what happen and they were upset.  What did they do?  C	d.  He sent the servant to prison until he had paid every penny that he owed the king.
5.  The king sent for the servant.  What did the king call the servant?  B	e.  forgive,  heart
6.  The king was very angry with the servant.  What did the king do?  D	f.  70 times 7
7.  That’s what God in heaven will do to you as well, if you don’t _______ other people in your ______.    E	g.  the king was filled with pity and forgave the debt the servant owed.

Answers to Unscramble the words

Laij ------Jail Svernat ---- Servant Gavefro  ----- forgave Giverof ----  forgive Ienttpa ---- patient Terep  ----  Peter Susje  ---- Jesus Gnik  ----  King Restared  ---  arrested

Jesus Peter Forgive Patient King Servant forgave Arrested jail

God Promises a son to Sarah

This lesson is taken from Genesis 18:1-15 and Genesis 21:1-7

The Lord appeared again to Abraham near an oak grove.  One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.  When he looked up, he noticed 3 men standing nearby.  He ran to them to greet them and to welcome them to his camp. When he got to the men he bowed low to the ground.  Abraham said, “My Lord, if it pleases you, stop here for a while, and rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.  And since you have honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food for you, before you continue on your journey.”  They agreed, so Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “ Hurry!  Get 3 large measures of your best flour, mix it into dough, and bake some bread.”  Then Abraham ran out to the herd and he chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.  When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men.  As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.

“Where is Sarah, your wife?  The visitors asked.  Abraham told them that Sarah was in the tent.  Then one of them said, “I will return to see you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”

Sarah was listening to them talk from the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.   Abraham and Sarah were both old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age for having children.  So she laughed silently to herself as she thought, “after all these years, will I now have a child, now that I am so very old?”

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh?  Why did she say, will I really have a child, now that I am so old?  Is anything too hard for the Lord to do?  I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.  Sarah was afraid, so she lied to the Lord.  For she said, “I didn’t laugh!”  But the Lord knew better than that, and he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

The Lord kept His word to Sarah, and she had a son.  This happened at the time God said it would happen. Abraham named their son Isaac.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me.  I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

 

Questions:

1.  What did one of the men say Sarah would have the next year?	a.  She was to old to have childen
2,  Why did Sarah laugh when they said she would have a son?	b.  hard
3.  Is anything too ________ for the Lord to do?	c.  a son
4.  What did Abraham name his son?	d.  100
5.  How old was Abraham when his son was born?	E.  Isaac

Secret Code

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H    

1     2      3      4      5     6     7      8     

I     J         K     L      M     N     O    

9    10       11    12    13     14    15   

P     Q     R     S       T      U     V    

16   17    18   19       20    21    22    

 

W     X     Y     Z

23    24    25    26

__  __  __  __  __        __  __  __     __  __

19     1      18    1      8             19    15   14        9       19

__  __  __  __  __

 9     19     1      1      3

Answers to lesson questions:

1.  What did one of the men say Sarah would have the next year?  C	a.  She was to old to have children
2,  Why did Sarah laugh when they said she would have a son?  A	b.  hard
3.  Is anything too __B__ for the Lord to do?	c.  a son
4.  What did Abraham name his son?  E	d.  100
5.  How old was Abraham when his son was born?  D	E.  Isaac

Answer to secret code

Sarah son is Isaac

God Promises a Son to Abraham

  This lesson is taken from Genesis 15:1-6 

The Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”  But Abram said, “O Lord, what can you give me, since I don’t have a son?  Lord, you have given me no children!  My servant, Eliezer from Damascus, will be my heir and he will inherit all my wealth.

But the Lord said, “No!  Your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”  Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.  For that is how many descendants you will have?” Abraham believed the Lord, and the Lord said he was righteous because of his faith.

On one of the Lord visits to Abram He told Abram that He was changing  Abram name to Abraham and Sarai name to Sarah.  

Lesson questions

1.  How did the Lord speak to Abram?	a. as many as the stars in the sky
2.  Who did Abram say would have to be his heir?	b.  a son
3.  Who did the Lord say would be Abram heir?	c.  a vision
4.  How many descendants did the Lord say Abram would have?	d. his servant

Unscramble the words

Heri Ons Rdlo Ramba Tvsearn Herinit

Lord Abram Servant Son Heir Inherit

Answer to lesson questions

1.  How did the Lord speak to Abram?  C	a. as many as the stars in the sky
2.  Who did Abram say would have to be his heir?  D	b.  a son
3.  Who did the Lord say would be Abram heir?  B	c.  a vision
4.  How many descendants did the Lord say Abram would have?  A	d. his servant

Answers to Unscramble the words

Heri     heir Ons    Son Rdlo    Lord Ramba    Abram Tvsearn    servant Herinit    inherit

Lord Abram Servant Son Heir Inherit

God Promises a Nation to Abraham

This lesson is taken from Genesis 12:1-7

The Lord told Abram to leave his country, his people, and his father’s house and go to the land that the Lord would show him.  The Lord said that He would make Abram into a great nation, and make his name great, and that He would bless him.  The Lord also said that He would bless the people who bless Abram and that He would curse anyone who mistreated him, and all the families on earth would be blessed through Abram.

So Abram left his homeland, as the Lord had told him to do.  He was 75 years old when he left Haran.  Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his livestock, and all the people that he had taken into his household at Haran.  And they all headed for the land of Canaan.  When they arrived in Canaan, Abram traveled through the land until he reached Shechem.  There he set up camp beside a great oak tree.  At that time, the Canaanites people were in the land.

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.  The word descendants mean your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and so on down the line.  Abram decided to build an altar there and worship the Lord.

Lesson questions

In the story what promises did God make Abram? .  He would make Abram into a great _____________________, and make his name ____________, and that He would _________________ him. . That He would __________________ the people who _____________ Abram. .  That He would _______________________ anyone who mistreated him, and all the families on earth would be __________________ through Abram.

Who did Abram take with him when he left his homeland? .  his wife __________________ .  his nephew  ________________ .  all the people he had in his __________________________ .  all his ______________________________ (which are animals)

When the Lord appeared to Abram in Canaan.  What promise did He make Abram? .  I will give this _____________________ to your  __________________________.

Abram decided to build an ___________________ there and __________________ the Lord.

Answers for Lesson questions

In the story what promises did God make Abram? .  He would make Abram into a great   nation, and make his name   great, and that He would  bless  him. . That He would   bless  the people who  bless  Abram. .  That He would  curse  anyone who mistreated him, and all the families on earth would be blessed  through Abram.

Who did Abram take with him when he left his homeland? .  his wife   Sarai .  his nephew     Lot .  all the people he had in his  household .  all his livestock  (which are animals)

When the Lord appeared to Abram in Canaan.  What promise did He make Abram? .  I will give this  land   to your  descendants  .

Abram decided to build an  altar there and worship the Lord.

Jonah obeyed God

This lesson is taken from Jonah 3-4

Teacher:  God talked a second time to Jonah

God:  Get up Jonah and go to the great city of Nineveh, and give the people there the message of judgment I have given you.

Teacher:  This time Jonah obeyed God’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took 3 days to see all the city.  On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds of people

Jonah:  40 days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!

Teacher:  The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and everyone decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show how sorry they were to God.  Do you know what sackcloth is?  Well it is a coarse, rough cloth, made of goat hair, that people wore back in the Old Testament time to show that they were in mourning.  Now, when the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes and he dressed in sackcloth and he sat on a pile of ashes.  Then the king sent a message to all the people in his kingdom.

King:  No one, not even the animals, is to eat or drink anything at all.  Everyone is to wear sackcloth and pray to God.  Everyone must turn from all of their evil ways and stop all the violence.  Who can tell?  Maybe God will have pity on us and hold back his great anger and not destroy us.

Teacher:  When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, He had mercy on them and didn’t carry out his plans to destroy Nineveh as He had threatened to do.  This change of plans upset Jonah, and he became very angry.  So he complained to God about it.

Jonah:  Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord?  That is why I ran away to Tarshish!  I knew that you would show kindness and have pity on Nineveh, God.  That You, O God, were slow to get angry and You were filled with unfailing love.  I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.  So, just kill me now, Lord!  I would rather be dead than alive, because nothing I say You are going to do will ever happen.

God:  Is it right for you to be angry about this, Jonah?

 Teacher:  Jonah went out to the east side of the city, there he made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see if anything would happen to the city.  God cause a plant with a lot of leaves to grow there, close to Jonah.  Soon the broad leaves of the plant had grown to over Jonah’s head, and they made a shade for Jonah from the sun. Now, Jonah didn’t get so hot during the day, so he was thankful for the plant.  But God had a plan!  You see God also put a worm in the plant.  The next morning, as the sun was coming up the worm had eaten through the stem of the plant, and the plant soon died.  So now the plant was no longer there.  And as the sun grew hot, God sent a very hot east wind to blow on Jonah.  The sun beat down so hot on Jonah head that he grew faint and wished to die.

Jonah:  Death is sure better than this!

God:  Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?

Jonah:  Yes!  I am even angry enough to die!

God:  You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put the plant there.  And a plant only lives for a short time.  But the city of Nineveh has more than 120,000 people that live in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals.  Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?

Teacher:  As you can see, God taught Jonah a lesson with the plant.  For Jonah had no pity for the people of Nineveh.  He wanted God to destroy Nineveh!  But God had pity on the people of Nineveh and didn’t destroy it.  So when Jonah went and made a shelter on the east side of the city to wait and see if anything happen, God decided to teach him a lesson.  When Jonah felt sorry for the plant when it died, God was able to show him how He felt about Nineveh.  That He would rather the city turn to worship Him than destroy the city.  God still feels the same way today, He would rather we turn to worship Him than destroy us. 

 Questions:

When Jonah reached Nineveh what did the people there do?	a.  Jonah was furious
What happened when the people of Nineveh repented?	b.  They turned from evil
How did Jonah feel when the people of Nineveh repented?	C. God decided not to carry out His threat

 Answers to Jonah obeyed God

When Jonah reached Nineveh what did the people there do?    B	a.  Jonah was furious
What happened when the people of Nineveh repented?   C	b.  They turned from evil
How did Jonah feel when the people of Nineveh repented?   A	C. God decided not to carry out His threat

Jonah and the big fish

This lesson is taken from Jonah 1-2 and it is in the form of a play.  I hope you enjoy it.

Teacher:  God gave Jonah a message

God:  Jonah get up and go to the great city of Nineveh!  Tell the people there about my judgment against the city, for I have seen how evil the people are.

Teacher:  But, Jonah got up and went in the opposite way from what God had told him to go, for he was trying to run away from God.  Jonah went to the town of Joppa, which was on the seacoast.  In Joppa Jonah found a ship that was leaving for Tarshish.  He bought a ticket and got on board the ship.  As the ship was sailing along the sea, suddenly God caused a powerful wind to come up over the sea.  This wind caused a violent storm that threatened to send the ship to the bottom of the sea.  Fearing for their lives the sailors was very afraid.  The sailors shouted out to the gods that they worshiped for help.  The sailors even threw the cargo of the ship overboard into the sea, trying to lighten the ship, trying to keep the ship from going to the bottom of the sea.  All this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold of the ship.  The captain went down to get Jonah.

Captain:  How can you sleep at a time like this?  Get up and pray to your god!  Maybe he will have mercy on us and save our lives.

Teacher:  The sailors casted lots to see which of them had done something that the gods didn’t like.  For they figured that the gods got mad and that caused the terrible storm.  When they casted lots Jonah lost the toss.  Then they asked Jonah.

Sailors:  What have you done to bring this awful storm down on us?  Who are you?  What kind of work do you do?  What country are you from?

Jonah:  I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land.  I am running away from the Lord.

Teacher:  The sailors were terrified when they heard this, and the storm was getting worse all the time.

Sailors:  Oh, why did you do it?  What are we to do to stop this storm?

Jonah:  Throw me into the sea, and it will become calm again.  For I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.

Teacher:  Instead of doing that the sailor tried even harder to row the ship to shore.  But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.  So they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God.

Sailors:  O, Lord, don’t make us die for this man’s sin.  And don’t hold us responsible for his death, because it isn’t our fault.  O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own reasons.

Teacher:  Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once.  The sailors were greatly surprised at the great power Jonah’s Lord had, so they offered God a sacrifice and said they would serve God.  As for Jonah, God had a great fish to swallow Jonah.  And Jonah was inside the fish for 3 days and 3 nights.  Then Jonah prayed to God inside the fish.

Jonah:  I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble.  I called to the Lord from the world of the dead, and you heard me.  You threw me into the ocean deep, and I went down to the heart of the sea.  I was buried under your wild and stormy waves.  O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.  How will I ever see your Holy Temple again?  I went down, down under the waves, and death was very near.  The waters closed in around me, and seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I went down under the water to the very bottom of the mountains.  I was locked out of life and was imprisoned in the land of the dead.  But you, O Lord my God, you snatched me from the jaws of death!  When I lost all hope, I turned my thinking once more to the Lord.  And my prayers went out to you in your Holy Temple.  For whoever worship false gods are turning their backs on all of God’s mercy.  But I will offer songs of praise as a sacrifice to you, and I will fulfill all of my vows.  For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.

Teacher:  After Jonah had finished talking to God, the Lord ordered the great fish to spit up Jonah onto the beach, and the fish did what God told him.

Questions:

Who was Jonah?	a.  he boarded a ship
Where did God tell Jonah to go?	b.  They feared the Lord
What did Jonah do instead of obeying God?	c.  3 days and 3 nights
Why did the sailors throw Jonah overboard into the sea?	d.  he prayed
What did the sailors do when the sea became calmed?	e.  A prophet God called
What did Jonah do inside the fish?	f.  the fish spit him up onto the beach
How long was Jonah inside the fish?	g. Nineveh
How did Jonah get out of the fish?	h.  to calm the sea

Unscramble the words

Jhnoa   Gdo droabover Saliros Pihswor Tosrmy Nevineh Mentgduj Hips Treag   hisf amcl

Calm Great Fish Sailors Ship Overboard Judgment stormy Nineveh Worship God Jonah

Answers to  Jonah and the great fish

Who was Jonah?  E	a.  he boarded a ship
Where did God tell Jonah to go?  G	b. They feared the Lord
What did Jonah do instead of obeying God?  A	c.  3 days and 3 nights
Why did the sailors throw Jonah overboard into the sea?  H	d.   he prayed
What did the sailors do when the sea became calmed?  B	e.  A prophet God called
What did Jonah do inside the fish?  D	f.  the fish spit him up onto the beach
How long was Jonah inside the fish?    C	g.  Nineveh
How did Jonah get out of the fish?  F	h. to calm the sea

Answers to  Unscramble the words

Jhnoa   --- Jonah Gdo     ---God Droabover  -- overboard Saliros  --  sailors Pihswor  -- worship Tosrmy --  stormy Nevineh -- Nineveh Mentgduj --  judgment Hips  --  ship Treag   hisf  --  Great Fish Amcl  --  calm

Calm Great Fish Sailors Ship Overboard Judgment stormy Nineveh Worship God Jonah