Free Sunday School Lesson to Teach Kids about Forgiveness

Here’s a fun and interactive children’s Bible lesson on forgiveness that can be used in Sunday school, at home, or during a church kids’ program. It includes a Bible story, discussion questions, activities, and a memory verse.

Theme: Forgiveness

Key Scripture: Matthew 18:21–22 (Jesus says to forgive “seventy times seven”)

Memory Verse: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

1. Opening Activity: The Forgiveness Balloon

Supplies Needed:

Balloons (one for each child)

Marker

Instructions:

Give each child a balloon and a marker.

Ask them to think about a time when someone hurt their feelings or did something wrong. Have them write or draw something on the balloon to represent that hurt.

Explain: “Sometimes when someone hurts us, it feels like we’re carrying a big balloon of anger or sadness around.”

Tell them: “But when we forgive, it’s like letting go of the balloon.”

Have them release their balloons (you can pop them for added effect).

2. Bible Story: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21–35)

Tell the Story:

Use simple language to explain the parable:

Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Seven times?”

Jesus replied, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven!”

Then Jesus told a story:

A king wanted to settle his debts with his servants. One servant owed him a HUGE amount of money he could never repay. The king forgave the servant’s debt and let him go.

But when that servant left, he found another man who owed him a small amount of money. Instead of forgiving him, he demanded payment and had the man thrown in jail.

When the king heard about this, he was angry and said, “Shouldn’t you have forgiven, just as I forgave you?”

Discussion Questions:

Why was the king upset with the servant?

How does God want us to treat others when they hurt us?

Why is it sometimes hard to forgive?

3. Interactive Activity: The Forgiveness Box

Supplies Needed:

A small box or jar labeled “Forgiveness Box”

Slips of paper and pens/crayons

Instructions:

Have the kids write or draw one thing they need to forgive someone for on a slip of paper.

Put the slips into the Forgiveness Box.

Explain: “When we forgive, we give our hurt to God and let Him take care of it. This box reminds us to let go of our anger and trust God.”

4. Object Lesson: The Dirty Mirror

Supplies Needed:

A mirror

Dry-erase markers

Wipes or cloth

Instructions:

Show the mirror to the kids and explain that it represents our hearts.

Write “angry,” “hurt,” or “unforgiving” on the mirror to show how those feelings can cover our hearts.

Wipe the mirror clean and say: “When we forgive, God helps clean our hearts so we can feel free again.”

5. Closing Prayer

Prayer Example:

“Dear God, thank You for forgiving us when we make mistakes. Help us to forgive others, even when it’s hard. Teach us to love like You do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

6. Take-Home Craft: Forgiveness Hearts

Supplies Needed:

Construction paper (cut into heart shapes)

Markers, stickers, or other decorations

Instructions:

Have the children write “I will forgive like Jesus!” on their hearts.

Let them decorate their hearts to take home as a reminder to forgive others.

This lesson reinforces forgiveness through story, play, and creativity, making it engaging and memorable for children!