This lesson teaches children that God welcomes humble hearts, looks for lost people, and wants us to forgive others just as He forgives us. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God loves little children and wants us to be humble, to care for the lost, and to forgive others the way He forgives us.
Memory Verse
Matthew 18:4
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
(WEB)
Put your hands on your heart and bow your head a little, like a child who is humble. Say the verse together, then lift your head and smile as you say the last word.
The Story: Matthew 18 for Kids
One day the disciples came to Jesus with a question. They wanted to know who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom. Their hearts were full of big ideas about being important.
Jesus did not answer with a speech. He called a little child over and stood him right in the middle of the group. Then He told the disciples that they had to become like little children to enter God’s kingdom. Anyone who makes himself humble, like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom.
Jesus also told a story about a shepherd who had one hundred sheep. One sheep wandered away. The shepherd left the other ninety-nine and went searching until he found it. When he found it, he was very happy. Jesus said that God is just like that shepherd. He does not want even one of His little ones to be lost.
Then Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who keeps doing wrong. Peter thought seven times was a lot. Jesus said, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” He meant that we should keep forgiving over and over.
To explain, Jesus told a story about a king who forgave a servant a huge debt that he could never repay. But that same servant then refused to forgive a friend who owed him a small amount. When the king heard about it, he was very upset. Jesus said that our heavenly Father will treat us the same way if we refuse to forgive others from our hearts.
Read It Together
Matthew 18:5
Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me…
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus says that when we welcome a child in His name, we welcome Him. Ask the children how they can show kindness to a younger child or a new friend this week.
Matthew 18:12-13
12 “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 13 If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
(WEB)
Show the children how the shepherd cares about the one lost sheep. Explain that God notices each of us and is happy when someone who was lost comes home to Him.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
(WEB)
Point out Peter’s question and Jesus’ answer. Explain that Jesus wants us to keep forgiving, because God keeps forgiving us again and again.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means to be humble like a little child?
- Why do you think the shepherd went looking for the one lost sheep?
- How did you feel the last time someone said sorry to you?
- What can make it hard to forgive a friend who hurt you?
- How does knowing God forgives us help us forgive others?
Activity Ideas
Lost Sheep Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and cotton balls. Have each child draw a green field and a shepherd, then glue a few cotton balls onto the paper to make ninety-nine sheep. Draw one sheep a little way off by itself. Talk about how the shepherd went looking for that one sheep and how God does the same for each of us.
Seventy Times Seven Game
Gather the children in a circle. Choose one child to stand in the middle as the “wrong-doer.” Each time that child says “sorry,” the others clap once and say “I forgive you.” Keep going for a few rounds to act out forgiving over and over. Finish by reminding the children that God forgives us every time we ask.
Forgiveness Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pencil. Ask your child to write or draw one time someone forgave them, then fold it and place it in the jar. Each week, read a few notes together. Tell your child that these notes remind us how God’s forgiveness is always there for us.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that greatness in God’s kingdom looks like humility, a willingness to seek the lost, and a readiness to forgive. The parable of the unforgiving servant makes clear that God’s forgiveness to us is so large that it must shape how we treat one another.
Avoid overstating to children that they must never feel angry or hurt. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that wrong did not happen or letting someone keep hurting you. Keep the focus on God’s love and on the desire to forgive from the heart.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving little children and for looking for each of us when we are lost. Help us to be humble, to be kind to others, and to forgive people from our hearts, just as You forgive us. Thank You for always welcoming us home. Amen.
