This lesson teaches children that everyone has done wrong, but God gives us his free gift of forgiveness through Jesus. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Everybody has done wrong, but God forgives us freely because of Jesus. We cannot earn it, and we do not need to.
Memory Verse
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God…
(WEB)
Hold both hands out flat, palms up, like you are receiving a gift. Say the verse together, then bring your hands together in front of your heart as you say the word “grace” in the second half.
The Story: Romans 3 for Kids
Long ago, a man named Paul wrote a letter to the friends in the city of Rome. Some of them were Jewish, and they had grown up with God’s law, which God had given to Moses. Paul wanted them to understand something very important about God’s family. Being born into God’s people was a special privilege, and God had trusted them with his words.
But Paul also said that no one is perfect. Some people did not always trust God, and that did not stop God from being faithful. Paul explained that if we look at how we act, we can see that we all have done wrong things. He said it this way: there is no one who always does what is good, not even one person. Jews and Gentiles alike had sinned, so no one could be proud and think they were better.
Then Paul told the best news of all. A person does not become right with God by doing a long list of good deeds. Instead, God makes us right through faith, which means trusting him. God gives this gift freely, out of his kindness, through what Jesus did. Jesus took our place and paid the price for our wrongs, so God can forgive us and call us his own.
Paul also wanted everyone to know that God is not only the God of one group of people. He is the God of all people. Whether someone grew up knowing the law or never had it, God welcomes everyone who trusts in Jesus. Paul said there is no difference, because all of us need the same gift.
Paul did not say that God’s law was bad or that we could ignore it. He said the law shows us how much we need God’s help. When we trust Jesus, we are not throwing away God’s word. We are believing what it has always pointed toward.
Read It Together
Romans 3:4
May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
(WEB)
Point out that God always tells the truth and can be trusted, even when people do not always keep their promises. Ask the children to name a time when someone they trusted kept their word.
Romans 3:10-12
10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. 11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
(WEB)
Explain that these words describe how all of us have turned away from God at some point. Help the children see that this is not meant to make them feel bad, but to show why we all need help.
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…
(WEB)
Point out the word “freely,” and explain that God’s grace is a gift we do not have to pay for. Ask the children what a free gift feels like when they receive it.
Talk About It
- What is one thing that makes you feel happy when someone gives it to you for free?
- Why do you think everyone needs help from God, even grown-ups?
- How did Jesus show that God loves us very much?
- What does it mean to trust God, and how can you do that this week?
- How can we treat people who are different from us, since God welcomes everyone?
Activity Ideas
Gift Box Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons or markers, and a small box with a lid. Ask them to draw a picture of something they are thankful God gave them, then fold it and place it inside the box. Explain that God’s forgiveness is like a gift we receive, not something we earn. Talk about how the box shows that God has already given us something special.
Stand Up, Sit Down Game
Ask the children to stand up when they hear a good thing God does and sit down when they hear something people do wrong. Read a few short sentences aloud, such as “God forgives us” and “we all make mistakes.” When they stand for the good news, celebrate together. Finish by reminding them that God’s gift is the best news of all.
Take-Home Grace Card
Cut a few index cards in half and give one to each child, along with a pencil. Have them write “God gives freely” on one side and draw a heart on the other. Encourage them to share the card with a family member during dinner and explain in their own words what it means. This helps the lesson continue at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage explains that all people have sinned and cannot make themselves right with God by their own effort. It also shows that God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus, is the only way to be made right, and that this offer extends to everyone. Paul is careful to say that God’s law still matters, because it reveals our need for him.
Be careful not to overstate the lesson as a list of rules to memorize or a formula to follow. Children may come away thinking that being good is what earns God’s love. Keep the focus on God’s freely given gift and his faithful character, rather than on how well they behave.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for loving us even when we do wrong. Thank you for giving us your free gift of forgiveness through Jesus. Help us to trust you every day and to share your love with others. We are so glad that you welcome everyone into your family. Amen.
