Lesson Learned:  Jesus cleanses us from sin.

Materials Needed: 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt, bowl, grimy pennies

Bible Verse:
1 John 2:1
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 John 1:9
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 13:38
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.   

Talking Points:  If you’ve ever played in the mud or dirt, you probably got very dirty and had to take a bath to get clean.  Your mother may not have let you eat dinner or ear your snack before you were clean.  Sin makes us dirty too and God wants us to be cleansed of our sin.  God sent Jesus down from Heaven to Earth so that Jesus could cleanse us from our sin.  When we believe in Jesus and ask for forgiveness of sins, we are no longer covered in sin.  We are clean and ready to see God!  That’s why Jesus had to die on the cross, to make us clean of our sin.

Questions:  Have you ever gotten dirty before? What were you doing? Did you have to take a bath or wash or hands to get clean?  Does sin make you dirty? How do you wash your sin away?

Activity:

Before you start, mix ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.

Gather some grimy pennies and ask the child if the pennies look dirty or clean.  The dirty pennies are like us when we sin–ugly and unclean.  But when we ask God for forgiveness of our sins, we are cleansed and no longer covered in sin.  At this point, place the pennies in the vinegar mixture for about five minutes. They will come out shiny and clean! Explain that Jesus makes us shiny and clean too.

Prayer:
  Dear God, thank You so much for sending Your Son, Jesus, to us so that our sins could be forgiven.  We want to be clean and shiny like these pennies.  Help us to follow Jesus so we can be like new again too! Amen!

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