2025-06-01 Merciful
Introduction
As we prepare to teach this lesson, let’s pause and reflect on the incredible mercy of God. Even though we sin against Him daily, God extends kindness and compassion to undeserving sinners like us. His mercy isn't just a feeling—it's active love reaching out to restore broken relationships.
Today’s lesson shows children that God doesn't give us what we deserve for our sin. Instead, He offers forgiveness and welcomes us back with open arms. We'll use Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate how a father's merciful love mirrors God's heart toward us when we stray.
Our goal is to help children understand that God's mercy isn't earned—it's a gift. We want them to grasp that even when they disobey and make poor choices, God is still waiting with arms wide open, ready to forgive when they turn back to Him with sincere hearts.
As you teach, pray that each child will recognize their need for God's mercy. May they see themselves in the story of the prodigal son and understand that God is a loving Father who runs to meet His wayward children with compassion and forgiveness.
Before Service
Ensure parents take their child to the restroom before bringing them to the children's area and use the QR code to sign in their child before the service.
Praise and Worship (15 mins)
Parents: The parent and child scheduled for this week will lead us in singing on Sunday. Please take time to practice the songs together at home, helping your child feel confident and joyful as they prepare to lead.
Prayer and Offering (5 mins)
Parents: Please encourage your children to bring an offering to church. You may help your child prepare by setting aside a coin for them to bring on Sunday. This is a great opportunity to teach them about giving to God with a thankful heart and trusting Him to provide.
What is Offering?
Offering is when we give something to God to show our love and thankfulness. In church, we often give money as an offering, but we can also give our time, talents, and kindness to God and others.
Why Do We Make an Offering?
1️⃣ To Thank God – Everything we have comes from God! Giving back is a way to say, “Thank You, God!”
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7,
2️⃣ To Trust God – When we give, we show that we trust God to take care of us.
3️⃣ To Help Others – Offerings help the church teach about Jesus, help people in need, and share God’s love.
"God loves a cheerful giver!" That means God is happy when we give with a joyful heart!
Prayer for Offering
Dear God, thank You for giving us everything we need. We want to give back to You with joyful hearts. Please use our offering to help others and share Your love. Help us to always trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Review Verse from Last Week
2 Peter 3:9 —'The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.'
“The Lord is not slow”
(Point upward to represent "the Lord" and shake head "no" for "not slow")
“in keeping his promise”
(Cross hands over heart to represent "keeping promise")
“as some understand slowness”
(Tap head for "understand" and move hands slowly for "slowness")
“Instead he is patient with you”
(Fold hands together calmly to show "patience" and point to others for "with you")
“not wanting anyone to perish”
(Shake head "no" and look sad for "not wanting" and "perish")
“but everyone to come to repentance.”
(Open arms wide for "everyone" and make turning motion with hands for "repentance")
Bible Story (10 min): God is Merciful
Introduction (1 min)
(Hold up a small bag of coins or play money and speak with enthusiasm.)
Boys and girls, look what I have here—a bag of money! Imagine if your dad or mom gave you all this money. What would you do with it? Would you save it? Buy something nice? Share with others?
(Let them answer briefly.)
Today we're going to hear a story Jesus told about a son who asked his father for money. But instead of using it wisely, he made some very bad choices. And yet, something amazing happened when he returned home! This story will teach us about a special word that describes what God is like: MERCIFUL.
Story Telling (5 min) - The Prodigal Son
(Use props if possible: a bag of play money, a picture of pigs, and consider having three simple picture cards representing the three stages of the son's journey.)
Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. One day, the younger son came to his father with a very disrespectful request.
(Hold up your Bible and read from Luke 15:11-12.)
"There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them."
(Show the bag of money.)
This was very rude! The son was basically saying, "I don't want to wait until you die—give me my money now!" But do you know what? The father still gave him the money, even though the son didn't deserve it.
Soon after, the son packed up everything he had and traveled far away from home.
(Read from Luke 15:13-14.)
"Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need."
The son wasted all his father's money on bad things! He spent it all, and then there was no food in the land. He became very, very hungry.
(Show the picture of pigs and read Luke 15:15-16.)
"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything."
Can you imagine being so hungry that you want to eat pig food? Yuck! The son had made very bad choices, and now he was suffering.
(Read Luke 15:17-19.)
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'"
The son realized he had been very wrong. He knew he didn't deserve to be called his father's son anymore. He just wanted to work as a servant so he could have food to eat.
(Read Luke 15:20 with excitement and emotion.)
"And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."
What did the father do? Did he yell at his son? Did he punish him? No! The father RAN to his son, HUGGED him, and KISSED him! The father was so happy to see his son, even though the son had done terrible things!
Wrap-up & Discussion (4 min)
(Sit with the children in a circle or relaxed posture.)
In this story, the son deserved to be punished, didn't he? He had been disrespectful, wasted his father's money, and made many bad choices. But instead of punishment, the father showed him something special: MERCY.
Mercy means showing kindness to someone who doesn't deserve it. The father showed mercy to his son by welcoming him home with love and forgiveness, even though the son deserved punishment.
This story helps us understand that God is merciful. We all do wrong things that make God sad. The Bible calls these wrong things "sin." Because of our sin, we deserve God's punishment. But God is merciful—He shows kindness to us even when we don't deserve it.
Ask a few gentle, reflective questions:
- How do you think the son felt when his father welcomed him home with a hug instead of a punishment?
- Can you think of a time when you did something wrong but someone showed you mercy (they were kind to you instead of punishing you)?
- How does it make you feel to know that God is merciful and loves you even when you make mistakes?
(Bring it together with this summary.)
God's mercy is a wonderful gift! He gives us kindness and forgiveness that we could never earn or deserve. The most amazing way God shows His mercy is by sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sins so that we can be forgiven and welcomed into God's family. Just like the father in our story ran to welcome his son home, God welcomes us with open arms when we come to Him and say we're sorry for our sins.
Memorizing Verse: Psalm 145:8
Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
"Now let's learn a special Bible verse that tells us what God is like. Listen carefully as I say it."
(Read slowly and clearly, pointing to the words if displayed):
💡 Break It Down & Explain
Let's say it together—repeat after me!
(Say in short phrases and have kids echo):
- "The LORD" (point up)
- "is gracious and merciful" (open hands like giving a gift)
- "slow to anger" (shake head slowly)
- "and abounding in steadfast love." (cross arms over chest)
(Say it again a little faster as a group.)
Now let's talk about what this means.
- "Gracious" means God gives us good things we don't deserve.
- "Merciful" means God doesn't give us the punishment we do deserve.
- "Slow to anger" means God is patient with us when we make mistakes.
- "Abounding in steadfast love" means God's love for us never runs out!
Craft & Game (10 mins)
Craft (5 min)
Download and print worksheet here for children.
(Hold up a large printed letter "M" and say cheerfully):
Now we're going to do a fun craft to help us remember that God is merciful. 'M' stands for Merciful!
(Hand out a copy of the large 'M' on paper to each child, along with crayons, markers, or stickers.)
I want you to draw a picture inside or around the 'M' that reminds you of today's story. You could draw the father hugging his son, or anything else that helps you remember God's mercy.
(While kids draw, walk around and chat with them individually, prompting reflection)
- What was your favorite part of today's story?
- How does it feel to know that God loves you even when you make mistakes?
- Who could you show mercy to this week?
(After 4–5 minutes, invite kids to share their art aloud if time allows.)
These are beautiful! Each 'M' reminds us that God gives mercy to people who don't deserve it.
Game (5 min)
Setup (before class):
- Print out or draw simple pictures showing the prodigal son's journey: 1) Asking for money, 2) Wasting money, 3) With pigs, 4) Coming home, 5) Father hugging son
- Mix up the pictures
- Bring tape or sticky tack
(Gather the group and explain):
Let's play a game called The Prodigal's Journey! I have pictures from our story all mixed up. When I say GO, your job is to work together and put them in the right order.
After we get them in order, we'll talk about where in the story we see God's mercy!
(Let children arrange the pictures in sequence.)
Great job! Now, point to the picture where you see mercy being shown. That's right—when the father welcomes his son home with open arms, that's mercy! God welcomes us the same way when we come back to Him.
Response Song
Closing Prayer & Snack Time (10 mins)
Dear God,
Thank You for being so merciful to us.
Thank You for loving us even when we don't deserve it.
Thank You for sending Jesus to show us what Your mercy looks like.
Help us to show mercy to others just like You show mercy to us.Now, let us thank You for the snack we’re about to enjoy.
We fold our hands.
We bow our heads.
We thank You, God,
for this daily bread.
Amen.