2026-05-17 Jesus Welcomes All Kinds of Sinners

Introduction

In this lesson, children will learn that Jesus haswelcomes theall powerkinds toof completelysinners, changenot ajust sinner'sone heart.special group. Through the dramatic story of Jesus healingand the demon-possessedSamaritan manwoman inat the region of the Geraseneswell (MarkJohn 5:1-20)4:4-26, 39-42), children will seediscover that sinJesus holdscrossed every boundary that people inhad bondage,built, and that noHis onegood can free themselves by trying harder or being nicer. Only Jesus, whonews is morefor powerfulevery thantribe, Satan,every canlanguage, breakand every kind of person. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other, and Jews had rules about not talking to Samaritans. But Jesus sat down with a Samaritan woman and told her He was the chainsSavior ofshe sin.needed. WhenShe Jesus saves a person, He makes them into a brand-new creation, just like 2 Corinthians 5:17 says. The wild, out-of-control man becomes calm, clothed,believed, and inshe his right mind. He is so changed that Jesus sends himran to tell everyoneher whatwhole Godtown. hasJesus doneis forhappy him.to welcome every kind of sinner into His family.

Main Ideas:

• SinEveryone is a Prison:Sinner: SinnersAll cannot free themselvespeople, from theevery powergroup, ofhave sin.sinned Weand need helpJesus from(Romans outside of us.3:23).
• JesusNo Sets Free:Favorites: Jesus camedoes not save only one kind of people. His love is for everyone.
• Crossing Lines: Jesus crossed the lines people had built to freereach sinners no one else cared about.
• All Nations Worship: One day, people from theevery bondagetribe ofand sin.
language
• Jesuswill is Stronger:praise Jesus is more powerful than Satan. Nothing and no one can stop Him.
• New Creation: When Jesus forgives a sinner, He changes the heart and makes the person brand new.together.

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?

To Thank God – Everything we have comes from God! Giving back is a way to say, “Thank You, God!”
To Trust God – When we give, we show that we trust God to take care of us.
To Help Others – Offerings help the church teach about Jesus, help people in need, and share God’s love.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7,
"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

Luke2 Corinthians 5:31-3217

AndTherefore, Jesusif answeredanyone them,is "Thosein whoChrist, arehe well have no need ofis a physician,new butcreation. thoseThe whoold arehas sick.passed Iaway; have not come to callbehold, the righteousnew buthas sinners to repentance."come.

Bible Story (10 min)

Introduction (2 min)

Props Needed:

• A picturesmall bag of afancy caterpillarstickers (enough for about half the children)
• A small plate of yummy treats (cookies, candy) and a picturesmall plate of acrumbled butterflycrackers (printed,to orshow onas aan phone/tablet)unfair "treat")
• Two paper signs: "Jews" and "Samaritans"
• A short length of chain or rope (about 2 feet, safe for kids to see)
• Darkened Heart visual (from previous lessons)
• Shiny/Clean Heart visual (from previous lessons)
• Ared paper STOP sign labeled "WildDo Man"NOT andtalk ato paper sign labeled them!"New Man"
• Some torn rags or a ripped piece of cloth
• A cleanwater folded shirtcup or robewater bottle (for the well)

 

(Walk in holdingwearing a sticker on your shirt. Hold up the picturebag of a butterfly.stickers.)

Teacher: "Good morning, friends! LookToday atI thisam beautifulstarting butterfly!with Howa manygame. colorsI canam yougoing see?to give stickers to some of you, but not to everyone. Let's see who gets a sticker."

Interaction:(Pass "Flapout yourstickers armsto likeabout butterflyhalf wings!of Flutter,the flutter,children. flutter!"Do it in a silly way, skipping some and giving to others with no clear reason.)

Teacher: "ButterfliesOkay! Now, children with stickers, come sit on THIS side, over here with me. Children without stickers, please sit on the OTHER side."

(Wait until children have separated into two groups.)

Teacher: "Now I have a treat for each group. The sticker group, you are sothe pretty.special Now,group. didYou youget knowto thateat a butterfly was NOT always a butterfly? A long time ago, this butterfly looked like THIS.THESE."

(Hold up the caterpillarplate picture.of yummy treats.)

Teacher: "ABut caterpillar!the Ano-sticker fat,group? crawling, bumpy little worm. CanSince you believedon't it?have Thisstickers, crawlingyou caterpillar CHANGED into that beautiful flying butterfly. Who made that happen?"

Interaction: "Point uphave to God!eat God did it!"

Teacher: "God made the caterpillar change. And that is amazing. But I will tell you something MORE amazing than that. God can change something even better than a caterpillar. God can change a PERSON'S HEART.THESE."

(Hold up the Darkenedplate Heart.of crumbled crackers. Make a sad-looking face.)

Interaction: "No-sticker group, how do you feel about that? Thumbs down!"

Teacher: "WeIs haveit learnedFAIR that everyI heartam giving the yummy treats only to the kids with stickers? Did the sticker kids do anything to earn them? Did they do a good deed? Did they pass a test? No! I just picked who got them. That is bornnot darkfair at all. Don't worry, everyone gets treats at the end today!"

Teacher: "Sometimes people split themselves into groups and dirtythink, 'MY group is better. YOUR group is worse. I don't want to share with sin.you. AndI todaydon't want to play with you. I don't even want to TALK to you.' Today in the Bible, we are going to hearmeet two groups like that. And we are going to see what JESUS thinks about a man who had a VERY dark heart. His heart was so full of sin that bad spirits were controlling him. And then Jesus came. And Jesus changed him more completely than a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. Let's hear the story.it."

Story Telling: Jesus ChangesWelcomes All Kinds of Sinners (8 min)

Props / Visuals Suggested:

• Caterpillar"Jews" and butterfly pictures (still in view)
• Chain or rope
• Torn rags
• Clean folded shirt or robe
• Darkened Heart and Shiny Heart visuals
• "Wild Man"sign and "NewSamaritans" Man"sign
signs
• Red STOP sign: "Do NOT talk to them!"
• Water cup or bottle (for the well)
• The two groups of children (sticker / no-sticker) still separated

 

Part 1: Two Groups Who Did Not Like Each Other (2 mins)

(Hold up the "Jews" sign near the sticker group.)

Teacher: "A long, long time ago, God chose a special group of people to be His family. They were called JEWS. Moses was a Jew. David was a Jew. Mary, Jesus' mother, was a Jew. Even Jesus, when He was born, was born into this group of people."

Interaction: "Sticker group, you are the Jews today. Stand up and wave!"

Teacher: "God loved the Jews and gave them His Word, the Bible. But some of the Jews started to think they were BETTER than everybody else. They said, 'God only loves us. Other people are just sinners. We are the good ones.' Was that true?"

Interaction: "Shake your head NO!"

Teacher: "No! Every person is a sinner. The WildBible Mansays, Nobody'All Couldhave Helpsinned.' The Jews were sinners too. But they forgot."

(Hold up the "Samaritans" sign near the no-sticker group.)

Teacher: "Now, right next to where the Jews lived was another group of people. They were called SAMARITANS. The Jews did NOT like the Samaritans. They thought the Samaritans were 'wrong' and 'dirty.'"

Interaction: "No-sticker group, you are the Samaritans today. Stand up and wave!"

(Hold up the red STOP sign.)

Teacher: "The Jews made a big rule: DO NOT TALK to Samaritans. Do NOT sit with them. Do NOT share food with them. Do NOT even walk through their towns."

Interaction: "Hold up your hand like a stop sign. 'STOP! Do not talk!'"

 

Part 2: Jesus Goes Where No One Goes (2 mins)

Teacher: "One day, Jesus anddid something that SHOCKED everybody. Jesus said to His disciples, 'Let's go through Samaria today.' The disciples probably said, 'But Jesus! That's where the SAMARITANS live! We're not supposed to go there!'"

Teacher: "But Jesus went. Jesus went right into the town of Samaria, right to a place where people got intotheir water, called a boatWELL. And Jesus sat down, right there, all by Himself, because He was tired and sailed across the sea. When they got to the other side, they stepped out onto the beach. And right away, they heard a loud, scary sound comingthirsty from the hills.walking."

Interaction: "EveryonePretend cupto walk, walk, walk. Now pretend to be tired. Phew! Sit down and wipe your hands to your ears. Listen! What do you hear?" (Make a loud yelling or growling sound.)

(Hold up the "Wild Man" sign and the torn rags.)

Teacher: "A man came running down from the hills. He was scary. His clothes were all torn to pieces, like THIS."

(Wave the torn rags around.)

Teacher: "He did not live in a house. He lived in the graveyard, where people are buried. He was yelling and screaming day and night. He was hurting himself. He was hurting other people. Everyone was SO afraid of him."

Interaction: "Make a scared face! Hug yourself and shake. Brrrrr!forehead."

(Hold up the chain.water cup.)

Teacher: "TheSoon, peoplea inSamaritan woman came to the town tried EVERYTHINGwell to stopget him.water. TheyAnd tiedJesus himLOOKED upat withher. strongAnd chains,Jesus likeTALKED thisto one.her. DoJesus said, 'Will you thinkgive theMe chainsa could hold him?"

(Shake head.)

Teacher: "No! The man was SO strong that he broke the chains right off his arms, like they were little pieces of string. SNAP! SNAP!drink?'"

Interaction: "FlexGasp! Everyone cover your muscles!mouth! NowCan pretendyou believe it? Jesus is TALKING to SNAP a chain! Ready? SNAP!Samaritan!"

(Hold up the Darkened Heart.)

Teacher: "WhyThe woman was thisSO mansurprised. soShe wildsaid, and'How socan sad?You, Becausea hisJew, heartask wasme, sicka andSamaritan darkwoman, withfor sin.a drink? Don't You know the rule?' And somethingJesus evensmiled. worse,Jesus badknew spiritsthe calledrule. demonsJesus werejust INSIDEdidn't him,care tellingabout himthat whatrule, tobecause do.that The man could not stop them. Nobody could. The chains were not strong enough. His familyrule was not strongfrom enough.God. HeThat couldrule notwas fixfrom himself.people Hewho neededthought someonethey MOREwere powerfulbetter than theother sin inside him.people."

 

Part 2:3: Jesus isTells MoreHer Powerfulthe Good News (2 mins)

Teacher: "WhenJesus said something really interesting to the wild man saw Jesus, he ran STRAIGHT at Him. The disciples were probably very scared. But Jesus?woman. Jesus wassaid, NOT'If scared.you Notknew onewho littleI bit.really was, YOU would ask Me for a drink, and I would give you LIVING WATER. Water that makes you never thirsty again.'"

Interaction: "StandPretend upto tall and put your hands on your hips liketake a superhero!big Jesusgulp isof NOTwater. afraid!Ahhh!"

Teacher: "WhenJesus was not really talking about wet water. Jesus was talking about something much better. Jesus was talking about the manGOOD gotNEWS closethat tocan Jesus,save somethinga amazingsinful happened.heart forever. The manwoman felldid DOWNnot onneed his knees in front of Jesus.water. The demonswoman insideneeded hima screamed out, 'What do You want with us, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?'SAVIOR."

Teacher: "DoJesus you hear whattold the demonswoman calledsomething Jesus?amazing. TheyJesus calledknew Himeverything about her, every bad thing she had ever done. She was surprised. She said, 'SonHow do You know all that? You must be a prophet from God!' And Jesus told her the biggest secret of theall: Most'I High God.' Evenam the demonsSavior knowGod thatpromised. JesusI is God! And evenam the demonsOne knowwho thatcame Jesusto issave STRONGER than them.sinners.'"

Interaction: "Point up highto Jesus and say it with me:whisper: 'JesusHe is STRONGER!the Savior!'"

Teacher: "Jesus looked at the man with kindness. Jesus said just a few words to the demons, and the demons had to OBEY Him. Chains coulddid not stop the demons. Strong soldiers could not stop the demons. But Jesus? Jesuscome just said the WORD and the demons had to leave. The demons went out of the man, and the man was FREE."

Interaction: "Everyone, pretend to break out of chains! Arms up high! FREE!"

 

Part 3: A Brand New Man (2 mins)

(Set down the "Wild Man" sign and the torn rags. Pick up the "New Man" sign and the clean shirt. Switch the Darkened Heart for the Shiny Heart.)

Teacher: "AfterJews. Jesus sentdid not come just for 'nice' people. Jesus did not come only for the demonssticker away,group. somethingJesus wonderfulcame happened. People fromfor the townwoman came to see what was going on. And guess what they saw? They saw the wild man, sitting down quietly. He was wearing clothes, nice clean clothes. He was not yelling. He was not screaming. He was not hurting himself. He was just sitting there, calm and peaceful, listening to Jesus."

Interaction: "Sit down nice and calm, fold your hands in your lap. This is what the man looked like now. Shhh."

Teacher: "Was this the same wild, scary man who used to break chains? YES! But also... NO! Because Jesus had CHANGED him. On the inside, the man hadtoo, a BRAND NEW HEART. Not dark anymore. Not sinful anymore. Clean. Quiet. Happy. In love with Jesus."

(Point back and forth between the Wild Man sign and the New Man sign.)

Teacher: "It's like the caterpillar and the butterfly! Before Jesus? Crawling in the graves, wild and dark. After Jesus? Flying like a butterflySamaritan, with a brandsinful newheart, heart.whom Jesusnobody madeelse himwould aeven NEWtalk CREATION."

Interaction: "Crawl on your knees for a second like a caterpillar. Now stand up and flap your arms like a butterfly! That is what Jesus does!to."

 

Part 4: Go Tell What Jesus Has DoneEveryone! (2 mins)

Teacher: "Now,The whenwoman itBELIEVED wasJesus. timeRight forthere at the well, she trusted in Jesus to leave,save her. And she was so excited that she ran back to her town. She left her water jar at the man begged Jesus. He said, 'Please, Jesus, let me come with You! I want to be with You forever!' Do you know what Jesus said? Jesus said something surprising."

Teacher: (Open your Bible to Mark 5:19.) "Jesus said, 'Go home to your friendswell and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.'"

Teacher: "Mercy is a big word. Mercy means God's KIND love that we did not earn. The man did nothing to deserve Jesus' help. He did not clean himself up first. He did not promise to be good. Jesus just loved him and saved him. That is mercy."

Interaction: "Cross your hands over your heart. Mercy is a free gift!"

Teacher: "So the man went home. But he was NOT the same man who had lived there before. The whole town saw this wild, scary man who used to break chains, now sitting calmly and telling everyone, 'JESUS did this! Jesus saved me! Jesus changed my heart!'RAN."

Interaction: "Everyone cuprun in place! Faster, faster! Go tell the town!"

Teacher: "She told everyone, 'Come see the man who knew everything about me! Could He be the Savior?' And all the Samaritans came running to see Jesus. And LOTS of them believed and trusted in Jesus too!"

(Wave the children from both groups together in front of you.)

Interaction: "Sticker group and no-sticker group, come together! No more dividing! One big group who loves Jesus!"

Teacher: "This is what Jesus does. Jesus takes groups that hate each other, and He brings them into ONE group, HIS family. Jews and Samaritans, people with different languages, different skin colors, different countries. The Bible says that in heaven there will be people from EVERY tribe and EVERY language and EVERY kind of people, all worshiping Jesus together."

Interaction: "Everyone, put your hands aroundtogether yourin moutha andbig shout:circle 'JESUSor SAVEDhold ME!'hands. One family under Jesus!"

(Now pass out the yummy treats to EVERYONE, not just the sticker group.)

Teacher: "And here is the bestgood news offor all.today. Everyone gets the treat. Not because you earned it. But because Jesus iswelcomes stilleveryone doingwho this today. If Jesus can save a wild man coveredtrusts in demons, can Jesus save anybody?"

Teacher Key: YES! Nobody is too bad for Jesus. Nobody is too sinful for Jesus. Nobody is too far gone for Jesus. When Jesus decides to save someone, NOTHING can stop Him, not sin, not Satan, not chains, not anything.

Teacher: "That is what the Bible means when it says, 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come.' Jesus makes us NEW.Him."

 

Review with Actions

Teacher: "Let's remember the story with actions!"

• Teacher: "ThereJews wasand aSamaritans wilddid mannot withlike aeach dark heart.other." (Kids makecross aarms growlingand face.turn away.)
• Teacher: "ChainsThere couldwas nota holdrule: him.Do NOT talk!" (Kids pretendhold to snapup a chain.)
"stop"
• Teacher: "Nobody could help him. He could not help himself." (Kids shake heads sadly.hand.)
• Teacher: "Jesus came,walked andright Jesusinto is STRONGER.Samaria." (Kids flex muscles and say, "Jesus is stronger!"march.)
• Teacher: "Jesus spoke,talked andto the demonsSamaritan had to leave." (Kids point and say, "GO!")
• Teacher: "The man got a brand new heart." (Kids point to their own hearts.)
• Teacher: "A new creation, like a butterfly!" (Kids flap arms like wings.)
• Teacher: "Go and tell what Jesus has done!woman." (Kids cup hands around mouth and shout,say, "Hello!")
• Teacher: "Jesus savedsaid, me!'I am the Savior!'" (Kids point up.)
• Teacher: "The woman ran to tell everyone!" (Kids run in place.)
• Teacher: "All kinds of people came to believe in Jesus." (Kids sweep arms wide and then join hands.)

Teacher: "One more time, a littleNow faster!"

• "WildTwo man, dark heart.groups." (Growl.Cross arms.)
• "Chains couldDo not hold him.talk!" (SnapStop chain.hand.)
• "Jesus is stronger.went." (Flex.March.)
• "DemonsJesus hadtalked." to(Hello!)
leave.
• "I am the Savior!" (Point and say, "GO!")
• "Brand new heart." (Hands on heart.)
• "Like a butterfly!" (Flap wings.up.)
• "Go and tell!" (Shout,Run.)
• "JesusAll savedkinds me!of people!" (Arms wide, join hands.)

Wrap-up & Discussion (4 min)

 

(Gather children close for reflection.)

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Discussion Questions:

Teacher: "Let's think about what we learned today."

Question: "WhatWhy wasdid the wildJews mannot likewant beforeto Jesustalk changedto him?Samaritans?"

Teacher Key: HeThey livedthought inthey thewere graveyard.better. HeThey yelledmade anda hurtrule himself.to Hekeep brokeaway chains.from HeSamaritans. hadBut demonstheir inside him. His heartrule was darkfrom withpride, sin.

not

Question:from "Could the man fix himself? Could other people fix him?"

Teacher Key: No! He was too strong for chains. Nobody was strong enough to help him. He needed someone more powerful than his sin.

Question: "How did Jesus change the man?"

Teacher Key: Jesus just spoke. The demons had to obey Him. Jesus gave the man a brand new heart, a new creation.

Question: "What was the man like AFTER Jesus changed him?"

Teacher Key: Sitting calmly, wearing clothes, in his right mind. He was no longer afraid or angry. He loved Jesus and wanted to be with Him.God.

Question: "What did Jesus telldo that surprised the manSamaritan to do?woman?"

Teacher Key: GoJesus hometalked andto tellher, everyoneeven whatthough Jews were not supposed to talk to Samaritans. Jesus did not follow the Lordrule hadthat donecame forfrom him and how He had shown mercy.pride.

Question: "IsWhat anyone too bad fordid Jesus offer her that was better than water?"

Teacher Key: Living water. The good news that He is the Savior. Forgiveness of sin and new life forever.

Question: "What did the woman do after she believed in Jesus?"

Teacher Key: She ran back to save?her town and told everyone. Many Samaritans came and believed in Jesus too.

Question: "Does Jesus only save one kind of people?"

Teacher Key: No! If Jesus canwelcomes saveall akinds manof sinners. From every tribe, every country, every language. Heaven will be full of demons,different people praising Jesus together.

Question: "Is there anyone you sometimes don't want to talk to or play with because they are different?"

Teacher Key: Let kids share simply. Gently remind them that Jesus welcomes everyone and we can savetoo. anybody.(New Nothingkid isat tooschool, harda forquiet Him.sibling, a child who looks or sounds different.)

Teacher: "SometimesThe weSamaritan mightwoman trywas a sinner. So were the Jews. So are we. The only reason ANY of us get to be goodwith onJesus ouris own.because WeJesus mightis trykind toand stopwelcomes gettingsinners, angry,not stopbecause tellingwe lies, stop being mean. But just likeare the chains'right couldkind notof holdperson.' theSo wild man, our good trying cannot fix our sinful hearts. Onlyif Jesus canwelcomes makeall uskinds brandof new. We trust in Jesus. And then, like the man,sinners, we tellcan otherswelcome whatall Jesuskinds hasof donepeople for us.too."

Closing Thought & Prayer

 

Teacher: "Jesus isdid morenot powerfulbuild than sin.walls. Jesus isbroke morewalls powerfuldown. thanHe Satan.came for Jews AND Samaritans. He came for Canada, China, Africa, and every country. He came for you, and He came for people you have never met. Let's thank Jesus isfor moreHis powerfulbig than anything that scares us. When Jesus saves a sinner, He changes them completely, like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. The old is gone. The new has come. What a mighty Savior!welcome."

(Fold hands and bow heads.)

Prayer: "Dear Jesus, thank You that You arewelcome strongerall thankinds sin.of sinners. Thank You that You candid savenot anyone,only evencome for one group. Please help us love people withwho theare darkestdifferent hearts.from us. Please changehelp ourpeople hearts.in Makeevery uscountry new.hear Helpabout usYou. toWe trustpray that one day, all kinds of people will praise You and to tell others what You have done for us.together. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Memorizing Verse: 2Psalm Corinthians 5:1767:3

 

2Psalm Corinthians 5:1767:3

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold,Let the newpeoples haspraise come.you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

Hand Gestures:

• "Therefore,Let ifthe anyonepeoples...": isSweep both arms wide, pointing outward to many different people.
• "...praise you...": Raise both hands high in Christ.the air in praise.
• "O God...": Point outup to differentheaven.
people,
• "...let ALL the peoples...": Sweep arms even wider, then clasptap handsyourself togetheron tightlythe chest (joinedeveryone toincludes Jesus)me!).
• "...hepraise is a new creation.you!": Sweep arms wide and spin once, like showing off something brand new.
• "The old has passed away...": Brush yourBoth hands likehigh dusting something off and away.
• "...behold, the new has come!": Cup hands around eyes like binoculars, then throw arms up highagain, with a big smile.

Teacher Tip: Say the verse in a call-and-response. Teacher: "NewLet creation"the peoples praise you..." Kids: "O GOD!" Teacher: "Let all the peoples..." Kids: "PRAISE YOU!" Keep it loud and joyful, because that is the keypoint phraseof forthe ages 4-6. Repeat it often. A great call-and-response: teacher says "In Christ, we are a..." and kids shout "NEW CREATION!" while flapping their butterfly wings.verse.

Craft & Game (10 mins)

Game: "BreakJesus theWelcomes Chain"Everyone" RelayPeople Hunt

Children takehunt turns "breaking"for paper chain"people" linkscutouts hidden around the room. Each person looks different (different colors, clothes, faces). When they find one, they bring it to freea abig paper figureJesus ofon the wildwall, man.and Eachtogether chainthe linkchildren hasgather somethingall Jesusthe isdifferent stronger"people" thanaround (sin, fear, anger, selfishness, lying, bad words, etc.).Jesus. The game ends with the wildwhole manroom figurefull flippedof overdifferent topeople revealall thegathered newaround man with a shiny heart.Jesus.

⏰ Time: 5 minutes

👧 Age Group: 4-6 years

🧩 Lesson Connection: Reinforces that Jesus iswelcomes moreall powerfulkinds thanof anysinners sinfrom thatevery hastribe usand trapped. Only Jesus can set us free.language.

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🪜 Setup & Materials Needed:

• A large paper figurecutout of aJesus man,taped to the wall (with arms wide open, welcoming)
• 10-15 paper cutouts of people with adifferent “wild”skin drawingtones, onclothing, ages, hairstyles. Each one side (torn clothes, angry face, dark heart) andhas a “new”small drawingpiece of tape on the other side (clean clothes, smiling, shiny heart). Make two so two teams can race.back.
• 8-10 paper chain links, each labeled with a word or picture: SIN, FEAR, ANGER, SELFISHNESS, LYING, MEAN WORDS, PRIDE, WORRY
• TapeHide the chainpeople links together into a loopcutouts around each paper figure, so the figureroom isbefore “trapped.”class starts
• A picture of Jesus or a Bible toverse holdstrip: up"Let asall the “winner”peoples praise You!"

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🎲 How to Play:

Step 1: ShowTell the childrenchildren: the"Jesus paperwants figureto trappedwelcome insideALL thekinds chain.of Say:people “Thisto isbe theHis wildfriends. man.But Thesome chainsof them are allhiding. theLet's thingsfind thatthem holdand himbring inthem sin.to Can the chains hold him forever?” Kids shout: “NO! Jesus is stronger!”Jesus!"

Step 2: DivideChildren childrenlook into two teams (or take turns iffor the grouppaper ispeople small).around Onethe childroom. atWhen athey timefind runsone, up,they readsbring orit namesto whatthe isbig Jesus on the chain link,wall and ripstape it offnext (tearsto along the tape).Him.

Step 3: As each linkperson is broken,found, teacher says: "Look at this person! Does Jesus welcome them?" (Yes!) Tape the wholeperson groupnear shouts: “Jesus is STRONGER than [sin/fear/anger/etc.]!”Jesus.

Step 4: When every chain is broken, flipall the paperpeople figureare overfound, tolook revealat the “newwall man”together. withAsk: "Are all these people the shinysame? heart.Or Everyoneare cheers:they “Adifferent?" new(Different!) creation!”"But does Jesus welcome ALL of them?" (Yes!)

Step 5: TeacherEveryone asks:together: “Who"Let isall the onlypeoples Onepraise strongYou, enoughO toGod!" breakThen finish with the chainsmemory ofverse sin?” (Jesus!) “And what does Jesus do to our hearts when He saves us?” (Makes them new!)gestures.

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Craft: Caterpillar"All toKinds Butterflyof MemoryPeople" VerseFriendship Chain

Children colormake a caterpillarpaper on one sidechain of apeople foldedholding cardhands, each colored and adecorated butterflydifferently, onto theshow otherthat side.Jesus Insidewelcomes theall cardkinds isof thesinners. memoryThe verse.chain Whencan closed,be ithung showsat thehome caterpillar (old, crawling, sinful heart). When opened, the butterfly appears (new creation in Christ). This isas a take-home visual of 2 Corinthians 5:17.reminder.

Materials: HalfPre-cut sheetpaper chain strips of white cardstock folded in half, a pre-printed caterpillar outlinepeople (tothe beclassic gluedaccordion-fold topeople chain where the front)hands stay connected), adifferent pre-printedcolors butterflyof outlineconstruction (to be glued inside on the right page),paper, crayons or markers, glue sticks,stickers, the memory verse printed on a small strip.

The Activity:

• Step 1: OnGive theeach frontchild a paper chain of the4-5 card,connected glue the caterpillar. Color it with brown, green, and yellow. Above it write: “Old heart” or “The old has passed away.”people.
• Step 2: OpenHave the card.child Oncolor theeach rightperson insidedifferently: page,different gluehair thecolors, butterfly.different Colorskin itcolors, withdifferent brightoutfits. colors.Talk Aboveabout ithow write:Jesus “Newwelcomes creation!”all of them.
• Step 3: On the leftback insideof page,the gluechain, have children (with parent help) write: "Jesus welcomes all kinds of sinners."
• Step 4: Attach the memory verse strip: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold,"Let the newpeoples haspraise come.”you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" (2Psalm Corinthians 5:17)67:3)
• Step 4:5: Decorate the outside of the card with stickersstickers. orTake extrahome drawings.and hang up.
• Take Home: Children show their familyfamily: by"Jesus closingwelcomes andALL openingkinds of people! Even me. Even the card:kid “Beforeat Jesus,school Iwho waslooks likedifferent afrom caterpillar with a dark heart. Jesus makes me a new creation, like a butterfly!”me."

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Response Song

Closing Prayer & Snack Time (10 mins)

"Dear Jesus, thank You that YouYour arelove strongerhas thanno every sin.borders. Thank You that noYou onewelcome is too farsinners from Youevery country, every language, every family. Help us to belove saved.people Pleasewho changeare ourdifferent hearts,from makeus, usjust newlike creations,You do. Bring many more people from every tribe and helptongue usto tellworship others what You have done.You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

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.

Free Time & Children Pickup (15 mins)