Introduction:
- Greet the children and tell them you have some challenges for them.
- The first challenge is to name 10 green things in 10 seconds. (This activity is to show the difficulty of completing a task under pressure.)
- Give them another try with more time, and let them know that it’s easier with more time to think.
- Introduce the second challenge, which is to recite Romans 5:8.
- Tell the children it’s okay if they can’t do it right away and offer to give them another chance.
- Provide the verse for them and have them repeat it after you. (This activity is to show the importance of God’s help.)
- Explain that life can be challenging and sometimes we mess up, but the good news is God gives us second chances.
- Share that even when things don’t go our way, God is always there to help us get back on track.
Body:
- Tell the story of Jonah (you can shorten this part depending on the age of the children).
- Explain that Jonah was a man who disobeyed God and tried to run away.
- God gave Jonah a second chance by sending a big fish to swallow him.
- After three days, the fish spit Jonah out, and he went to Nineveh to tell the people about God.
Lesson:
- Explain that God’s love is so great that he gives us second chances, just like he gave Jonah a second chance.
- Remind the children that Jesus died for our sins so that we can have a new life with God.
- Share that no matter what we do, God’s love for us never runs out.
Conclusion:
- Lead the children in a prayer thanking God for his second chances.
- Ask God to help them trust in him and believe in his love.
- Encourage the children to go out and make disciples for Jesus.
- Remind them that God loves them very much.
Teacher Script
Hi everyone! Today we’re going to learn about second chances. Have you ever made a mistake? Maybe you forgot to do your chores or said something unkind to a friend. Well, the good news is that God gives us second chances! Just like he gave Jonah a second chance after he disobeyed God.
We’re going to play a few games to see how hard it can be to do things when we don’t have a lot of time or help. But remember, God is always there to help us!
[Continue with the challenges and Bible verse recitation as outlined above]
See, even with something simple, it can be hard to do it perfectly when we are rushed or on our own. But God is always patient with us and gives us second chances.
[Tell the story of Jonah]
God’s love for us is so amazing that he gave Jonah a second chance, and he gives us second chances too! No matter what we do, God loves us and wants us to be his children.
Let’s say a prayer and thank God for his love and forgiveness.
[Lead the children in prayer]
Remember, God loves you very much and he always gives us second chances. Go out there and make disciples for Jesus!
Youth Ministry Lesson on Jonah 3:1-5, 10: Embracing God’s Call to Repentance – Youth Group Ministry