What we want students to learn: That God has always been willing and able to forgive our sins against Him.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To consider how their sin separates them from God and why forgiveness is essential.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 103:8–12, Nehemiah 9:16–19; Psalm 51:1–6

Overview: God is a forgiving God. That is a concept that Christians are intimately familiar with. But sometimes we can be so familiar with something that we lose the wonder of it. It’s vital for Christ-followers to reflect and re-consider the awesome truth that God is willing and able to forgive our sins. And for those who have yet to come to saving faith in Jesus, taking the time to focus on God’s desire to forgive our sins is a crucial aspect of leading the lost to a relationship with God. In this series, you’re going to discover that God’s desire to forgive the sin of His people is timeless and rooted in His character. You’re going to see how this forgiveness is carried out most vividly in the person and ministry of Jesus. And your students will be challenged to carry this message of forgiveness with them wherever they go.

What we want students to learn: That through Jesus’ work on the cross, all who believe in Him are presented to God as completely forgiven.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To determine your standing with God, and to respond accordingly.

Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:21-23

Overview: If it's one thing we're good at, it's moving fast. As a culture, we're about as fast-paced as you can get. While this isn't all bad, the issue is that it's easy to miss stuff. Especially stuff that requires us to slow down and process what we're seeing. This is especially true about matters of faith. We move so fast that we don't take the time to settle in and process all that God is and has done for us. We know we are forgiven in Christ, we accept this, and we move on. We don't stop and allow ourselves to be absolutely blown away by the profound nature of what this means. This lesson is an attempt to help your students pause and reflect on the power of the truth that Jesus, God Himself, purchased their forgiveness with His life.

What we want students to learn: That because God has forgiven us, we must, in turn, strive to show the same level of forgiveness to others.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To commit to extending forgiveness where it is needed.

Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:13-15, Matthew 18:21-35

Overview: When was the last time you were excited to share something with another person? A funny GIF? A new restaurant? A crazy news headline? The motivation to share is born out of the value we attach to a certain experience. If it is uniquely positive (or even negative, in some cases) we are motivated to share it with others, partly, because we want them to experience the same emotions. As people who have experienced the greatest gift possible, God's sweeping forgiveness of our sins, shouldn't we be the most excited to share forgiveness with others? It's a convicting thought, one you'll help your students wrestle with in this lesson.