Family Worship (July 26)

Imagine that your family is playing a game, and you lose one hundred points. There is one big problem: you have no points left! You cannot pay what you owe. Then someone steps forward and gives up all their points to cover your debt. How would you feel? You might feel thankful, joyful, and full of love for the person who helped you.

The Bible says sin is like a debt we cannot pay. We owe God our love and obedience, but we all disobey him. We cannot erase our sin by doing enough good things. Thankfully, Jesus came to rescue us. He paid for our sin when he died on the cross. Forgiveness is free for us because Jesus paid its cost.

When we understand how much Jesus has forgiven us, our love for him grows. His forgiveness also helps us forgive people who hurt us. Forgiven people can become forgiving people, through God’s help each day.

Luke 7:41–50
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”  “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the person who had the larger debt canceled felt more thankful?
2. How did Jesus pay the debt of sin that we could not pay?
3. Who might you need to forgive, and how can remembering Jesus’ forgiveness help you?

Activity: Cancel the Debt
Gather several small pieces of paper, a washable marker, and a bowl or small box.

Give each family member two or three pieces of paper. Ask everyone to draw or write one way people might sin, such as lying, fighting, disobeying, acting selfishly, or saying something unkind. Younger children can draw pictures.

Put all the papers in the bowl. Explain that these papers represent a debt none of us could pay by ourselves. Then place a cross over the bowl. You can make one from cardboard, craft sticks, or two strips of paper.

Take out each paper, draw a large line through it, and say together, “Jesus paid our debt!”

Next, give everyone a clean piece of paper. Ask each person to draw or write one way your family can show forgiving love this week. Ideas might include apologizing, giving up the right to get even, speaking kindly, or helping repair something that was damaged.

Finish by thanking Jesus together. Explain that forgiveness does not mean pretending a wrong did not happen. It means that because Jesus forgave us, we can seek peace, make things right, and release our desire to hurt others back.

Prayer
Jesus, we have sinned and cannot pay our debt. Thank you for loving us, dying on the cross, and offering us free forgiveness. Help our family love you more, admit when we are wrong, repair the harm we cause, and forgive one another as you have forgiven us. Amen.


Memory Work:

New City Catechism
29. How can we be saved?
Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.

Memory Verse
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.