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Scripture: Luke 22:54–62; Luke 23:32–43; John 21:1–19
Mission Focus: Jim and Elisabeth Elliot (United States → Ecuador)
Key Verse: Colossians 3:13b
Series: Missions: Big World, Bigger God
Lesson Overview
What does it mean to forgive as Jesus forgave us?
In this session, children discover how Jesus forgave Peter, offered mercy from the cross, and welcomes everyone who turns to Him. They then meet Jim and Elisabeth Elliot and learn how Elisabeth chose forgiveness instead of revenge after Jim and four other missionaries were killed.
Together, these stories show children that Christian forgiveness begins with Jesus. Because He loved and forgave us first, we can follow His example and extend mercy to others.
What Children Will Learn
- Jesus loves and forgives everyone who turns to Him.
- Forgiveness is a gift of grace, not something we earn.
- Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a new beginning.
- Jesus offered mercy even to those who hurt Him.
- Forgiving someone does not mean that what happened was acceptable.
- Because Jesus forgives us, we can choose mercy instead of revenge.
- Our forgiveness can help others see that the love of Jesus is real.
📖 Bible Focus: Jesus Forgives
This session explores three powerful examples of the forgiveness of Jesus.
Children discover how:
- Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, but Jesus still loved, forgave, and restored him.
- Jesus prayed for those who hurt and crucified Him.
- Jesus promised paradise to the criminal who turned to Him.
- Jesus gave His life so that everyone who trusts in Him can be forgiven.
Children learn that grace is free to us, but it was costly to Jesus. We do not forgive others to earn God’s love or receive praise. We forgive because Jesus first forgave us and calls us to follow His example.
The lesson also uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to remind children that receiving God’s mercy should change how we treat others.
✈️ Mission Story: Jim and Elisabeth Elliot
Children are then introduced to Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, who travelled to Ecuador because they wanted the Waorani people to know Jesus.
They’ll discover how:
- Jim and four other missionaries tried to build a peaceful friendship with the Waorani
- they used a small aeroplane to lower gifts as a sign of friendship
- Jim and the other missionaries lost their lives while trying to make contact
- Elisabeth refused to teach her young daughter to hate the Waorani
- Elisabeth later lived among the community and shared the message of Jesus
- the Waorani heard about forgiveness and also saw it demonstrated in her life
Elisabeth’s forgiveness did not mean that Jim’s death was acceptable or that her sadness disappeared. She chose not to seek revenge because Jesus had forgiven her and shown mercy to His enemies.
Some of the Waorani later chose to follow Jesus, and people who had once been enemies became friends.
Jim’s well-known words become the heart of the missionary story:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
This session helps children understand that forgiveness is not about pretending that hurt does not matter. It is about remembering the mercy of Jesus and trusting Him to help us respond with grace.
🎥 Watch the Story Videos
Jesus Forgives – Bible Story
Jim and Elisabeth Elliot – Short Biography
Jim and Elisabeth Elliot – Full Story
Lesson Resources
Everything you need to teach this session in one printable pack:
- Step-by-step teaching guide
- Illustrated Bible and missionary stories
- Colour and black-and-white story pages
- Group games and discussion questions
- Colossians 3:13 memory verse activities
- Missionary focus cards
- Ecuador worksheet
- Aeroplane Gift Drop maze
- Breakfast with Jesus activity
- Crossword puzzle
- Flying Gift Plane mobile
- Moving Rooster craft
- Jesus Forgives diorama
- Colouring pages
- Breakfast with Jesus take-home challenge
- Printable reward badges
- Answer page
Printable Story Booklets (Optional)
Includes fully illustrated story booklets about Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. Ideal for take-home use, lesson review, and helping children retell the missionary story.
FREE DOWNLOAD
