Before class, print out enough of the Forgiveness Cup templates so that each student has a copy. If time is an issue, you may want to cut apart the cards and cup bands with a paper cutter rather than having your preteens cut them out by hand.

Thinking back to the video we watched earlier, we do not know the off-duty officer’s personal story. It is possible that the officer who forgave Rodian Ortega knows what it is like to be forgiven. We do not know for sure, but it is possible that the judge who offered Ortega a light sentence may also know what it is like to be forgiven. When we know true forgiveness, it is our responsibility to offer forgiveness to others.

Give each student two plastic cups and one printed template. Distribute tape, scissors, and pens or pencils.

Hold up one cup. When Jesus died for us, He paid the price for our sin. His death and resurrection assure us of forgiveness. We are going to make cups of forgiveness; we will put a red wrapper on this one to represent Jesus’ blood making a way for our forgiveness.

Hold up the other cup. Not forgiving others can wear on us spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and even physically. When we forgive others, we honor God, free others, and allow ourselves to live the full life God has for us. We will wrap the other cup in a green band to represent life—life free of the burden of holding grudges. 

Instruct the students to cut out the cards and place them in the appropriate cups. The cards asking for forgiveness go in the red labeled cups. The cards offering forgiveness go in the green labeled cups.

Instruct your preteens to cut out the bands for each cup. Have them trim the ends, so the bands fit the size of the cups. Then wrap the bands around the cups and tape the ends together to secure the bands.

You may want to play this quietly while the students work [4:25]:
Matthew West – Forgiveness (Lyrics)

We can use these cups during the week to help us get in the practice of forgiving others as God forgives us. Each day when you pray, fill out a card from the red cup. Pray about what you wrote and ask God to forgive you. Think about how freeing it is to know that God does not hold that sin against you.

Then, fill out a card from the green cup. Think about how God forgave you. How can you not forgive another person after God forgave you? Pray and ask God to help you forgive the person for what you wrote on the card. Forgive him or her.

When you are done praying, rip up and throw out the cards, leaving behind your sin and your grudge about another’s sin. Live as one who is forgiven and allow the person you forgave to live that way, too!

Lead the students through a practice using the cups of forgiveness. There are seven cards in each cup, one for each day of the week, so this will use their Sunday cards. 

• What does it feel like to be forgiven by God? (Answers will vary; allow students to express relief, freedom, etc.)

• What does it feel like to let go of a grudge and forgive someone who offended you? (Answers will vary; some may express how difficult it is. Allow them to share freely without judgment.)

Close in a benediction: Go and forgive others the way God has forgiven you.