If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring index cards and pens/pencils to class.
Have pencils/pens and index cards on a desk in a common area. (If your class is meeting online, invite students to have those items ready at home.) Give students a few minutes to write down things they find difficult to forgive themselves for (all on one side of the index cards). Explain that these are personal and won’t be seen by anyone. These can be attitudes they feel ashamed of having, things they have done that made them feel disappointed with themselves, or moments they wish they could take back, etc.
When they’re finished writing, have students turn over their cards so the blank side is facing up. Have each student write “I forgive you” on the blank side of their index card.
Watch the following video and think about forgiveness.
Share the following video with your students [3:14; stop at 1:40]:
Brandt Jean to Amber Guyger: ‘I forgive you’
Brandt Jean chose to forgive the woman who accidentally shot and killed his brother, Botham Jean.
- Why would it be hard to forgive someone who murdered a loved one? (Answers will vary. There would be a great deal of bitterness and resentment at first.)
- Do you think it is in our nature to forgive others when they do something to hurt us? Explain your answer. (Students will probably acknowledge that forgiveness isn’t something that comes naturally.)
- As wonderful as it was for this man to forgive the one who killed his brother, do you think his forgiveness made the murderer right with God? Explain your answer. (Allow students to voice opinions without comment. This will give you an idea of where they stand spiritually so that you can address it later in the lesson.)
Brandt Jean forgave Amber Guyger for killing his brother. That act of confession and forgiveness freed him from the bondage of unforgiveness. But was it enough? Let’s see what God’s Word says.
