Children’s Church: Lesson Guide

debts & debtors (the story of the unforgiving servant)

Scripture: Matthew 18

Big Truth: We should forgive others as just as God forgave us.

Memory Verse: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Discuss the Story

1. What did Peter want to know about forgiveness? How many times did Jesus say Peter should forgive someone who sinned against him? What did he mean by that? How many times will God forgive you for sinning against him?

Takeaway: There is no limit to God’s forgiveness of sins.

2. How much money did the first servant owe the king? Could he ever pay that debt? Why did the king forgive the debt? How much money did the second servant owe the first? What should he have done when the second servant asked for time to pay his debt?

Takeaway: Because God has forgiven us, we must forgive others.

3. What did the first servant do to the servant who couldn’t pay him back? What was wrong with that? What did the king say and do to punish him? What lesson is God trying to teach us?

Takeaway: If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.

4. What do we ask God to forgive in the Lord’s prayer? And what do we tell him we will do to others? What should we do when we struggle to forgive others?

Takeaway: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to forgive us as we forgive others.