RECONCILIATION IS
THE SACRAMENT
OF GOD’S
FORGIVING LOVE
A Lesson on
Forgiveness and God’s Love
GRADE TWO
RECONCILIATION IS THE
SACRAMENT
OF GOD’S FORGIVING LOVE
A Lesson on
Forgiveness and God’s Love
GRADE TWO
AIM







To help the children appreciate that God loves us always.
When we sin we move away from God, but he always wants us to come back.
God will always forgive us when we are truly sorry.
God wants us to be willing to forgive others who hurt us, as well.
Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to us because God fully understands us in
our goodness and in our sinfulness.
Understanding the reality of God’s mercy and forgiveness is difficult for us, so
God sent Jesus to help us accept and understand his great love for us.
We should always strive to be like Jesus.
RELFECTION
Help the children understand the need to be sorry for the wrong things we do. Jesus
invites us to learn about forgiveness in Luke 19:1-10—The Story of Zacchaeus.
MATERIALS
 Children’s Bible or the regular textbook used in your program (if it contains the
Zacchaeus Story)
 Paper lunch bags
 Odds & ends to make paper bag puppets (yarn, buttons, etc.)
 Construction paper
 Glue
 Poster paper
 Crayons, Markers
 Picture of Jesus and Zacchaeus to color
LESSON/DISCUSSION
 Read or tell the Story of Zacchaeus to the children. Discuss the following
questions:
 Why did Zacchaeus need to be forgiven?
 How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus spoke to him?
 Why did Jesus forgive Zacchaeus?
 Was it easy for Zacchaeus to give back what he had stolen?
 What does Jesus want us to do when we have done something wrong?
ACTIVITY
 Have the students make their own paper bag puppet using the materials above.
(you might want to make a few beforehand as examples for them).

Retell the story of Zacchaeus and have the students act out the story using their
paper bag puppets.

Distribute the picture of Jesus and Zacchaeus for each child to color and take
home. Ask the children to tell the Zacchaeus Story to their folks at home.

When the students have finished coloring the picture of Jesus and Zacchaeus,
sing or recite the “Zacchaeus Song” (any tune will work).
Zacchaeus was a wee little man
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in that tree.
And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!
For I’m going to your house today
For I’m going to your house to stay!”

End the lesson with the following prayer (ask the children to repeat after you):
Dear Jesus,
thank you for your forgiveness,
and for loving everyone the most.
Help us to love others,
like you do. Amen.
GOD CALLS US TO
FORGIVE ONE
ANOTHER
A Lesson on
Forgiveness and God’s Love
GRADE TWO
GOD CALLS US TO FORGIVE ONE
ANOTHER
A Lesson on
Forgiveness and God’s Love
GRADE TWO
Reflection
In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus teaches that God wants to forgive both sinners and
self-righteous people. The focus of this story is the longsuffering father, who continues to
love both sons as they dishonor him. It is a beautiful story of God’s love and determination
to see the lost return to him.

Help the children discover how God calls us to forgive one another through the
scripture story of the Prodigal Son (forgiving father).

Read aloud to the children or tell them the story of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-24
DISCUSSION
 Why did the younger son want his father to give him money?
 How did the father feel—what did he tell his son?
 Did the son spend the money wisely? What did he do?
 How did the son feel when he had no more money?
 What did the son decide to do?
 How did the son apologize?
 How did the father answer him?
 How did the older son feel about his brother when he returned?
 What did the father tell the older son?
 Were both sons wrong? Why?
 Did the father forgive both sons?
LESSON
Second graders can recall experiences of making up with friends or family. They can recall
times when differences were settled with an apology, a handshake, a hug, etc. Jesus
explains the theme for us so that we understand the need to be sorry when we have done
wrong and in turn, celebrate in God’s forgiveness. This theme helps us to live as followers
of Jesus by forgiving those who have hurt us.

Discuss with the children the many ways of saying, “I’m sorry.”
ACTIVITIES
+ Activity One:
 Prepare a poster ahead of time showing the sun and its rays.

Discuss ways of bringing warmth and sunshine into others’ lives.

Write one way on each of the sun’s rays.
+ Activity Two:
 Have some students act as TV reporters and interview the “characters” in the
Prodigal Son story (the father, the two sons, the servants, the pig farmer, people who
witnessed the events etc.)

Ask the “TV reporters” to retell the story of the Prodigal Son in their own words.
(Use props for microphones, hats, and other easy “costumes”).
+ Activity Three:
 Distribute construction paper – one per child.

Have the children trace an outline of one hand.

On each finger, let them print one of the steps necessary to receive the Sacrament of
Reconciliation:
1. We think of our sins.
2. We confess our sins.
3. We tell God we are truly sorry.
4. We promise not to sin again. (Act of Contrition)
5. We thank God. (Penance)

Have the children cut their “hand” out. Punch a hole at the top of the hand and tie a
piece of yarn through it. Suggest that they hang their “hand” on the doorknob of their
bedroom as a reminder for each time they receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Close with the following prayer:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
Jesus, we want to love you with all our hearts.
Have mercy on us.
For all the good things we should have done.
Have mercy on us.
For all the wrong things we did.
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Have mercy on us.
We are truly sorry, Jesus.
Have mercy on us.
Help us to always remember your love for us.
Amen.
A RECONCILIATION CELEBRATION
LEADER:
Jesus, we want to love you with all our hearts.
ALL:
Have mercy on us.
LEADER:
For all the good things we should have done.
ALL:
Have mercy on us.
LEADER:
For all the wrong things we did.
ALL:
Have mercy on us.
LEADER:
We are truly sorry, Jesus.
ALL:
Have mercy on us.
LEADER:
Help us to always remember your love for us.
ALL:
Have mercy on us.
+ Activity Four:
 Reconciliation Celebration – Gather the children in a circle to celebrate God’s
love and forgiveness.
Materials:
 A copy of the reconciliation celebration for each child.
 A medium-sized box or large manila envelope to hold the letters to God that each
child will write.
 “Dear God” paper – one for each child, pencils
(Open with a suitable song of your choice)
Opening Prayer
All:
To say that I’m sorry
Is sometimes hard to do.
So sometimes I like to say it
By things I do for you.
To make up isn’t easy.
It hurts sometimes inside.
But after I have done it,
I’m glad that I have tried.
READING
Luke 15:11-24 – “A Story about Forgiving”
REFLECTION
Leader:
do
We are going to write a letter to God. Let’s tell him about one thing we will
to make up for our wrongful actions. After a few weeks, we will look at our
letter again. You will be able to see if you have done what you promised
to do.
(When the children are finished writing their letter to God, collect them. Make
sure the children know you will not be reading them, but will keep them in a
special place for another time.)
PRAYER
(Ask some students to be the readers for the prayer)
Reader1:
I’ll share some of my money
With someone who has none.
Reader 2:
I have time for helping
Another’s work get done.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 3:
And when I’m full of laughing,
I’ll look for someone sad,
Reader 4:
And share with them my laughter
Until they’re feeling glad.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 5:
I like to care for others
As others care for me.
Reader 6:
There is a word for all of this—
RESPONSIBILITY!
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
CLOSING
Sing a song of your choice about God’s forgiveness.
To say that I’m sorry
Is sometimes hard to do.
So sometimes I like to say it
By things I do for you.
To make up isn’t easy
It hurts sometimes inside.
But after I have done it,
I’m glad that I have tried.
Activity 4: Reconciliation Celebration
Reader 1:
I’ll share some of my money
With someone who has none.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 2:
I have time for helping
Another’s work get done.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 3:
And when I’m full of laughing
I’ll look for someone sad,
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 4:
And share with them my laughter
Until they’re feeling glad.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 5:
I like to care for others
As others care for me.
All:
Jesus, help us become children who care.
Reader 6:
There is a word for all of this,
RESPONSIBILITY!
Activity 4:
Reconciliation Celebration
Activity 4: Reconciliation Celebration