Greetings, RF friends!
 
Unfortunately, we could not be together on Sunday, but here is an overview of the RF lesson.  It is a continuation from last Sunday..... Jesus’s parable of the Prodigal Son.  Perhaps you may want to throw a little “party” and do some of the attached activities from the lesson.  (The jokes are for fun.....” when you don’t laugh, it feels like you are missing out.”  See Bottom Line below.)
 
In Luke 15:21-32, we pick up the story of the Lost Son, we started in week 4. His father and older brother each responded to the Prodigal Son differently. The Father welcomed him home with open arms and threw a giant party for him. The Older Brother chose not to forgive and become angry with his brother. He not only missed out on a party but also missed out on rebuilding a relationship with his brother.
 
Bottom Line: When you don’t forgive, you miss out. When we choose not to forgive others, we could miss out on rebuilding a broken relationship. We might miss out on friendships or new, fun memories with our family, or peace in our hearts. We could also miss out on the joy that God can give us when we choose to show forgiveness. 
 
Bible Verse: But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9). 
 
Praying that you all are well and adjusting to new routines.  Blessings to each one of you.
~ RF team
 
Instructions for “Sweet and Sour” activity - see attachment:
WHAT YOU DO: • Give each child a party hat and a lemon slice (real or pictured). • Tell them that when the story seems “sweet” or positive, they should put on their party hats. • When someone or something in the story seems “sour,” they should take off their hats and lick their lemon (or pretend to, if you’re using the paper slices). • Read the “Sweet and Sour Script” out loud, prompting the group as necessary. • Set aside the props and lead kids in a conversation about the Bible story.
WHAT YOU SAY: “The older brother in our Bible story today was sour! He was bitter and angry, and because of that, he learned that when you don’t forgive, you miss out. What did he miss out on? (Invite answers: the big party with food and fun, seeing his little brother for the first time in a while, sharing his dad’s happiness, etc.) He missed out on so much more than a party. He missed a chance to have a relationship with his brother and to share something special with his dad.
“Have you ever missed out on something because you wouldn’t forgive? Maybe you were so mad at your sister for something she said. You sulked the whole time at the park. Or perhaps you sat alone in the lunchroom to get back at your friend and missed out on her mom bringing cookies for everyone.” (Invite kids to share what unforgiveness has cost them.) [Make It Personal] (Share a time when unforgiveness cost you something. Did you miss out on sharing a fun time with friends, or did you lose time in a good relationship because you let something get between you? Make sure you discuss your own feelings and actions and don’t dwell just on what was done to you.)

​Greetings, friends of Reign Forest!
 
Although we couldn’t meet for our face-to-face program, I wanted to give you an opportunity to do a quick home self-study for the lesson that would have been shared on March 22, 2020.  The following summary references the bible story that would have been told.  Please take some time to share the story with your child(ren) and encourage them to continue to memorize God’s word through our Bible Memory Verse Challenge.  Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
March Theme: “D.I.Y. Forgiveness is up to you”
 
In Luke 15:11-24, Jesus shares a parable to help people understand God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. A son came to his father and asked for his share of the inheritance. This broke the father’s heart, but he went ahead and gave the son what he wanted. The son wasted every last penny and hit rock bottom. He decided to go home to his father and ask for forgiveness. The father was waiting with arms open wide and ready to have his son home. 
 
Bottom Line: Everyone needs to be forgiven.  Everyone at some point will do something to hurt another person, and we’ve all done something that goes against what God wants for us. We all need forgiveness. Thankfully, through Jesus, God offers forgiveness no matter what we’ve done.
 
Memory Verse: Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32, NLT).
 
Blessings to you and your family for good health and safety,
The Reign Forest Team

Hello Reign Forest Friends,
 
We start the month of March with one of Jesus’ parables recorded in Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus told this parable because Peter asked a question about forgiveness. Peter might have thought he was doing pretty well to say he’d forgive someone seven times, but Jesus raises the stakes and says we ought to forgive others even more. Jesus shows what this means with a parable about a servant who is shown incredible forgiveness yet doesn’t do the same in return.
 
Bottom Line: Forgive others because God forgives you. God’s love for us is huge. That love drives God to forgive us when we do something wrong. God can help us to forgive people in our life. When we realize how much God has forgiven us, we can turn around and forgive people who might hurt us. This might be difficult, but God can give us the help we need to love others and show forgiveness.
 
Bible Memory Verse: Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Colossians 3:13, NLT).
 
Have a blessed week!
Angie, Anita, Cheryl, Kristin, Jessi