Patrol of the Year

As a member of the Safety Patrol, can Liz enforce the rules without making everyone angry with him?

Before You Listen

After you listen

Memory Verse

“Mercy triumphs over judgment”

Audio Icon   James 2:13

Quiz

Reflect

In this episode, Liz enforces a lot of rules without showing mercy. Liz is strict and is not interested in trying to understand or listen to others. Liz takes care of the rules, but forgets about showing love.

When others hurt you, you may want to hurt them back. When others break the rules, you may want them to be punished. But what if God did that with you? God has been very merciful to you. God forgives your sins when you ask forgiveness, and he provides you with food, shelter, work, family, and friends everyday (Acts 14:17). God's judgment of our sin is death, but God showed his incredible mercy when he sent his son, Jesus Christ, who triumphed over that judgment (Romans 3:9-31).

Want to dig deeper and learn more about showing mercy? Read Luke 6. Jesus encounters the Pharisees, a group of Jewish men who were very strict about rules. Notice how he teaches them how to show mercy.

Challenge

How many times are you supposed to forgive someone? To start out the story of the unmerciful servant , Jesus told his disciples that they should, forgive, not just seven times (which already seems like a lot!), but seventy-times seven (which basically meant forever!). Make yourself a Forgiveness Reminder Jar. On the top of a baby food jar or other small clear container, glue seven grains of rice. This is how many times we think we should forgive someone. Then fill the jar to the top with rice and put the top on. Can you count how many grains of rice are in the jar? This reminds you of how many times God has forgiven you, and how often you are to forgive others. Keep the jar where the whole family can see it.