For each passage, there is a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page. All other graphics are extra’s!
Click on the images below to see a larger version. Save the images by right click + ‘save image as’ (computers) OR long press + ‘save image’ (mobile).
These images are NOT copyright free.
These resources are provided for personal/classroom use only. Use can use them for teaching, games, publicity, decorations, big screen presentations, flannel graphs, stickers, or any other non-commercial activity in your church, school, home, or organised group. You may not use them in products you are going to sell (both printed and digital). Nor may you upload the original images online, on websites, social media or in YouTube videos. Any questions, please reach out to me using the contact page link at the end of the page.
This craft is really just a bit of fun rather than something deep and theological, it depicts the three characters in the parable of the forgiven debt or unforgiving servant. Once made, it can be a storytelling prop, a way to ask more in-depth questions about forgiveness, or just a toy to play with.
There is nothing quite like acting out a simple story, and this story of the forgiven debt is perfect for that. These finger puppets are so simple, with the only mildly difficult bit is cutting the bars of the prison – and you could skip that at a push! They have finger holes, but you could stick them onto popsicle sticks instead if you prefer. If you have a 1.5 cm circle punch, then they really can be made in a matter of minutes.
The Parable Jesus tells here is super simple and yet very deep. We all expect the senior servant to forgive the debt of the lower servant because we expect him to continue passing on the blessings, it jars at us that he would not do so. These games tie into that idea of flowing from one to another and the key theme of forgiveness.
This story shows how mercy, forgiveness, and compassion should follow down from our heavenly father through us and to those we meet. Use dominoes, blocks, cardboard boxes or whatever you have on hand.
Many Hands Race
All Ages
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Draw a line on the floor and a dot as far away as possible, The aim is to make a path to the dot, round it and back to the line using hands. The first child lays their hand flat on the line, the next person must then place their hand touching the first child’s. Only once everyone has their hands on the floor can the first person stand and run to place their hand again in the line.
Upsize/downsize
All Ages
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
An imitation game where you imitate your neighbour but in an exaggerated way (upsize) or a restricted way (downsize). The first person may wiggle a finger, so the second can upsize to wiggle a hand, then an arm etc.
Word coins
All Ages
Small group
Requires setup time
Quiet game
Space needed
A simple treasure hunt that works well as an introduction for the lesson. Hide 11 coins that each have a letter stuck on them. Use the sticky part of post-it notes or blank stickers. Once all the letters are collected, you can spell the word FORGIVENESS. Link to the overall theme and how the parable wasn’t really about money, but about the mercy each person displayed.
Pass the parcel
Under 7’s
Any size group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
This classic game links well into the idea that each person is expected to do the same. If you’ve not played it before, the ‘prise’ is wrapped in many layers and circles the room until the music stops. The child holding the parcel then unwraps the layer, and it continues its journey. If you wish, you can add questions / tasks / or even prizes between layers,
This parable of Jesus is probably not the most popular with many, especially not bankers, but the kind of radical forgiveness it displays is sorely needed in today’s world. The idea of burning your last bridges, squandering your last chance, and ‘no way back’ are rife and yet, God never shuts that door to us and asks us to not shut that door to others. If you have older kids, it’s worth reminding them that forgive means not to hold it over someone’s head, but also not to necessarily forget. The king would have been wise to hesitate before lending the man more. Equally, forgiveness is granted when requested on our knees, acknowledging our shortcomings, not given automatically.
Tell this story or a similar one of your choice from a favourite bible translation or storybook. This version is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Main Passage : Matthew 18:21-35 Extra reference : Acts 1
Peter and Jesus were chatting. Peter knew when people did something wrong he should forgive them, but how many times should he keep forgiving? He wondered if 7 times was enough, 7 was the number of completeness, it seemed a good number of times too.
Jesus shook his head, “not 7, but 77!” Jesus said, imagining Peter trying to count them all up.
“Let me tell you a story about forgiveness in the kingdom of heaven” Jesus said and moved, so everyone could hear him. “There was once a king who had many servants. When a servant was in need, the king would lend him money, but if the servant did not repay the money, he would be thrown into the jail.
One day, the king decided to sort out those debts and called one of his senior servants. The man had borrowed one hundred thousand denarii.
When the servant came he had nothing to give back to the king and so the king ordered the man thrown in jail and everything the man owned to be sold. Even his wife and children could be sold as slaves so the king may be repaid.
The senior servant fell on his knees and begged the king for mercy, for more time. The king had compassion on the man and decided he would be generous. He didn’t give him more time, he cancelled the debt.
The man walked out of the room, owing the king nothing.
He left the king and walked out so excited he was almost dancing. He would celebrate tonight. But then he saw a servant who owned him a hundred denarii. He walked over to the man and reminded him of his debt.
This servant also fell on his knees and begged for mercy, for more time. What did the senior servant do? Did he have mercy like the king and forgive this man his debt? Or did he throw the man in jail, until he got his money?
When the other servants saw the poor servant in jail, they were angry. They went back to the king and told him all the senior servant had done, and the king became angry too. The senior servant found himself in jail.
God forgives you, forgive each other, from the heart, not because you are counting a number.”
