INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 1 – Lesson 23 for Teachers

LESSON 23: LISTEN AND RESPOND 

THEME: Forgiveness 

VOCABULARY: anger, causes, depression, forgive, blame, hurt, support 

STORY: There is a young man. His name is Juan. He is 17 years old and he struggles with depression. He has two younger siblings, a brother who is 10 and a sister who is 13. When he was little his father left and never returned. He lives with his siblings and his mother. His mother works a lot and makes very little money. Juan had to quit school and get a job in order to help with the bills. Juan sometimes feels angry that he had to quit school and grow up faster than he wanted to. Juan feels angry with his father for leaving his family and for not helping them out. This causes Juan to get angry easier. In certain situations, it is hard for Juan to not yell. Juan’s anger comes because he has been hurt by his father. Juan works hard for little pay. He delivers food during the day and helps at a store during the evenings. Juan is tired and just wants to have time to study and be a teenager. He doesn’t want to have to be an adult. It is hard for him to forgive his father for leaving. Juan blames his father for leaving the family and forcing Juan to quit school and support the family. Juan knows that his anger only hurts himself because his father does not know Juan is angry with him. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” The Lord always forgives us for our sins, so we need to learn to forgive others just like God has forgiven us. It is not good for Juan to live with unforgiveness in his heart. It is important that he forgives his father so that he can stop being angry. Juan knows that something has to change and that he needs to learn how to have forgiveness in his heart, but it is not easy.

STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There is a young man. (Is there a man or a woman?) His name is Juan. (What is his name?) He is 17 years old and he struggles with depression. (What does he struggle with?)  He has two younger siblings, a brother who is 10 and a sister who is 13. ( How many siblings does he have? How old are his siblings?) When he was little his father left and never returned. (What happened when he was little?) He lives with his siblings and his mother. (Who does Juan live with?) His mother works a lot and makes very little money. (Who works a lot?)  Juan had to quit school and get a job in order to help with the bills. (What did Juan do?)  Juan sometimes feels angry that he had to quit school and grow up faster than he wanted to. (Why is he angry?) Juan feels angry with his father for leaving his family and for not helping them out. (Who is he angry with?) This causes Juan to get angry easier. In certain situations, it is hard for Juan to not yell. Juan’s anger comes because he has been hurt by his father. (Where does his anger come from?) Juan works hard for little pay. (Does he make a lot?) He delivers food during the day and helps at a store during the evenings. (What does Juan do?) Juan is tired and just wants to have time to study and be a teenager. (What does he want to do?) He doesn’t want to have to be an adult. (What does he not want to be?) It is hard for him to forgive his father for leaving. (What is it hard for him to do?) Juan blames his father for leaving the family and forcing Juan to quit school and support the family. (Who does he blame for his problems?) Juan knows that his anger only hurts himself because his father does not know Juan is angry with him. (Who does Juan’s anger hurt?) Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” The Lord always forgives us for our sins, so we need to learn to forgive others just like God has forgiven us. (Who forgives us for our sins?) It is not good for Juan to live with unforgiveness in his heart. It is important that he forgives his father so that he can stop being angry. (What is it important for Juan to do?) Juan knows that something has to change and that he needs to learn how to have forgiveness in his heart, but it is not easy. (Is forgiving someone who hurt you easy?) 

ACTIVITIES

  1. Review the Vocabulary Words .
  2. Listen to Audio 1  as you read the story.
  3. Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read the story and answer the questions.
  4. Discuss the main theme:
    1. Who is someone who has hurt you? 
    2. Have you forgiven them?
    3. How can we forgive others?
    4. Why is it important to forgive others?
    5. What can unforgiveness cause?
  5. Break the students up into small groups, and have them share about a time in their life when they felt hurt. Have the students pray for each other.
  6. End the class in prayer.