Focus: Saying you’re sorry / asking forgiveness

Before You Begin:

For this adventure you’ll need a handful of balloons. You may use helium balloons if you like, but ones that you inflate yourself will work just as well.

The Prayer Time!

Give each family member a balloon and a pen (permanent markers work best). Ask each person to think of something they’ve done wrong that they’d like God to forget about. Tell them to write one or two words on the balloon to represent what they’ve done.

For example, if Emma is sorry she called Jared a mean name, she might write “mean name” on her balloon. If Kadeem is sorry he took Dad’s car without asking, he could write, “took car.” Have older family members help those who cannot write yet.

When everyone is ready, have different family members volunteer to read the following verses aloud:

  • “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
  • “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Be sure all family members know the meanings of words such as transgressions, confess, just, purify and unrighteousness. Discuss together what these verses mean to people in your family.

Then begin a time of prayer, encouraging kids to “say sorry” to God and ask for forgiveness according to what is written on their balloons. Go first, to set an example of what it means to to say sorry to God. After you’ve prayed, pop your balloon with a thumb-tack or pin to represent the forgiveness of your sin. Then pass the pin to another family member and allow him or her to pray then pop his or her balloon.

Continue until all balloons have been popped. Ask family members how popping balloons is like sins being gone. How is it different?

Close by thanking God for being true to his word and forgiving our sins.


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