The Twice-Owned Boat

Tell the story of the twice-owned boat. (There is an actually a visualized story called "Little Boat Twice Owned" available from Living Stories for $4.)

A boy worked very hard making a small sailboat. He even carved his initials into the wood before he painted it. He was so proud of his boat. On the first day that he took it down to the water, the current was stronger than he realized and the string broke. He chased after it, but couldn't catch it. He was very sad because he loved that little boat.

Weeks later, he passed by a second-hand store and what did he see in the window? He saw his little boat. He rushed into the store and announced to the clerk that the boat belonged to him. The clerk told the boy that if he wanted the boat, he would have to buy it. The boy ran home, emptied all the money from his bank, and rushed back to the store. He paid the price the clerk demanded and walked out with his boat. He said, "First, you were mine because I made you; now you are mine because I bought you."

This is sort of a picture of what Jesus did for us. God made us, but we were separated from Him by our sins. Jesus was willing to die on the cross and pay the price required by God (How own blood) for our sins. We can be twice His- first because He made us; then because Jesus bought us back with His blood.

How Can a Child Understand Sin?

In order to understand why Jesus needed to die and we need to be forgiven, children must understand sin. (If there is no sin, Jesus did not need to die.)

How do we teach children about sin? One of the best ways is to help children learn the Ten Commandments (found in Exodus 20).

I googled "learn ten commandments" and several creative ways came up (coloring sheets, pictures, and even a you tube video showing a man using only his ten figures to teach the commandments). Pick a way to learn the commandments and review them until the whole family knows them.

It is God's desire for every person living to be redeemed- to have their sins taken away. Jesus died for each person and is not willing for any to be separated from Him. (Sin separates man from God because God is holy and has NO sin.)

Write the names of family and friends who are not Christ followers on a piece of paper and pray for them at least once a week. Look for chances to show them love and share the good news about Jesus with them.

"What is this a symbol for?"