Splink
» Judgment
Newspaper Lessons Look at the newspaper with your kids and ask them to find examples of people who have broken the law. Read parts of the examples aloud and see if there was any judgment given to the lawbreaker. Ask: What happens if someone breaks the law? (they should be punished) Why is it important for someone to be punished? (maybe they can learn and not do it again; it’s only fair since they hurt someone else, etc.) If there were no judgment/punishment, what might happen? (more people would break the law) God made the rules for the world (the main ones are called the Ten Commandments). He is in charge and some day every person will stand before God. God is always fair and will do what is right.
No Recess for Mrs. James Class
Read the following scenario with your kids and discuss it.
Mrs. James told her fifth grade class to continue working quietly on their math because she had to take a letter to the office. While she was gone, Jeffrey ran to the front of the class and acted like he was Mrs. James.
“Morgan, I want you to stand and read page eight while barking like a dog,” he said in a high pitched voice. The class laughed.
“Quit painting your toenails, Stephen,” he ordered imitating Mrs. James as closely as he could. The class laughed again.
Just then the door opened and in walked Mrs. James. “I heard you all the way down the hall, “she yelled. “All of you will stay in today for recess and do extra work.”
Ask:
Do you think that was fair? Why or why not?
What if teachers give unfair punishments?
Why is it important to be fair?
Read Zephaniah 3:5--“The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”
You can be sure that God’s judgment will be the fair. There is no sin in Him and He always does what is right. He is able to see inside your thoughts and will be a just and right judge.
Choose Your Sisters Punishment!
Tell the kids that today you will let them decide each other’s punishments. If one child does something wrong, let a sibling decide how he should be punished.
Before they decide the punishment, tell them to ask themselves two questions:
Is this fair?
Is this the punishment I would want for myself?
God has mercy for every one who believes in Him. When Jesus came to earth, not every one believed He was from God. They treated Him with disrespect and eventually had Him killed. There will be no mercy for those who treated the prophets and Jesus wrongfully.
