Mud, Sin, and Forgiveness – Psalm 32:1-5

Supplies:

• A large bowl (or pot)
• Potting soil
• Water
• A Bible (always!)

Preparation

Before the students arrive, mix the potting soil and water in a bowl or pot. Stir until it’s a thick paste that will stick to kids’ hands.

Begin

• Gather the group in a circle on the floor (or outside) of your meeting area.
• Place the bowl/pot of mud in the center of the group.
• One at a time, ask the kids to stick their hands into the mud.
  • While their hands are in the mud, ask them to tell about something they’ve needed forgiveness for—now or in the past. (For example: “I yelled at my mom last night over nothing and really hurt her.”)
• After each “confession,” have kids each lift their hands out of the mud, wipe off as much as possible into the bowl, then return to their seat.
• DO NOT LET THEM WASH THEIR HANDS OR USE A TOWEL TO CLEAN THEM. THE ONLY THING THEY CAN USE ARE THEIR ALREADY-MUDDY HANDS.

Discuss:

1. What went through your mind when you placed your hands in the mud?
2. What/how did you feel when you told about a time you goofed up and needed forgiveness for?
3. Your hands are still muddy, aren’t they? Why couldn’t you get all the mud off?
4. How do you feel about having dirty hands even now?
5. How is this activity similar to the way we sometimes feel when we mess up?

Well I’ve got some good news for you! God likes to forgive us when we mess up, or when we sin. Your hands are still dirty, and need to be washed clean. Go to the bathroom and wash your hands completely clean and then come back to the circle.

When kids return, ask:

• How does it feel to have clean hands again?
• How is that like the way you feel after you’ve been forgiven?
• What does it take for you to feel forgiven?

Bible

• In John 4:10, Jesus said that He is the Living Water. What did water do to the mud on your hands?
• Were you able to get the mud off yourselves?  Why or why not?
  • What did you need?
• In the same way, when we sin or goof up, we can’t fix it ourselves. And when you look at the example with the mud, no matter how hard we try, we can’t get all that mud off.  So we need help.
  • But was your friend able to get the mud off from your hands?
    • Why not?
  • What was the only way to get the mud off your hands?  (Jesus)

Read aloud Psalm 32:1-5;
1″Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (NLT)

Now read through it line-by-line, asking kids to repeat each line after you.
After you read verse 5, ask:

• What impact does un-confessed sin have on you?
• Why do we tend to resist admitting our mistakes and sins?
• If we continue to refuse to admit our sins or our mistakes to Jesus, then how does that impact who we are and what we do?

Close in prayer

50

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