The Outdated Calendar

Material

• A calendar from a previous year

Steps

1. Show the children the calendar and ask them: “Does everyone know what it is? It’s a calendar. How many of you have a calendar hung in their home? Calendars have many uses, don’t they? We use calendars to mark time. We keep track of fun things like holidays, and less fun things like doctor’s appointments and then there’s the dentist. A calendar is a very valuable tool, isn’t it? But there’s a problem with this one. Can someone tell me what it is? This calendar is. And an expired calendar is really not good. Why? Because the dates of this calendar have already passed. It’s a thing of the past.
2. Go on and say, “You know, this calendar reminds me of my own past. There are times in my life that I wish I could forget, moments when I sinned or made mistakes. If this calendar contained a record of the mistakes I have made this year, I would be embarrassed to show it to you. I bet you’d all say the same thing. But here’s the thing about calendars. They are usually on sale in the fall, in anticipation of the new year. But once the new year arrives, what happens? People reduce the price of calendars by 50 percent and sometimes by 75 percent. All calendars that don’t sell end up being thrown away. What for? Because they have expired. No one would think about keeping an expired calendar in their home. But often we keep the memory of our past mistakes and sins. But we don’t have to if we believe in Jesus.”
3. Read Romans 4:7-8 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin“
4. And explain this. “Then let’s remember what the calendar must teach us. The mistakes of the past do not need to stay with us today. Give your mistakes and sins to Jesus, and he will remove them, just like an outdated calendar.”
5. Make the connection with the story of the day. “This is what Peter decided to do when he was wrong.” You can also refer to Judas, who did not do the same after being wrong.