Children's Liturgy Guide

5th Sunday of Lent

Year C · Lent

Jesus Forgives and Gives a Fresh Start

Reading: John 8:1-11

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Some people brought a woman to Jesus because she had done something wrong. They wanted to punish her, but Jesus told them that only someone who had never done anything wrong could throw a stone at her. Everyone walked away, and Jesus told the woman he did not blame her and to go and not do wrong things anymore.

Key Points

  • Jesus shows mercy to someone others wanted to punish
  • Everyone makes mistakes and needs forgiveness
  • Jesus gives us a fresh start when we are sorry
  • We should not be quick to blame others for their mistakes
  • God's forgiveness helps us try again and do better

Background

This passage presents the Pharisees testing Jesus by bringing a woman caught in adultery, hoping to trap him between Roman law (which forbade Jews from executing) and Mosaic law (which prescribed stoning). Jesus' response, 'Let the one without sin cast the first stone,' exposes the universal human condition of sinfulness while demonstrating divine mercy. The phrase 'Go and sin no more' shows that mercy is not permissiveness but an invitation to conversion. For children, emphasize that Jesus does not yell at or punish the woman but gives her a chance to start fresh and do better, and set aside the complexities of the legal trap, the nature of adultery, and debates about the passage's textual history. Focus on how Jesus treats someone who made a mistake with kindness instead of anger, and how that helps her want to be good.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us even when we make mistakes. Help us learn today how you forgive people and give them a chance to start over. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever done something wrong and felt really bad about it, but then someone gave you another chance to try again?

Example: One time I broke my sister's toy by accident and I felt so bad, but she said it was okay and we could still play together and she was not mad at me.

Bridge to the reading: It feels so good when someone forgives us and lets us try again instead of staying angry. In today's reading, we will hear about a woman who did something wrong, and we will see how Jesus treats her when others want to punish her.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Where was Jesus when the people brought the woman to him?

    Example: Jesus was at the Temple, and he was teaching all the people who came to listen to him that morning.

  2. What did the people want to do to the woman because she did something wrong?

    Example: The people wanted to throw stones at her because that was how they punished people who broke important rules back then.

  3. What did Jesus write or draw on the ground, and what did he say to the people?

    Example: We do not know exactly what Jesus wrote, but he bent down and wrote in the dirt, and then he said only someone who never did anything wrong could throw a stone.

  4. Why do you think all the people walked away one by one after Jesus said that?

    Example: I think they walked away because they knew they had all done wrong things too, so none of them could say they were perfect enough to throw a stone.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the woman felt when Jesus said he did not blame her and she could go and start fresh?

    Example: I think she felt so happy and relieved, like a big heavy weight came off her heart, and maybe she even cried happy tears because Jesus was kind.

  2. When someone at school makes a mistake like spilling paint or saying something mean, what could you do instead of getting angry at them?

    Example: I could tell them it is okay and that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and maybe I could help them clean up the paint or feel better.

  3. This week, how can you give someone in your family a fresh start if they do something that bothers you?

    Example: If my little brother messes up my toys, I can take a deep breath and forgive him and let him play with me again instead of staying mad.

Recap

Today we heard how some people wanted to punish a woman who did something wrong, but Jesus did not throw stones or yell at her. Instead, he told her he did not blame her and that she should go and do better. Jesus shows us that God forgives us and gives us a fresh start when we are sorry.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For children who feel bad about mistakes they have made, that they may know God's forgiveness and feel his love helping them start fresh, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for showing us how to forgive others and give them another chance. Help us this week to be kind and forgiving like you, especially when someone makes a mistake. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Forgives and Gives a Fresh Start

John 8:1-11

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

O Y U V T M F C Q K Z H T S A
Y H R I S D O R Y O E G R J N
C E F K T T X Z E S H S Q E M
R A T I O Y R R O S X A F L P
E R J N N J H N Q T H L I U X
M T F D E L H B N Y R O S Z A
H D T N G T K V G E G V B M Q
L E X E U N F Y V R W E L O B
C K X S B O S T A R T F L M J
E E X S R M T E B S E K Y M E
L A I G H D I D K X R P A Q V
P B I X Y K D H U Q H G I E X
M V W B H K S U S E J T Y K B
E X I W Y N A M O W V G A W Z
T W F U C T B V T S V V H G M

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • forgive
  • stone
  • Temple
  • mercy
  • woman
  • heart
  • sorry
  • kindness
  • fresh
  • start
  • love

ChildrensLiturgy.org