Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home).

We know that everyone sins, but not everyone asks for forgiveness. Let’s pretend that this piece of paper represents our actions. Let’s start by writing down the word SIN in pencil on your paper. To show how serious it is, write the word with a dark, heavy pencil mark. Have your students write the word SIN on their papers, making sure the letters are quite large and noticeable.

Let’s pretend that these three letters represent something you’ve done to disobey God. Take a moment to think of what that might represent. Give students a minute to think before continuing. When I count to three, I’ll give you 20 seconds to erase the word completely. Are you ready? One . . . two . . . three . . . GO!

Set a timer on your smartphone or count down twenty seconds as your students try to erase the word SIN on their papers. When you’re done, discuss these questions together:

• Let’s look at some of your papers. What do we notice about them? (The student papers will be smudged, faded, and messy. It will be obvious that someone tried to erase the original mark.) 
• Many people try to cover up their sin by themselves. It seems to work at first glance, but when we look closer, we realize that the sin is still there. Why do we need Jesus’ forgiveness? (Only God can truly erase our sin. Without His grace, we are left with a messy, smudgy reminder of what we did.) 
• Many people don’t confess unless they’re caught. Why should we confess even if no one finds out? (Jesus already knows our sins; we are not successful at “pretending” we’re good. It’s always right to humble ourselves quickly and ask for forgiveness.)
• What happens when we ask God to step in? (It changes everything. He is able to not only forgive us, but to completely restore us to a right relationship with Him.)
• What should our response be when He forgives us? (We should not treat His forgiveness like a free pass or a cheap gift. It cost Him His life, so we should change our behavior and respond to His love with a renewed commitment to do the right thing.) 

Hand every student a brand new, fresh sheet of paper (or invite students to have their fresh papers ready at home)—the symbol of God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. Have them crush the erased ones and toss them into the trash, one by one. 

Now that you have this clean, brand new sheet of paper, let’s imagine what we can do this week to remind us of God’s forgiveness. Take a few minutes to allow your students to write down David’s prayer from Psalm 51:10. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Encourage your students to post this sheet of paper in their bedroom to remind them to ask God for His forgiveness this week—even if no one else knows what they’ve done. Hang this near your bed so that each night you can be honest with Jesus about your sin—and remember that He makes you clean! 

Given the nature of this week’s lesson, it might be wise to end the lesson with individual prayer. If students express interest in a relationship with Jesus, be available to pray with them and share more about salvation and baptism.