Have you ever had to forgive a friend? It’s not always easy. Sometimes when we feel that someone has hurt or wronged us, it can be difficult to let it go and make peace. As Christians, we must follow Jesus’ example and act like Him. But how?
This week’s Bible story happened around the time that Jesus died on the cross. He had a friend named Peter who pretended that he didn’t know Him (see Luke 22:54-62). In fact, Peter said he didn’t know Jesus three times! But Jesus didn’t give up on him. Instead, He forgave him. He gave Peter the chance to prove his love by giving him a very important job: to share the good news of Jesus with people everywhere.
In this issue of Just for Kids, you’ll learn what it looks like when friends forgive each other.
Your friend, Abby
What type of fish makes the best doctor? A sturgeon Knock-knock Who’s there? Fish. Fish who? Bless you!
Jesus Eats With Peter
OJesus Forgives Peter
ne day, disciples of Jesus were fishing on the Sea of Galilee, but they could not catch any fish. Jesus appeared to them on the shore, but they did not realize it was Him. He told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat, and there they would find fish. When they did, there were so many fish they could not pull the net back on the boat! “It is the Lord!” one disciple said, and they joined Jesus on shore to eat fish and bread by a fire.
When they finished eating, Jesus said to a disciple named Peter, “Do you love Me more than these others do?”
John 21
Peter responded, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”
Jesus asked him the same question again, “Do you love Me?”
Peter replied, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.”
Then Jesus asked him for the third time. Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him three times. “Lord, you know all things,” Peter said. “You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep when I’m gone.” He continued, “Peter, you said you would die for Me. One day, when you are old, you will.” Then Jesus said to him, “Follow Me!”
What is your favourite part about going to church? When I was younger, I was a junior soldier, which means that I took classes at church and made a special promise to love and follow God. I enjoyed going to Sunday school and seeing my friends, singing in the singing company and listening to the band and worship team.
The Bible teaches us how to worship and pray. There are plenty of stories about people gathering to learn about God and pray together, and even Jesus worshipped and gave sermons!
So next time you are at church, look at the people around you: the church leaders and corps officers, the band, Sunday school teachers, family and friends, and even people you haven’t met yet. It is cool to know we all share something in common— our love for Jesus.
Your friend, Abby
Bible Search
Church Scavenger Hunt
Next time you are at church, search for the following items and people, and get to know your church!
Who is your corps officer?
(Hint: sometimes there are more than one!)
Name somebody who plays an instrument.
In what room can you find a Bible?
Church Sudoku
Fill in the squares so that every row, column and 2x2 box contains each of these items:
Find somebody who is wearing a Salvation Army uniform.
First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy.
What does this mean?
God wants us to care about others, even people we might never meet. When we pray for others, we help make the world a better, kinder and more peaceful place. The Bible tells us that we should pray for all kinds of people—not just ourselves or our friends, but everyone. —1 Timothy 2:1-2
28-07/12/25 Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6153; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Lyndon Buckingham , General; Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368626X
Circle the objects you might find in your church.
TicTac Toe
Colour Me
Hi kids!
Back in the spring, there was a big storm in the city where I live. It rained all night with thunder and lightning, but the temperature was so cold that the rain froze into ice. The roads were dangerous, and many trees fell down in my neighbourhood. One fell on my driveway!
The next day, all my neighbours came out of their houses to check on one another. Together, we all pitched in to help clean up and make sure that everyone was safe. One neighbour helped move the fallen tree off my driveway. I’m lucky to live in a place with kind and supportive people.
As Christians, we are taught to love our neighbours. Being kind, showing compassion and loving other people are all important to God. Read this issue of Just for Kids for a story about kindness.
Your friend, Abby Find the correct shadow.
When sunlight shines through rain, the light bends and splits into many colours—this creates a rainbow! There are seven main colours in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Despite legends about leprechauns and pots of gold, you can’t ever reach the end of a rainbow because it is an optical illusion. No matter how far you walk, the rainbow always seems to move with you.
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37
One day, a man came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “What do you think? What is written in the law?”
The man answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, with all your strength and your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ ”
“That’s right,” said Jesus. “Do that, and you will live.”
But the man wanted to make himself look good. So he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” And then Jesus told him a story:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers attacked him and beat him badly. Then they went away, leaving him almost dead.
“A priest happened to be going down that same road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. A Levite also came by, but he passed by on the other side, too.
“But then a Samaritan came, and when he saw the man, he felt sorry for him. He went over to him and bandaged up his wounds. Then he put the man on his own donkey. He took the man to an inn and took care of him. He gave the owner of the inn some money and said, ‘Take care of him.’ ”
When He finished the story, Jesus turned to the man who was asking Him questions and said, “Which of the three do you think was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by robbers?”
“The one who helped him,” he answered. And Jesus said, “Go and do as he did.”
Love Your Neighbour
Hi kids!
Do you like to play video games? In one of my favourite video games, the player is sent out on a quest to help defend her imaginary world. She journeys through the jungle, the Arctic, the ocean and even outer space to save her friends. Along the way, she meets new friends, faces tough challenges and battles for the win against enemies.
Did you know that Jesus sent His people on a special quest, too? After His Resurrection, He returned to the disciples and left them with an important task: go out into the world and teach them about God and how much He loves them.
So next time you are playing video games, you can be reminded of the job Jesus gave us—to share God’s love with the world.
Your friend, Abby
Word Search
ISSUE30
Maze
Math Square Use numbers between
Find your way through the maze, but watch out for monsters!
The Great Commission
AMatthew 28:16-20
fter Jesus had been raised from the dead, the 11 disciples went to a mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. There, they saw Him and worshipped Him, but some doubted.
Jesus went to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go and tell people all over the world to believe in Me so they can become disciples, too. Baptize them and wipe their sins away in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded.”
Then Jesus reminded them, “Surely, I am with you always, until the very end of the age.”
