{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The KidsMinistry.Blog Podcast","title":"Teaching Sin and Forgiveness to Children","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":412,"description":"Tried explaining sin to five year old once. Used word \"transgression.\" They stared at me like was speaking different language.Because was.Sin. Transgression. Iniquity. Repentance. Redemption.Kids don't know what those mean. Using them doesn't make sound smart. Makes sound confusing.Say \"wrong choices\" instead sin. Say \"saying sorry and changing\" instead repentance. Say \"being forgiven\" instead redemption.Same concepts. Language they actually understand.Had kid ask what sin means. Told him when we do things that hurt others or make God sad. He got it immediately.Different kid asked what iniquity means. Had no idea how explain that one. Stuck with \"sin\" after that.Don't talk about abstract sin concepts. Talk about hitting siblings. Taking toys that aren't theirs. Lying to parents. Being mean to friends.Those are things kids actually do and feel bad about.\"Ever take something that wasn't yours? That's sin. It hurts person you took from. Makes God sad.\"Kid nodded. He'd definitely taken things before. Connection made immediately.Abstract theological concepts? Lost them. Their own behavior? Get it.Spill something on purpose. Juice water glitter if feeling brave.Make mess then try clean up. Show how hard it is get everything completely clean. Some stain left behind. Some glitter never coming out.That's sin. Makes mess. We can try clean up ourselves but can't get it perfect. Need Jesus help make us completely clean.Kids watch you spill juice watch you try cleaning see stain left. Makes it visual. Concrete. Something can see and understand.Had kid volunteer make mess. Dumped entire bottle juice on floor. That was more mess than needed but proved point.Show broken toy. Ask if ever broke something on purpose or accident.Talk about how when break something need fix it. Say sorry make it right if can.Some things can't be fixed completely. That's where Jesus comes in. He fixes what we can't fix ourselves.Kids get broken things. They've broken stuff. Makes sense to them.Give...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/xu8CrUD0jOYW3q-sNtnfx2IPiu3EBLp3zZLXQnYwa-8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80M2I1/Y2MzODE4MmIwYmRi/NTNkZmEyZmFiYTQ4/M2JjYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}