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Children's Bible Object Lesson on Sin

Use this simple children's Bible object lesson on sin to teach a powerful lesson on confessing sin and receiving God's forgiveness.

This object lesson contains two parts which may be used together for a longer Bible lesson or separate for quicker object lessons using only one part.


object lesson on sin

Photo by NEOSiAM 2021 @ Pexels

Main Point:  God will forgive us when we go to Him and admit we are wrong when we sin.

Object: chalkboard/dry erase board and eraser; permanent marker & toothpaste

Scripture:  1 John 1:9  " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."


Object Lesson on Sin - Part 1 - Chalkboard

Write a misspelled word on the board that children will recognize as being spelled incorrectly. You may even want to write a complete sentence while misspelling a single word.

Begin talking about a subject and allow time for the children to spot the misspelled word.

When someone does notice it, first pretend that you just don't see what they're talking about.

Next argue that it is the correct spelling; have someone look it up in a dictionary.

After discovering that it is spelled wrong, then tell them that's just the way you want to spell it. Let them argue their point.

Next agree that it is spelled wrong, but just cover it up with a piece of paper or your hand.

Finally ask them what they would have you do about it. Hopefully they'll say, "Erase it and write it correctly!"


object lesson on sin

Explain that these are the same ways people treat sin in their lives:

  • First - we pretend we don't see it.
  • Second - we argue that it's right.
  • Third - we decide we don't care what the rules say; we're going to do it our way anyway.
  • Fourth - we agree it's wrong, but just try to cover it up.

Explain there is a big difference in a mistake and a sin.  A mistake is unintentional; we don't mean to do it, and when we recognize it as a mistake we try to correct it.  A mistake may cause us to say "oops", but it does not cause us to feel guilty.

A sin, however, whether it is intentional or not, causes guilt. 

God wants to erase our sin for us. First we must see that sin is wrong, agree with God that it's wrong, turn away from it to make it right, and ask God to forgive us or erase it.

1 John 1:9 declares:

 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

sharpie 1

Object Lesson on Sin
Permanent Marker & Toothpaste

Ask students to list different things they consider to be a sin.  Direct them to the fact that sin is anything we think, say or do (or don't do) that displeases God.

Some may say sin is disobeying one or any of the Ten Commandments.  Direct them to Matthew 22:36-40 -

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


Jesus made it simple - if we are not loving God with all we are (thoughts, attitudes, words & deeds) or not loving others as much as we love ourselves...we are breaking God's law, God's will.  We are not obeying Him or pleasing Him.  We are sinning.

Begin making a list of sins on your hand with the permanent marker. Examples may include: lying, being mean to someone or talking bad about them, not making time to spend with God, etc.

Then begin trying to rub the words off your hand maybe even with a wet washcloth.  Hide your hand under your arm or put a glove over it.  

Ask if they think the words are still there.  Yes, they are, and the marker says it was permanent!

Sin is a lot like that.  It doesn't disappear if we hide it.  We can't just wipe it off...it's permanent!

And our sin and the punishment for it would be permanent if it wasn't for Jesus paying the price for our sin on the cross.

God is the only one who can clean or purify us from all our sin and unrighteousness; we cannot do it!

Rub a little toothpaste on the wet washcloth and begin wiping away the marker on your hand.  When we show God our sin and ask Him to forgive us, He wipes away our sin and makes us clean.

Psalm 130:8-12 even says -

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us."



And Isaiah 1:18 says -

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."


God loves us and desires to forgive our sins by washing them away.  We must first bring them to Him confessing we were wrong, turn away from going away from God and turn back to Him asking for His forgiveness.

He is faithful and will not only cast them away, but clean us from all unrighteousness.  We can begin again with a clean board, with clean hands ready to serve Him and others out of love.


A children's Bible object lesson can make Bible truths come alive in everyday life. Combined with Scripture they can impact children for the Kingdom of God!


© Copyright 2008 Susan Smart

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