A Gift for the Taking

What does it mean to accept the gift of salvation? Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart.

Why do you think some people may refuse to accept the free gift? They may be afraid they will have to change their actions; or they may feel that since they can’t see God, they can’t believe in Him.

In order to accept Jesus, we must take a step of faith and say we believe in Him.

Use this demonstration to show how you can’t receive salvation until you take a step of faith. Select a child to be the first “gift taker.” Have the child stand with his or her back and heels pressed flat against the wall. Place the small gift on the floor about 12 inches in front of the child.

You can have the gift, if you can bend down and pick it up — without moving your feet at all! It’s impossible.

Give everyone an opportunity to pick up the gift. Continue the conversation to explain that God’s gift of salvation through Jesus is right there for us. We just need to take a step of faith to receive it. Now, select a child to move their feet and pick up the gift successfully this time.

Now let’s open the gift. Have child open the gift and show children what it is. Let’s share how the candy cane symbolizes Jesus:

Shaped like a J for Jesus or a shepherd’s crook or stick. He is our Good Shepherd.

Striped like His back after He was whipped.

The color red symbolizes the blood He shed for us.

The color white symbolizes His pure, sinless life.

Read Ephesians 2:8–9:

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Salvation is a true gift from God. We can’t earn it in any way. The only way to receive it is by taking that step of faith!