How could we go about teaching 'grace' and 'mercy'? We could teach on the theme, "God is Gracious", or "God is Merciful", but we could also link these attributes with "God is love" or "God is a Servant."

Grace and mercy are an expression of God's love. How can we explain grace to children? I have heard it expressed as 'incredible generosity that we do not deserve'. You can paint the picture of an earthly father who loves his child so much, that he will continue loving that child no matter what he does. God loves us regardless of what we do, and is willing to forgive us and accept us. He loves us even when we do not deserve it.

The following story describes grace:

A child was dying of a disease, that could cured only through a blood transfusion from someone who had overcome that disease, and had developed the necessary anti-bodies.. The child's five-year-old brother was one who had previously been ill with the disease and had recovered. He therefore, was a suitable blood donor. As it was explained to the five year old, that he could save his sister's life by giving blood, he thought about it for a moment, and then said 'yes'. The two children lay side by side, one receiving the blood, and one giving blood. As the transfusion proceeded, the boy asked the doctor, "Will I die straight away or will it take a while?" The boy had not understood that he did not have to give all his blood.

Jesus gave all for us. Just as the boy's sister had done nothing to deserve the generosity of her brother, we did nothing to deserve God's amazing act of love and grace…the sacrificial death of His Son.

How could we link God's love to the subjects we teach? Topics such as home and family, people from different cultures, friendship, caring for the needy, can all be taught from the perspective of "God is Love". Biographies of those who have shown God's love an also be studied.

The story, "The Classroom", in Themes level 6, is an excellent story illustrating God's grace. The innocent student receives the punishment for the guilty student…an example of incredible undeserved generosity on the part of the innocent student.