Grace, Not Performance | Summit Kids

Imagine playing a carnival game or video game that was rigged so that no matter how fast or hard you tried, you could never win. That feeling of frustration is exactly how many people approach their relationship with God—feeling like they can never perform well enough[cite: 17, 20].   

This Sunday in Summit Kids, we played an impossible, rigged game to illustrate a life-changing truth: God’s love is not a scorecard.   

In Week 4 of Galatians, we unpacked Galatians 2:11–21, where Paul confronted Peter for acting like people had to earn their place in God's family through performance[cite: 17, 20].

What We Taught: Tearing Up the Scorecard

We drew a "God's Love Scoreboard" on the wall (+10 Read Bible, +20 Prayed, −50 Lied), and then erased the entire board.   

Here are the core truths we walked through with our kids:   

• Grace Isn't a Grade: God doesn't give you a report card at the end of the day. You don't make God love you more by having a "good day," and He doesn't love you less when you mess up[cite: 17, 20].   

• Jesus Already Did It: Salvation and belonging in God's family are settled through what Jesus accomplished on the cross[cite: 17, 20].

• Run TO God, Not Away: When we make mistakes, grace means we don't hide from God in shame—we run straight to Him for forgiveness and help.   

Memory Phrase: "Grace isn't a grade."   

Interactive Learning: The Tear-Up Scorecard

Every child was handed an "Impossible Spiritual Scorecard" with rules like Never get angry, Always obey immediately, Never sin, and Never make a mistake.   

After realizing that no human being could ever pass, the entire class tore up their scorecards together, celebrating that Jesus paid for all our failures on the cross[cite: 17, 20]!

3 Ways to Bring the Lesson Home

• Watch Performance Language at Home: Notice if your home dialogue subtly shifts toward "God will be happy with you if you obey." Instead, frame obedience around grace: "Because God loves us so much, how can we show love to Him today?"

• Handle Shame Gently: This lesson can bring up hidden shame for kids who feel like they are "bad." Reassure your child: "My love for you isn't based on your behavior, and God's love for you is even bigger than mine".   

• Display the Faith File Card: Put their Grace, Not Performance card on their bathroom mirror or desk as a daily reminder that Jesus already paid it all.   

Dinner Table Conversation Starters

• Have you ever felt like you had to be "good enough" for God to love you?   

• How does it feel to know that God doesn't keep a scorecard on you?   

• What is the difference between obeying God out of fear versus obeying Him out of love?