The Parable of the Prodigal Son
1. Read the story from the Bible
Story About Two Sons Luke Chapter 15 verses 11-31 (ERV version of the Bible from BibleGateway.com)
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me now the part of your property that I am supposed to receive someday.’ So the father divided his wealth between his two sons.
13 “A few days later the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country, and there he wasted his money living like a fool. 14 After he spent everything he had, there was a terrible famine throughout the country. He was hungry and needed money. 15 So he went and got a job with one of the people who lived there. The man sent him into the fields to feed pigs. 16 He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.
17 “The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.18 I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ 20 So he left and went to his father.
The Younger Son Returns
“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him. 21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. 23 And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.
25 “In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What's going on?’ 27 ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’
28 The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. 29 But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! 30 But this son of yours wasted all your property, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ 31 ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”
2. Watch the video story on YouTube.com
click this link - The Prodigal Son
3. What does the word "prodigal" mean?
Check a dictionary then write your own definition of "prodigal."
Download the Prodigal Son response sheet
4. Prodigal Son Student Questions
1. Why was the younger son greedy and selfish?
2.Why is God so nice to people who sin against him?
3. Is there anything you can do where God won't take you back?
4. Why did the dad only give the money to one son?
5.What did the older brother do?
6.Why should the father forgive the prodigal son?
7. Why didn't the dad in the story get angry?
8.Why was the son immediately forgiven by his father?
9. "I wonder what the workers on the farm thought when the son was treated so well." If you were one of these workers what would you have thought? Why?
10.Why did the younger son spend all his money at once?
11.Why did Jesus tell made up stories?
12."I wonder what happened to the older brother." What do you think?
13.Why doesn't everybody forgive other people?
Check out this picture of the Prodigal Son
5. Response 1. Retell the Prodigal Son story with either...
a. a cartoon drawn in six boxes
OR b. a Powerpoint presentation with six slides.
6. Response 2. Go to Tagxedo.com Copy the key words from the Bible passage (above) about the prodigal son to make a Tagxedo. Choose an appropriate shape for your presentation. (Remember the more times you put a word into the Tagxedo app. , the larger the print becomes in the presentation).
7. Watch the Prodigal Son videos below.
Prodigal Son Video 2 request.org.uk/restart/2015/11/23/the-lost-son/
Story About Two Sons Luke Chapter 15 verses 11-31 (ERV version of the Bible from BibleGateway.com)
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me now the part of your property that I am supposed to receive someday.’ So the father divided his wealth between his two sons.
13 “A few days later the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country, and there he wasted his money living like a fool. 14 After he spent everything he had, there was a terrible famine throughout the country. He was hungry and needed money. 15 So he went and got a job with one of the people who lived there. The man sent him into the fields to feed pigs. 16 He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.
17 “The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.18 I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ 20 So he left and went to his father.
The Younger Son Returns
“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him. 21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. 23 And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.
25 “In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What's going on?’ 27 ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’
28 The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. 29 But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! 30 But this son of yours wasted all your property, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ 31 ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”
2. Watch the video story on YouTube.com
click this link - The Prodigal Son
3. What does the word "prodigal" mean?
Check a dictionary then write your own definition of "prodigal."
Download the Prodigal Son response sheet
4. Prodigal Son Student Questions
1. Why was the younger son greedy and selfish?
2.Why is God so nice to people who sin against him?
3. Is there anything you can do where God won't take you back?
4. Why did the dad only give the money to one son?
5.What did the older brother do?
6.Why should the father forgive the prodigal son?
7. Why didn't the dad in the story get angry?
8.Why was the son immediately forgiven by his father?
9. "I wonder what the workers on the farm thought when the son was treated so well." If you were one of these workers what would you have thought? Why?
10.Why did the younger son spend all his money at once?
11.Why did Jesus tell made up stories?
12."I wonder what happened to the older brother." What do you think?
13.Why doesn't everybody forgive other people?
Check out this picture of the Prodigal Son
5. Response 1. Retell the Prodigal Son story with either...
a. a cartoon drawn in six boxes
OR b. a Powerpoint presentation with six slides.
6. Response 2. Go to Tagxedo.com Copy the key words from the Bible passage (above) about the prodigal son to make a Tagxedo. Choose an appropriate shape for your presentation. (Remember the more times you put a word into the Tagxedo app. , the larger the print becomes in the presentation).
7. Watch the Prodigal Son videos below.
Prodigal Son Video 2 request.org.uk/restart/2015/11/23/the-lost-son/
Prodigal God from redeemer.tv on Vimeo.
REFLECTION ON POVERTY
- What is poverty?
- What kind of problems do poor people have?
- Why are people hungry?
- Do you feel sorry for people who live on the street?
- Are people who live on the street necessarily lazy?
- Do you believe that the rich are growing richer, and the poor are growing poorer?
- Shouldn't all people work for a living?
- Does poverty cause crime?
- What do you think about people receiving welfare?
- Are there homeless people in your country?
- Why do people end up being homeless?
- Have you ever helped a homeless person? How?
- How does the government in your country support the homeless?
REFLECTION ON DISASTERS
- What kind of disasters are common in your country?
- Do you know someone who has been in a disaster?
- How do you think you would react in a disaster?
- How can we help children who are victims of disasters?
- How can you help after a natural disaster?
- If you could volunteer to help after a natural disaster, what could you do?
- Have you ever volunteered to help in a disaster?
- What did you do?
- Did you enjoy it?
- Do you think the Internet can be helpful in a disaster?
- Could the Internet be used for bad purposes in a disaster?