The Prodigal Son

---

K/1st Grade – Jan 28

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

The Prodigal Son Bible Verse We should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found. (Luke 15:32)

Teacher Enrichment This lesson is the fourth in the Life of Jesus series which examines how Jesus is our best example for inclusion. Jesus included everyone in his ministry from simple fishermen, to government leaders and kings; from devout followers to those considered sinners; and from old to young. Each week will explore the various ways and people Jesus chose to serve and teach. Jesus often used parables, or stories, to help people understand His teaching. These parables used relatable examples of people and activities to convey a powerful message about God. In the parable of The Prodigal Son, a father gives his two sons their inheritance. The older son stays with his father, is responsible and hardworking and saves his inheritance. The younger son leaves home and squanders everything. When the younger son returns home penniless and pleading, the father welcomes him with open arms and celebrates his return. Of course, the responsible older brother is none too happy. The teachings in this parable are many, but this lesson will focus on God seeking us when we are lost. No matter how far we stray from God’s path, there is nothing we can do that will keep God from watching for us and receiving us when we return to Him. Just like the father in the parable, God is waiting with outstretched arms. This lesson will teach children that God seeks to find everyone who is “lost.” Children will learn that no matter how big our mistakes, we can always ask for forgiveness and return to God’s love.

Before Class Begins  Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival.  Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival.  Check that you have supplies for this lesson: - Arrival Activity, The Prodigal Son Maze – 1 per child - The Prodigal Son Stick Puppets - Lost and Found Cutout – 1 per child - Construction Paper  Place an arrival activity at each place on the table.

Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, pens, The Prodigal Son maze, crayons  Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name.  Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child  

  

with a sticker to place in today’s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to complete The Prodigal Son maze. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships.

Children’s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

 The Children’s Worship Leader will direct your class to come to Ruth Hall at 9:20 or      

11:05. Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the Joy & Concern cards to the Children’s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 107. Encourage children to participate in Children’s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children’s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children’s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 107.

The Lesson SUPPLIES: The Prodigal Son stick puppets, Lost and Found cutouts, construction paper, pencils, glue, crayons  Gather all the children in a circle on the carpet. As you are able, sit on the floor

with them or use a chair as part of the circle. SAY: Today we learned about a parable called The Prodigal Son. This was a story Jesus told people to help them learn about God. A lot of things happened in today’s story. I have some fun characters here to help us remember the story.  Have four volunteers come to the front of the circle and hold the character cutouts

(Father, Older Son, Younger Son, Pig).  Read the scripture below and using the instructions in bold, direct the children as you go along. (Note: This is not the full version that was read in Children’s Worship; it stops at the point where the father welcomes the younger son home) Luke 15:11-24 Jesus also told them another story: Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons. The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

Father volunteer removes the two pieces of “property” from the father cutout and attaches them to the son cutouts. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country. Younger son volunteer moves to the other side of the room. He wasted all his money in wild living. Younger son volunteer removes piece of “property” from his cutout. He had spent everything and soon he had nothing to eat. He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. Pig volunteer moves next to younger son volunteer. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father. The younger son got up and started back to his father. Younger son volunteer moves half way back across the room. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. Father volunteer runs to younger son volunteer (optional to have the father volunteer hug the son volunteer, but only if both children are okay with a hug) The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.” But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate. ASK: Who does the father represent? (God) Who do the sons represent? (Us) ASK: When the younger son left home, did he make good choices or bad choices? (Bad) When he came home, was he sorry for his bad choices? (Yes) The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

ASK: What did the father do? (Forgave him; Hugged him and celebrated) SAY: If we make bad choices and we are sorry for those sins, God will always forgive us. He forgives everyone who is sorry for their mistakes or sins. When we are sorry, He will always run to us and hug us and celebrate that we have come back to Him! SAY: We are going to make a craft to help you remember that God opens His arms to everyone, including you!  Show children the sample craft. Read the message to the children. Point out that      

this phrase is from the Bible, Luke 15:20,32. Ask children what the craft looks like (a person ready to hug someone). Demonstrate that the arms can come together in the front to create a hug. Have children move from the carpet to seats at the table. Give each child a Lost and Found cutout sheet, a full piece of white construction paper and a colorful construction paper strip. Teacher Tip Help children use the full sheet of white construction paper to trace their hands and cut them out. Children will need assistance tracing and cutting out their Direct children to draw a face on the Lost and Found hands. Consider cutting out cutout. the hands for the children Have children glue the Lost and Found cutout while they color, cut out and and hands to the colorful construction paper strip. glue the face. Put names on the backs of the hands as soon as they are traced to keep track of who they belong to!

Closing  Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the

children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, Thank you for loving everyone. Thank you for welcoming us with a hug when we are sorry for our mistakes. Amen  If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Prodigal Son maze if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom!

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

The Prodigal Son Stick Puppets

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

Loving Arms Craft

While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. The father said, “He was lost and now he is found.” Luke 15:20,32

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4

Loving Arms Craft

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 4