Lesson 9: Parable of the Prodigal Son

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have preschoolers stack their hands in a cheer and say “I love Jesus!”

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays by saying “Happy birthday” five times as fast as they can.

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Today we’ll learn about a boy who left his home for a while, and then he came back. His dad was really happy when he came back home. We’ll see that his dad loved him no matter what, just like Jesus loves us no matter what.

Share

            Say: It’s always nice to come home after being away—even if you’ve only been away for a little while.

            Tell about something you’re excited to see or do when you get home today.

            In leader-led small groups, have preschoolers share something they’re excited to see or do when they get home today.

            After partners have discussed, have adult or teen helpers share with the whole group what the preschoolers talked about in their small groups.

Summarize

            Say: It’s nice to come home because our homes are usually full of people and things we love. Today we’ll learn about someone who loves you—Jesus! Jesus loves us no matter what. Hold up a Bible. We’ll see what the Bible says about Jesus’ love, because we know everything in the Bible is true and is from God. Let’s talk to God as we get started.

            Pray, thanking Jesus that he loves us no matter what.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Make the Pig

            Say: Today we heard a story about a daddy and his son who ran away from home. The son spent all of the money that his dad had given him, so he ended up living and working with dirty, smelly pigs! Even though his son spent all the money and had a yucky job, the father still loved his son and was so happy when he came home. And we can know that Jesus loves us no matter what, too! Let’s make a piggy craft to remind us of our Bible story! Show kids the sample craft.

            Give each preschooler two paper bowls, and have kids color the body of the pig by coloring the outsides of the bowls. You can suggest they color the body pink, and they can even add brown mud spots on their pigs.

            Once children have finished coloring the bowls, help them line up the two holes, making a dome shape with one bowl on top of the other. Help children put a pink chenille wire through the two holes, bend the wire in half, and twist the two sides of the wire several times to secure it to the bowls and keep the bowls tied together. Then help preschoolers twist the doubled-up wire around their finger to give their pigs curly tails.

            Next, help preschoolers use Glue Dots to secure two googly eyes onto the pig and a pink pompom ball as a snout. Then help them add two ears, using small pompom balls, pieces of chenille wire, pink paper, or whatever supply you have on hand.

            Say: Your pigs are looking so good! Now I have something for us to add to the inside of your pig—like a piggy bank. Show children the heart cutouts, and tell them that the words say “Jesus loves you!” Today we’re learning that Jesus loves us no matter what! And that can make us feel so happy! But other people might not know that Jesus loves them no matter what, too. So when one of your friends or family members seems sad or has had a hard day, you can give the person one of these hearts as a reminder of how much Jesus loves them!   

            Have preschoolers color the hearts and then put them inside their pigs. While preschoolers are coloring, have them tell who they could give one of the hearts to later today.

Tip

• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during Core Bible Discovery. You can find the album here.

Show Jesus’ Big Love

            Say: Today we get to learn about Jesus’ love. We’ll learn that Jesus loves us no matter what! Show a Bible. In the Bible, Jesus tells a story about a daddy who loved his son no matter what. Jesus told the story so we can understand how big Jesus’ love is for us!

            To remember that Jesus loves you, give yourself a really good hug! Lead children in hugging themselves as tightly as possible. If you could see Jesus’ love, how wide do you think it would be? Stretch out your arms and show me. Lead the children to stretch their arms out to their sides as far as possible. How high do you think Jesus’ love would reach? Stretch your arms above your heads and show me. Lead the children to stretch their arms above their heads as high as they can. How loud do you think Jesus’ love would be? Stomp your feet and cheer with me to show how loud Jesus’ love is. Lead the children in stomping and cheering.

            Jesus’ love is so wide (stretch out your arms) and high (stretch your arms above your head) and loud (stomp your feet). It’s bigger than we can imagine.

Act It Out

            Say: Today we’ll hear Jesus’ story and learn just how big Jesus’ love is! Open your Bible to Luke 15, and say: In the story, Jesus said there was a man with two sons. Lead the children in counting to two. One of his sons came to him one day and asked for some money. But he didn’t just ask for a little bit of money; he asked his dad to give him a lot of money. He wanted so much money that he could go away from his dad’s house and live by himself.  

            That made his daddy sad. But he still gave his son the money, and the son left. Share an example of how you felt when someone you love had to leave.

            Then ask: • How do you feel when someone you love has to leave?

            Say: He moved far, far away. The daddy must’ve been sad to see his son go because we know that the daddy loved his son a lot. Lead the children to pretend to wipe tears from their faces to show the dad’s sadness.

            Far, far away, the son spent his money really fast. He used it up on things that weren’t good for him. And pretty soon, his money was all gone. Lead the children to hold both their palms facing up to show that he had no money left.

            The son had to find a job because he didn’t have any money. The only job he could find was a job feeding pigs. Lead the children in making “oink” sounds.

            Now that’s a dirty, stinky job! Ew! Lead the children to hold their noses to show that it was stinky and brush their hands against their arms to pretend to wipe dirt from themselves.

            Even though he was working, he still didn’t make enough money to pay for food and a place to live. And he was so hungry! Lead the children in rubbing their tummies and pretending that they’re hungry.

            He was so hungry that when he looked at the pig food, it looked good to him—yucky, dirty pig food!

            Ask: • How would you feel if all you had to eat was sloppy, dirty pig food?

            Say: The son was so hungry that he would eat anything—even yucky pig food! Pause. But then he remembered something! The people who worked for his dad had food. They weren’t hungry. So right then he decided to go home and ask if he could work for his dad. He thought maybe his dad would let him live with the other workers. He didn’t think his dad would want him to live in his house—remember he took his dad’s money and moved far away. What he did to his dad wasn’t very nice.

            Ask: • Tell whether you think his dad will want him to come home. Have kids give a thumbs-up if they think the dad would want the son to come home and a thumbs-down if they think the dad would not want the son to come home. Then have them talk about why they think that.

            Say: Let’s hear what happened: The son walked a long, long way to get home. Lead the children in patting their legs to make a walking sound.

            Before the son got home, his dad saw him from a long way off! Lead the children to put a hand above their eyes and pretend to look far away.

            The dad ran to him! Lead the children in patting their legs very quickly to make a running sound.

            The dad loved his son so much! He was so happy his son came home. Lead the children in a cheer. He didn’t care that his son did something to him that wasn’t very nice. He loved his son no matter what!

            Jesus loves us like that! Jesus loves us no matter what. Jesus told that story to help us know that he always welcomes us to be his friend. He loves us so much!

Hold a Welcoming Party

            Say: But that wasn’t the end of the story. The dad was so happy his son came home that he threw him a big party! Let’s have a welcome home party right now.

            Have the children form two groups, and have one group stand along one wall and the other group stand along the opposite wall. Make sure there’s an even number of children in each group. If there isn’t, have an adult or teen helper join in.

            Point to one group, and say: Pretend that you’re the daddies in the story.

            Point to the other group, and say: Pretend that you’re the sons in the story.

            When you say “go,” lead the “sons” in waving and saying “I’m coming home!” Then lead the “daddies” to say “I missed you!” Then have all the children run to the center of the room and find someone from the opposite group.

            When the children run to meet each other, turn on an upbeat song, and show the children how to link arms and skip or walk around in circles to the music for about 30 seconds.

            Stop the music, and have the children return to their original walls. Switch roles, and repeat. If time allows, let the children meet in the middle and celebrate several times.

            Say: We can celebrate that Jesus loves us no matter what! Now that’s the biggest, highest, loudest love of all!

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Back in the Day”

            Say: Today we’re learning about a father who loved his son even though his son had done some bad things. It’s a story Jesus told to show that he loves us no matter what.

            Ask: • Tell about someone who loves you no matter what. Share your own example first.

            Say: We’re going to see a video where a grandfather shows his grandson that kind of love.

            Watch “Back in the Day.”

            Ask: • What did you think of the way Opa reacted when his grandson broke his gavel?

            • The man kept the broken gavel as a reminder of Opa’s love. What reminds you of Jesus’ love?

            Say: Opa loved his grandson so much! He loved his grandson way more than he loved his gavel. He wouldn’t let a broken gavel come between him and his grandson. That’s how the father in our Bible story was. He didn’t let his son’s mistakes hurt their relationship; he just showed him love! Jesus’ love is the same way—Jesus loves us no matter what.

Tip

• Before printing, turn on page numbering in Word to keep the pages in order (or simply hand-number each page after printing). You may also find it helpful to highlight your part and set the script on a music stand nearby during the skit.

Leader: (Places the dog bone behind self.) It’s time for our puppy friend, Theo, to come for a visit. Let’s call him to our class with a “woof, woof.” Ready? (Leads kids to bark until Theo is brought into view.)

Theo: It’s good to see you! (Pants.) I really, really want a good scratch. Friends, will you scratch my head? (Circulates among kids so each child can pet him.)

Leader: Thanks for the great big welcome for Theo, kids!

Theo: Thank you!

Leader: How are you doing today, Theo?

Theo: I’m great! I’m feeling like I want to play a game today.

Leader: I think we could take a few minutes to do that.

Theo: Could we play London Bridge?

Leader: Sure!

Theo: (Looks to leader.) I want to be the bridge with you! Then we can give all our friends here big hugs when the bridge falls down!

Leader: (Chuckles.) That sounds great, Theo. (Has kids line up, and holds Theo up high so another adult or teen helper can hold his hands to make a bridge that kids can walk under. Then leads kids in singing and playing the game by walking under the bridge and collapsing during the line “my fair lady,” and then hugging and rocking the child or children who are inside the leaders’ arms during the next verse. Play several rounds, as time allows.)

Theo: I love playing London Bridge.

Leader: Theo, your game reminds me of what we’re learning today.

Theo: What’s that?

Leader: We read about a son who traveled far away from his dad, like the kids traveled away from us in the game. Then the son came back, and his dad was so happy, he welcomed him with love, like we hugged our friends in the game.

Theo: That is like the game!

Leader: Yep, and like the dad loved his son no matter what, Jesus loves us no matter what!

Theo: Jesus wants to give us a great big, loving hug!

Leader: I think so!

Theo: But what if we do something wrong?

Leader: Jesus doesn’t want us to do wrong things because he knows it hurts us and others, but even then, Jesus loves us no matter what.

Theo: Jesus’ love is so great!

Leader: It sure is. Theo, I think I hear your mom calling.

Theo: It’s time for me to go home and get a big hug from my mom and dad.

Leader: Okay, Theo! Friends, let’s all give Theo a “woof, woof, goodbye”! (Leads kids in a “woof, woof, goodbye,” and then places Theo out of sight.)

Tip

• We tried this experiment many ways, and the results were not consistent without baking the raisins. We recommend you follow the baking instructions and then test a few raisins to ensure they perform as expected. If they don’t, try baking them for another couple of minutes.

Talk About Choices

            Gather children in a circle. Fill each glass with clear soda, and set the glasses near you.

            Say: We’ve been hearing today about a son who took his dad’s money and left home. He made some bad choices. Let’s think about some bad choices kids might make. Share one or two preschool-friendly bad choices you made as a child. Share how you felt after you made each bad choice. For example, you might tell kids that you were sad when you yelled at a family member. As children share bad choices that kids might make, ask them to talk about how they might feel after making a bad choice like that.

            Say: When we make bad choices, we feel sad or like we’re sinking down low because we know we aren’t making Jesus or our parents happy. It might make us worry that we’re not loved. Let’s think more about what that looks like.

Drop in the Raisins

            Give each child a raisin.

            Encourage children, one at a time, to drop a raisin in a glass. For best results, stop at about eight raisins per glass. As children drop in the raisins, remind them of the examples they shared earlier and how they can make us feel sad like we’re sinking down low. As raisins rise to the top, point them out. After the raisins lose some of the carbonation bubbles, they will start sinking again. Allow time for kids to watch the raisins as they sink and rise in the glass.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What was surprising about the raisins?

            Say: The raisins sunk, but then they went back up! That can remind us of the son in our Bible story. When he left home, he made bad choices that made him feel low and sad. But then he went back to his dad and he felt lifted back up. His dad was so happy to see him come back that he had a party for him.

            Jesus loves us like that. Even when we make bad choices, Jesus loves us no matter what. When we make a bad choice, we can turn back to Jesus and he’ll lift us up! No matter how many times we go the wrong way, Jesus lifts us back up with his love. Jesus loves us no matter what.

Sing a Song

            Say: Earlier we heard the story Jesus told about a father and his two sons. One of the sons ran away and spent a lot of his dad’s money. But his dad still loved him very much and was so happy when his son came back home! Let’s sing a song and do some motions that will help us remember our Bible story.

            Have preschoolers sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            He gave them everything he had. (pretend to hand out money)

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            One son ran away. (swing arms as if running)

            One son ran away. (swing arms as if running)

            He lived and ate with all the pigs. (hold hands up to mouth as if eating)

            Oink-oink, oink-oink, oink-oink. (make a piggy nose by putting your finger on the end of your nose)

            The son came back home. (put arms overhead to make a house shape)

            The son came back home. (put arms overhead to make a house shape)

            His father opened up his home. (open arms in a wide sweeping motion)

            Because he loved him so. (hug yourself)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            We can love each other ’cause (pat a friend on the back)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            Repeat the song a few times.

Make a Picture

            Say: I’m so glad Jesus loves us no matter what! That’s just like the dad in Jesus’ story who still loved his son even after his son ran away and spent all his money. Even when we make bad choices like the son did, we can know that Jesus loves us no matter what! Let’s color a picture of Jesus’ story. Show preschoolers the coloring page of the prodigal son, and explain that they can color the picture and then glue on brown pompoms or crumpled tissue paper squares as the pigs’ food and use raffia as hay around the pigpen.

            Hand out a coloring page to each child, and set out the coloring and decorating supplies. While kids work, have them tell how they feel knowing Jesus loves them so much.

Tip

• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Get Away From Home

            Have kids form groups of no more than five, and give each group a hula hoop.

Lay the hula hoops on the floor, and encourage each group to stand inside a hula hoop.

            Say: Let’s pretend these hula hoops are your home. In this game, you’re trying to run away from your home just as the son in the Bible did. And, to remember how the son ended up at a farm with pigs, we’re going to do animal actions as we try to get away as fast as we can.

            When I call out an animal action, use that action to get as far away from your hula hoop as you can. When I call “Come back home!” run as fast you can back to your hula hoop and give your friends a big hug. Ready?

            Call out the following actions to the kids. (Demonstrate some of the actions if needed.) Pause for a couple of seconds, allowing time for kids to move as far away as possible. Then call kids to come back home. Once groups are home in the hula hoops, encourage them to give each other a big group hug. Then call out the next action. Continue playing as time allows.

• Hop like a bunny.
• Crawl like a pig.
• Trot like a horse.
• Slither like a snake.
• Waddle like a duck.
• Run like a dog.
• Flap like a chicken.

            If you’d like, play music as kids play the game.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did it feel to come back to your hula-hoop home and get a big hug?

            • Tell about a person you know who gives the best hugs.

            Say: Just like you were welcomed home in this game with a big group hug, Jesus welcomes us and loves us. In the Bible, the son ran far from home, but his father still loved him no matter what. He welcomed his son back home and showed him he loved him. Jesus’ love is like that. Jesus loves us no matter what!

Tip

• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Feed the Pigs

            Have kids form groups of no more than five, and give each child two pompoms. Encourage groups to form a large circle and place the pink cup or bowl in the center of the circle.

            Say: These pink cups can remind us of the pigs that the son in the Bible was feeding. Let’s imagine we’re feeding pigs, too, as we play our game.

            Explain to kids that the object of the game is to throw the pompom into the cup or bowl in order to “feed the pig.” Encourage kids to think of something yucky they imagine the pompom to be based on the color they’re throwing. For example, a tan pompom might be old oatmeal, a green one might be a vegetable that has gone bad, or a brown one might be a rotten banana. Have kids call out the yucky food before tossing the pompom at the cup.

            After kids have each thrown one pompom into the cup, have kids name some yucky things we do that aren’t kind or loving, like the unkind way the son treated his father. Encourage kids to toss the second pompom into the cup as they call out those unkind things.

            If you’d like, play music while kids play the game. Continue playing until every child has successfully “fed the pigs” at least once.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did it make you feel to call out yucky things you’ve done?

            • Why do you or don’t you think Jesus loves you when you’ve done wrong things?

            Say: The boy in the Bible didn’t think anyone would love him because he was doing such a yucky job and he had done other yucky things. But when he went back home, the boy found out his father still loved him. In the same way, when we’re filled with wrong or yucky things, Jesus loves us no matter what.

Learn a Song

            Say: It’s so wonderful to know that Jesus loves us no matter what! He loves us like the daddy in our Bible story loved his son. Let’s sing about Jesus’ love to let him know we’re thankful for his love. Have preschoolers sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            He gave them everything he had. (pretend to hand out money)

            The father loved his sons. (cross arms over chest)

            One son ran away. (swing arms as if running)

            One son ran away. (swing arms as if running)

            He lived and ate with all the pigs. (hold hands up to mouth as if eating)

            Oink-oink, oink-oink, oink-oink. (make a piggy nose by putting your finger on the end of your nose)

            The son came back home. (put arms overhead to make a house shape)

            The son came back home. (put arms overhead to make a house shape)

            His father opened up his home. (open arms in a wide sweeping motion)

            Because he loved him so. (hug arms around yourself)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            We can love each other ’cause (pat a friend on the back)

            Jesus loved us first. (point up with both hands; then put hands over heart)

            We thank him for his love. (point up; then point to heart)

            We thank him for his love. (point up; then point to heart)

            Thank you Jesus, for your love (nod; then hug self)

            We thank him for his love. (point up; then point to heart)

Repeat the song a few times.

            Say: Jesus’ love is the best! He loves us no matter what. We can thank him every day for how much love he shows us. Let’s thank him one more time. Close the lesson in prayer. Then let the children know how glad you were to see them at church this week.

           Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.