Parable of the Prodigal Son

There is so much to learn from this parable!

Today's lesson is a parable that Jesus told the people. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 There was a man that had 2 sons. The younger son told his father that he wanted his part of the inheritance and the father divided what he had and gave part to the son.

A couple days later, the younger son packed up his belongings and traveled to a country far away. And he wasted what he had with extravagant living. He partied, spent time with women and wasted his money. After he had spent all the money that his father had given him, a severe famine came to the land. This means there was a food shortage, and now he doesn’t have money or food to take care of himself.

He went to work for someone in that country and he was sent into the fields to feed the pigs. He was so hungry, he would have gladly eaten the pig's food, but no one gave him any food. He thought to himself…My father has servants, and they have bread to spare, and here I am hungry! 

He decided he would go home to his father and tell him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”  I’m not even worthy to be called your son! Make me one of your servants.

He made the journey back to his father. When he was far away, his father saw him and had sympathy for him. His father ran and kissed him! He told his father that he has sinned and “I’m not worthy to be called your son.” 

BUT the father told his servants to bring out the best robe and put it on him…put a ring on his hand…and sandals on his feet. He told them to bring the fatted calf and let us eat and be happy! My son was dead and now he is alive! He was lost and now he is found!

The older son was in the field and as he came to the house, heard the music and asked a servant what was going on. He told him that his brother has returned home. He is safe and sound and your father is having a celebration.

Well, he was angry, and he wouldn’t go in the house. His father came out to see him and pleaded with him. He told his father that he has stayed home and helped him, and his father hasn’t ever had a celebration for him and his friends! But as soon as my brother comes back, who has wasted all his money, now you serve a great meal for him. His father told him that yes, he was always there for him, and everything that he had, would be his. But it is right to be happy, because his brother was dead, and is now alive. He was lost and now he is found.

In this parable, Jesus is telling us that when we are sinners and are doing things with our money and friends that God doesn’t like it's like we have left Him, like the son that left home.

We are lost, but when you decide to change your life, you go back to the Father, who is God in heaven. You ask for forgiveness of what you did wrong. God is always happy when we come back to Him! Jesus loves us, and He will welcome us just like the son was welcomed back home by his father.

I covered Ken up with brown fabric, painted 'dirt' on him,

 and then cut the fabric edges to look ragged.

 

I almost always have something on the table for the students to pick up when they come into the class. It can be the project for the lesson, or a take home item that I can work into the lesson. Today, there are pigs and money bags. The dirty white pigs were at Dollar Tree last year, I haven't seen them again... I have been looking! The pink pigs are banks and I found them at Target Dollar Spot. The money bags are really cheap on eBay, the coins are at Party City.

Updated links: I have pigs for a handout for the prodigal son. I find ceramic pigs at Hobby Lobby and rubber pigs at Dollar Tree. These plastic pigs are cute and more budget friendly.

Click here to download poster.

You can print the worksheet here.

This set of visuals have been updated as shown. The 'cloud' effect has been removed and background has been cleaned up. All the visuals are not shown and all available Sweet visuals for this lesson are included.

Click here to download the updated visuals.

Click here to download the pictures to color.

(These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.)

Bible Verse: Luke 15:24

There are 3 printables for the Prodigal Son lapbook. You can print them here:

Son     Work     Home

This is the printable for today's lesson. The students will cut out the son and the pigs and glue them onto the workbook page. You can print it here.

You can find all the download links for the Life of Jesus lapbooks and the lapbook worksheets here.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.