Parable of the Prodigal Son

The students that were in class for this lesson were all at VBS this year when I taught The Prodigal Son. We used this lesson more as a review. They love filling in the lapbooks and seeing the goodies that I hand out for this lesson.  

Today's visual is The Prodigal Son feeding the pigs. I covered Ken up with brown fabric, painted 'dirt' on him and the pigs, and then cut the fabric edges to look ragged.

Today's lesson is a parable that Jesus told the people. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. We can find the parable in Luke 15:11-32.

There was a man that had two sons. The younger son told his father that he wanted his part of the inheritance. So 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 pigs 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!

But, the older son was in the field. 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. He wouldn’t go in the house. So 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.

The kids also brought up another point about friends, and it was a good opportunity to bring up picking the right friends.

 I am always looking for small pigs to hand out for this lesson. I found some at Target Dollar Spot for $1.00. The ones you see above were from Dollar Tree. I also give them the money bags, which they love.

One of the things to learn from this parable is choosing our friends wisely. This worksheet is a discussion starter for friends. There are directions in the download for this Friendship Lift-the-Flap worksheet. Teacher should have these prepared before class. Read the scripture, and add thoughts under each flap. Some are to discuss being careful on having good friends and some are being the kind of friend that Jesus would want them to be. This can be used for other lessons, too. Click here to print it in color and black & white.

Click here to print the worksheet.

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.)

Click here to see the Parables of Jesus lapbook printables.

Bible Verse:  Luke 15:24 

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

Used by permission.

Click here to print the lesson.