Lesson 37 - The Prodigal Son
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:24)
The Son's Request and Departure
Parent Explanation:
The younger son wanted to go on an adventure with his share of the family's money, so he asked his dad and then went far away.
Questions to Ask:
What did the younger son do? (Answer: He took his money and left home)
Why do you think he wanted to leave? (Discuss ideas of independence and adventure)
Hand Motions:
Waving Goodbye: Wave hands as if saying goodbye.
Walking Gesture: March in place to show the son leaving home.
Activities:
Packing Suitcase: Pretend to pack a small bag with items the son might have taken.
Interactive Question: What would you miss if you went on a long trip?
The Son's Life Away and Hardships
Parent Explanation:
After the younger son spent all his money, it became very hard for him to find enough food to eat, especially when there was no food left in the land.
Questions to Ask:
What happened when the son’s money ran out? (Answer: He struggled to survive)
How do you think he felt when he was hungry and alone? (Encourage empathy)
Hand Motions:
Empty Pockets: Turn out empty pockets.
Hungry Rubbing Tummy: Rub stomach to show hunger.
Activities:
Resource Game: Teach about resource management through a simple game of allocating resources like toys or snacks.
Question: What should we do to make sure we always have what we need?
The Return Home
Parent Explanation:
The younger son felt very sorry for his mistakes and decided the best thing to do was to go back home and say sorry to his dad.
Questions to Ask:
What did the son decide to do after realizing his mistake? (Answer: Return home and apologize)
Is it hard to say sorry? (Discuss the difficulty and importance of apologizing)
Hand Motions:
Walking Back: Walk in place, reversing the departure gesture to show returning.
Sorry Hands: Clasp hands together in front of chest as if pleading.
Activities:
Apology Art: Create cards or artwork expressing an apology.
Question: How do you say sorry when you make a mistake?
The Father's Forgiveness
Parent Explanation:
When the dad saw his son coming back, he was so happy that he ran to him and hugged him. He forgave him right away because he loved him so much.
Questions to Ask:
How did the father react when he saw his son? (Answer: He was very happy and forgave him)
What does this teach us about forgiveness? (Discuss unconditional love and acceptance)
Hand Motions:
Running Arms: Pump arms as if running.
Big Hug: Open arms wide then wrap them around yourself as if giving a big hug.
Activities:
Forgiveness Circle: Share stories or examples of forgiveness in a circle.
Question: Who loves you no matter what?
The Older Brother’s Reaction and Lesson of Love
Parent Explanation:
The older brother was not happy when his younger brother came back and everyone was celebrating. But their dad explained that it was a special time to be happy because his brother was back safe.
Questions to Ask:
How did the older brother feel about the celebration? (Answer: He felt jealous and upset)
What did the father tell the older brother? (Discuss celebrating and being happy for others)
Hand Motions:
Cross Arms: Cross arms to show being upset.
Happy Clapping: Clap hands to change from being upset to celebrating.
Activities:
Celebration Craft: Make party hats or decorations to celebrate someone coming home or a reconciliation.
Favorite Part: What was your favorite part of the story of the Prodigal Son?