Miracles of Jesus - The Prodigal Son
Parents: Children need to know that they are loved unconditionally. In fact, we all need to know it! In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus assures us that God will always take us back; that there is nothing we can do that will keep God from watching for us and receiving us when we return to Him. We are His children, and He loves us.
Scripture: Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Jesus told this story: A certain man had two sons. One day the younger one came and asked his father for all the money that was to come to him later on. The father gave the younger son the money. A few days later, this son went to a faraway country. There he stayed and spent his money doing very bad things. He had lots of new friends while he had money; but when hismoney was gone, all his new friends were gone too! After his money was gone, there was a famine in the land. Everyone began to be hungry, including the son! The son looked for work but couldn’t find any. Finally, he got a job working for a man who owned pigs. His job was to feed the pigs their food. (It smelled really bad!) The young man was very hungry. Every day when he fed the pigs, even the food the pigs were eating looked good to him! Finally, the son remembered something! He remembered that in his father’s house even the hired workers had plenty to eat! He decided that he would go home and tell his father that he was really sorry. He thought that he had done so many bad things that he didn’t even deserve to be called his son anymore. Wow! Can you imagine a child thinking he/she had done something so bad that he/she couldn’t be called a son/daughter anymore? (No!) The son hoped his dad would just take him in as a servant, so he wouldn’t be hungry anymore. The son said “Good-bye” to the pigs and went home. All the way home the son practiced what he would say to his dad, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” What would his father say? The son worried all the way home. Remember when I said that we had to watch the Father in this story? The Father represents God and tells us what He is like. Let’s see what the Father does when his son comes home. Jesus said that “While the son was still a LONG way off, his father saw him coming and RAN out to meet him!” He was so happy to see his son that he ran up to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him! Then, while the boy was trying to say all the things he’d been planning to say, the father sent his servants to go get the best robe, and the best ring, and new clothes for his son! Then the Father said they would have a big party to celebrate! The Father welcomed his son home! God Always Welcomes Us Home! God loves us! He loves us so much that He is ALWAYS glad to see us come back! No matter how bad we have been, God will always take us back, when we return to Him. The Father was very happy and said these words about his son, “...he was lost and is found!” Let’s practice those words “he was lost and is found.” (Repeat.) Those sound like VERY happy words! The Father was very happy! And God is very happy whenever we come back to Him. Let’s pray and thank God that He loves us, just like the father in the story loved his son.
Jesus told this story: A certain man had two sons. One day the younger one came and asked his father for all the money that was to come to him later on. The father gave the younger son the money. A few days later, this son went to a faraway country. There he stayed and spent his money doing very bad things. He had lots of new friends while he had money; but when hismoney was gone, all his new friends were gone too! After his money was gone, there was a famine in the land. Everyone began to be hungry, including the son! The son looked for work but couldn’t find any. Finally, he got a job working for a man who owned pigs. His job was to feed the pigs their food. (It smelled really bad!) The young man was very hungry. Every day when he fed the pigs, even the food the pigs were eating looked good to him! Finally, the son remembered something! He remembered that in his father’s house even the hired workers had plenty to eat! He decided that he would go home and tell his father that he was really sorry. He thought that he had done so many bad things that he didn’t even deserve to be called his son anymore. Wow! Can you imagine a child thinking he/she had done something so bad that he/she couldn’t be called a son/daughter anymore? (No!) The son hoped his dad would just take him in as a servant, so he wouldn’t be hungry anymore. The son said “Good-bye” to the pigs and went home. All the way home the son practiced what he would say to his dad, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” What would his father say? The son worried all the way home. Remember when I said that we had to watch the Father in this story? The Father represents God and tells us what He is like. Let’s see what the Father does when his son comes home. Jesus said that “While the son was still a LONG way off, his father saw him coming and RAN out to meet him!” He was so happy to see his son that he ran up to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him! Then, while the boy was trying to say all the things he’d been planning to say, the father sent his servants to go get the best robe, and the best ring, and new clothes for his son! Then the Father said they would have a big party to celebrate! The Father welcomed his son home! God Always Welcomes Us Home! God loves us! He loves us so much that He is ALWAYS glad to see us come back! No matter how bad we have been, God will always take us back, when we return to Him. The Father was very happy and said these words about his son, “...he was lost and is found!” Let’s practice those words “he was lost and is found.” (Repeat.) Those sound like VERY happy words! The Father was very happy! And God is very happy whenever we come back to Him. Let’s pray and thank God that He loves us, just like the father in the story loved his son.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that you love us! Thank you that you always welcome us home! Amen.
Dear God,
Thank you that you love us! Thank you that you always welcome us home! Amen.
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