Free for every church

Free Bible lesson for kids · On the Way to Jerusalem

The Prodigal Son

A younger son took his inheritance and wasted it in a far country. When he came to himself, he went home to tell his father, “I have sinned.” His father saw him a great way off, ran to him and welcomed him with a feast.

Bible passage
Luke 15:11–32
Big idea
God the Father runs to welcome us home.
Memory verse
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:24 (KJV)
Ages
Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time
About 45 minutes
Included, free
Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Jesus told of a man with two sons. The younger son took his share of his father’s wealth, went to a far country and “wasted his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:11–13). Then a famine came. He fed pigs and was so hungry he wished he could eat their food (Luke 15:14–16). At last “he came to himself” and decided to go home and say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” (Luke 15:17–18).

While he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion. He ran to him, hugged him and kissed him (Luke 15:20). The father called for the best robe, a ring, shoes and a feast. “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22–24). The older brother was angry, but the father pleaded with him to be glad too (Luke 15:28–32).

Read it in the Bible: Luke 15:11–32 (KJV)

11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Questions to ask

  1. What did the younger son do with his money?

    He wasted his substance with riotous living.

  2. What job did he end up doing?

    Feeding swine.

  3. What did the father do when he saw his son coming?

    He had compassion, ran, fell on his neck and kissed him.

What this story teaches

  • Sin promises fun but leaves us empty and hungry (Luke 15:14–16).
  • Repenting means turning around and coming back to God (Luke 15:18–20).
  • God is quick to forgive those who come home (Luke 15:20).
  • God gives His children love they do not deserve (Luke 15:21–22).
  • We should rejoice when others come back to God (Luke 15:32).

Jesus Shows God’s Love

The father ran to his son while he was still far away. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 minWelcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for His forgiveness and welcome.
10 minThe story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 minTalk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God the Father runs to welcome us home.” What does that mean for us?
5 minMemory verse. Say Luke 15:24 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 minActivity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 minPray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.
  • Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
  • Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
  • Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors or out · about 10 minutes

Welcome Home

You need: Open space

  1. The leader is the father, at one end with his back turned. The kids start in the “far country” at the other end.
  2. When the father’s back is turned, the kids creep toward home. When he turns around, everyone freezes.
  3. Anyone caught moving goes back a few steps. When a child gets close, the father runs to meet them with a high five: “Welcome home!”
  4. The first one home becomes the father.

While the son was still a great way off, his father ran to him. God runs to welcome everyone who comes home to Him.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 12 minutes

Robe, Ring and Shoes Relay

You need: For each team: a big robe or bathrobe, a ring toss (a ring and a cone), a pair of oversized shoes

  1. One at a time, each player runs to the end, puts on the robe and shoes, and tosses the ring onto the cone until it lands.
  2. Then they take it all off, run back and tag the next player.
  3. Finish with a feast: snacks for everyone.

The father said, “Bring forth the best robe… a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.” That is how God welcomes us home.

Pray

Thank God for His forgiveness and welcome.

Questions people ask

What did the younger son do with his money?

He wasted his substance with riotous living.

What job did he end up doing?

Feeding swine.

What did the father do when he saw his son coming?

He had compassion, ran, fell on his neck and kissed him.