LESSON 30: THE PRODIGAL SON
THEME: Luke 15: 11-32
VOCABULARY: wealthy, divide, portion, wild, returned
STORY: There is a man. He was very wealthy. He has two sons. The first son asked his father to divide his wealth and give him his portion. The second son stayed with his father and worked for him for many years. He stayed faithful and never left his father. The first son wanted to take his money and do many different things. He left his home and went and spent all his money in wild living. When he had no money left, he had to work a hard job. He spent his time working in the fields. He was hungry and wished he had food. After some time, he decided that he should return home because the people who worked for his father had more food than he had. The first son returned home. The father saw his first son coming and was very excited. The father was so excited that he threw his son a party. The second son felt very angry. The second son did not understand why his father was so happy to see the first son, who had spent all of his money on wild living. The father explained to the second son how happy he was that the first son came back. The first son was lost and now he has come home. He was dead but now he is alive.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There is a man. (Is there a man or woman?) He was very wealthy. (Was he poor or wealthy?) He has two sons. (How many sons does he have?) The first son asked his father to divide his wealth and give him his portion. (What did the first son want?) The second son stayed with his father and worked for him for many years. (What did the second son do?) He stayed faithful and never left his father. (Who never left?) The first son wanted to take his money and do many different things. (What did the first son want to do?) He left his home and went and spent all his money in wild living. (What did he do with his money?) When he had no money left, he had to work a hard job. (What happened when he spent all of his money?) He spent his time working in the fields. (Where did he work?) He was hungry and wished he had food. (How did he feel?) After some time, he decided that he should return home because the people who worked for his father had more food than he had. (What did he decide he should do?) The first son returned home. (Where did he return to?) The father saw his first son coming and was very excited. (How did the father feel?) The father was so excited that he threw his son a party. (What did the father do for his son?) The second son felt very angry. (How did the second son feel?) The second son did not understand why his father was so happy to see the first son, who had spent all of his money on wild living. (Why was the second son mad?) The father explained to the second son how happy he was that the first son came back. (Why is the father happy?) The first son was lost and now he has come home. He was dead but now he is alive. (How does the father feel?)
ACTIVITIES:
- Review the vocabulary words. Listen to the Vocabulary File for pronunciation. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know.
- Listen to Audio 1 as you read through the story.
- Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read through the story and answer the questions.
- Discuss the main theme of the story.
- Does the father get angry with the first son? (No)
- Why not? (He is happy that his son has come back home)
- Does God get angry with us? (No, God loves us no matter what.)
- How does this story relate to people who reject God? (We are like the first son.)
- Will God ever leave us even if we leave him? (No, God will always be there for us.)
- Make a chart explaining the story:
| Who is in the story?
-A father and two sons. |
What did the first son want?
-His portion of his father’s money |
What does the first son do with the money?
-He lives a crazy life. |
| What happens to the first son?
-He spends all his money and has to work feeding pigs. |
Where does the first son return?
-He returns home. |
How do the dad and brother feel?
-The father is happy and the brother is angry. |
6. Reiterate that God will never leave us and will always wait for our return as did the father.
7. If extra time, play a game
8. Have a student pray in English.