The father who ran

What you need

Bring a pair of running shoes, the kind children will recognize. If you can, bring a well-worn pair; a little mud on them helps. A Bible marked at Luke 15:20 is helpful too, so the children can see that the story comes from Scripture.

This talk fits the Fourth Sunday in Lent in Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary, when the Gospel reading is the parable of the prodigal son. It also works on any Sunday when the parable is read.

The talk

(Invite the children to come forward and sit with you. Hold up the shoes.)

Good morning! I brought something with me today. What are these? (Let them answer.) That’s right, they’re running shoes.

What do we use running shoes for? (Let them answer: running, playing, sports.) Who here likes to run? (Hands go up.) Me too.

Here is a question for you. Have you ever seen a grown-up run really fast? (Let them answer.) Grown-ups run when they are late for the bus. They run when it starts to rain. And sometimes they run when they are so happy to see someone that they just can’t wait.

Jesus told a story about a father who ran. This father had two sons. One day the younger son said, “I want my share of your money now.” He took the money and went far away. He spent every bit of it. Then he got very hungry. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food he was feeding to the pigs!

So the son decided to go home and say he was sorry. He walked and walked down a long road.

(Open the Bible to Luke 15.) Listen to what the Bible says happened next: “He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

The father ran! In Jesus’s time, grown-up men in the village did not run down the road. They walked slowly and carefully. But this father was so happy to see his son that he picked up his long robe and ran. He hugged his son and kissed him, and then he threw a big party.

(Hold up the shoes again.) Jesus told this story because God is like that father. When we do something wrong, God keeps watching for us. And when we turn around and come home, God comes running to meet us with open arms.

A question to ask the children

Ask: “Who runs to meet you when you come home?”

Children may name a parent, a grandparent, a brother or sister, or a dog. Receive every answer with delight, and then say: “When someone runs to meet us, we know we are loved. That is how God feels about you. God is always glad to see you.”

If you have more time, ask a second question: “How could you welcome someone this week?” Children might say they could share, say “I’m sorry,” or forgive a friend.

Closing prayer

Ask the children to repeat each line after you.

Dear God,
thank you for running to meet us.
Thank you for loving us so much.
Help us run to welcome others.
Amen.