Welcome!
Have you ever lost something special? How did you feel when you found it?
Sunday school · Ages 7–9
The prodigal son
Luke 15:11–32
Mainline Christian
Welcome each child by name. Ask the question and let two or three children answer. Say: Today Jesus tells a story about something very special that was lost.
A father had two sons.
The younger son said, “Give me my share of the money now.”
He went far away.
He spent all his money. Soon it was all gone.
He fed the pigs.
There was no food in that land. He was very hungry.
He had an idea.
“I will go home. I will say I am sorry.”
The father ran!
The father saw him far away. He ran and hugged him.
Bring the best robe!
The father gave him a robe, a ring, and sandals.
Let’s have a party!
“He was lost and is found.”
Luke 15:24
The older brother was angry.
The father said, “Come in! Your brother is home!”
God is like the father.
God loves us. God is glad when we come home.
I wonder…
I wonder how the son felt when his father ran to him.
I wonder…
I wonder if the older brother went in to the party.
Question 1 of 7
How many sons did the father have?
Jesus said, “A man had two sons.”
Question 2 of 7
What job did the younger son get?
He fed pigs in a land far away, and he was very hungry.
Question 3 of 7
Why did the son go home?
He had no food, and he wanted to tell his father he was sorry.
Question 4 of 7
What did the father do when he saw his son?
The father saw him far away and ran to meet him.
Question 5 of 7
What did the father give his son?
These gifts showed that he was still the father’s son.
Question 6 of 7
Why was the older brother angry?
He had worked hard for a long time, and he felt left out.
Question 7 of 7
What does this story teach us about God?
Like the father in the story, God is glad when we come home.
Great job!
You finished all 7 questions.
Our memory verse
“He was lost and is found.”
Luke 15:24
Make a welcome-home hug
- Trace your two hands on paper.
- Cut out the hands.
- Fold a long strip back and forth like a fan.
- Glue one hand to each end.
- Write: God welcomes me home!
Welcome-home relay
- Walk fast to the chair.
- Put on the robe, the ring, and the sandals.
- Take them off and walk fast back.
- Cheer: Welcome home!
Let’s pray
Dear God, thank you for loving us like the father in Jesus’s story. Thank you for always welcoming us home. Amen.
Speaker notes