May 30, 2021 The Father Is Love Bible Passage: Luke 15:11–32 (Prodigal Son) Remember Verse I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Pastor Aaron has recorded a song for our new remember verse. You can find his video here: https://vimeo.com/541737643 This is some background from the leaders information for this week’s lesson: In Luke 15, Jesus tells a memorable story that we refer to today as the parable of the prodigal son—a story that might better be called the parable of the unloving brother. We can see the specific reason why Jesus tells this parable as we look at the story in context. In the beginning of the chapter, we see tax gatherers and sinners coming to Jesus—something that greatly bothered the Pharisees and scribes. Pious Jews didn’t have anything to do with these kinds of people. In direct response to the Pharisees’ unloving attitude, Jesus tells a series of three parables, all of which together point to one clear message: God rejoices when the lost are found. He is love. In the first two stories, we read about a man who loses a sheep and a woman who loses a coin. Both stories end with rejoicing over the lost object being found. This third climactic parable also tells the story of something lost—this time, a wayward son who finds his way home, and great rejoicing ensues (by almost everyone). While we can take away many possible applications from such a story, the main point Jesus was making is that God rejoices when the lost are found and wants us to do the same. The end of the story makes this clear as it closes with the father teaching a poignant lesson to his older son, who doesn’t rejoice when his brother returns. This lesson points directly at the religious leaders grumbling about Jesus spending time with sinners; it tells the leaders that they should have the same attitude toward the lost. This lesson, from an earthly father, reveals the heart of love our heavenly Father has for His children. God loves it when His children come home. God is love. The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most touching stories in Scripture. We can relate to the son in the story because we may know what it’s like to have done something wrong and feel absolutely ashamed. We may know what it’s like to have a sibling or a friend who appears to be getting more than we feel is deserved, and we may know what it’s like to feel wretched and in need of God’s total love and forgiveness. Spend some time this week praising the God who offers Himself freely to those who repent and turn to Him. Praise Him for the times He offered you grace and forgiveness, even though you didn’t deserve it. Praise Him for the blessings He has given you that are far greater than anything you could have imagined—when God forgave you, rejoiced over you, and called you His child. The Big God Story Bible Passage: Luke 15:11–32 The Father Is Love RELATE Every week we get to hear The Big God Story—the story of God’s love for His people and the way He redeemed us through His Son, Jesus. Because of Jesus, we can live as God’s children—we’re set free, and we’re loved by our Father. Let’s pause and invite God to teach us today. Lead children in Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds. Jesus loved using parables to teach His followers truth about God’s kingdom. What’s a parable? Encourage answers. A parable is a simple story that teaches a deeper spiritual lesson. Jesus’ parables reveal truth about our heavenly Father. The parable we’ll hear today shows us the Father is love. Read Luke 15:11 Jesus continued, “There was a man who had two sons. Let’s think about this a little bit. First of all, the father gave his son the inheritance. What’s an inheritance? Encourage kids to answer. Good thoughts! It’s the money or property parents give to their children, usually after the parents die. But this son didn’t want to wait until his father died—he wanted his money now! By asking for the inheritance, it was like the son was telling his father he wished him dead. Yikes! Not very nice. Let’s see what the son did with all that money. Read Luke 15:13. “Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. He spent all of it in foolish ways! Soon there was a famine, where there wasn’t much food in the land, and the son didn’t have any money left. Uh oh! Now what? Let’s read verses 15 and 16 to find out. Read Luke 15:15–16. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country. That per- son sent the son to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. Working with pigs was a really yucky, lowly job. Can you imagine a pig’s food looking good to you? This son was really, really hungry! How do you think the son felt about himself in this situation? Encourage answers. Good thoughts. A person in this situation could feel sad, lost, forgotten, or alone. He’d left behind his family and his house and ended up with the pigs! But soon he had an idea. Read Luke 15:17–19. 17 “Humiliated, the son finally realized what he was doing, and he thought, ‘There are many workers at my father’s house who have all the food they want with plenty to spare. They lack nothing. Why am I here dying of hunger, feeding these pigs and eating their slop? 18 I want to go back home to my father’s house, and I’ll say to him, “Fa- ther, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. 19 I’ll never again be worthy to be called your son. Please, Father, just treat me like one of your employees.” ’ He decided to go home and ask his father if he could be a servant in his father’s house. Will the father be angry? Will he make him work off his debt? Well, the Bible says that while the younger son was still a long way off, his dad saw him and was filled with love. He ran to him and threw his arms around him! The father loved his son. He knew his son was desperate and alone because of his sin. He also knew his son was sorry and needed forgiveness. So the father forgave him and welcomed him back home, even though his son didn’t deserve it. What grace and love! Not everyone was happy though. Read Luke 15:28. 28 “The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate. So his father came out and pleaded with him, ‘Come and enjoy the feast with us!’ The older son was angry and complained that he never got anything! But the father is love once again as he responds in verse 31. Read Luke 15:31–32. Let’s hear what happened one more time. Tech: Cue Prodigal Son Parable video. (This is available if needed by storyteller. Will post on Kidcreek Facebook page for families not in person.) Whom do you think the father represents in this story? What about the son? Encourage answers. Right! The father represents God, and the son represents us. Like the son in the story, we all make choices that cause us to sin and separate us from God the Father. Jesus wanted everyone to know that His Father is love. Our heavenly Father is gracious and forgiving, and He pursues us—He runs after us—even though we don’t deserve it. He created us. We are always His children, and He loves us. This parable reveals the truth of God. God the Father is our Father too. He is love. We can bring all our sins, our sorrows, our complaints, and our needs to Him because He longs to forgive us, and care for us. He wants us to be home with Him forever. QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER KIDS • What did the younger son ask his father to give him? Luke 15:12 • What did the younger son do after he spent the money? Luke 15:14–20 • How did the father respond when the son returned home? Luke 15:20–24 • How did the father respond to the older son? Luke 15:31–32 • How do you know God the Father loves His children so much? 1 John 4:9–10 QUESTIONS FOR OLDER KIDS • What did the younger son do after he spent the money? Luke 15:14–20 • How did the father respond when the son returned home? Luke 15:20–24 • How did the older son respond when his younger brother returned home? Luke 15:27–30 • How did the father respond to the older son? Luke 15:31–32 • What are some truths about God the Father that this parable reveals? Matthew 9:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; 1 John 3:1; Daniel 9:9 • Do you relate to one of the sons? If so, which one, and why? • How do you know God the Father loves His children so much? 1 John 4:9–10 ACTIVITY Clearly Loved SUPPLIES • Human Figure template (see Resources) • Markers or crayons • Yarn (brown, black, red, and yellow) RELATE God knows you and loves you because He made you! Today you’re going to use these figures to create a picture of yourself.