Lesson: Luke 15:30 (Ages 9-11)

📖 Luke 15:30 – Ages 9-11

Explanation

In this verse from the Bible, a brother is feeling upset because his younger brother, who had made some bad choices and spent a lot of money on things that were not good, was welcomed back home with a big celebration. The brother who stayed home and always tried to do the right thing felt sad and confused because he thought his parents were being too nice to his brother who had done wrong things.

It's like when you work really hard on a project and follow all the rules, but then someone else who didn't work as hard gets a big prize. You might feel a little like the brother in the story - wondering if it's fair.

But the important thing to remember is that God's love is big enough for everyone, no matter what mistakes we make. God wants us to forgive others and show them love, just like the father in this story welcomed back his younger son with open arms. It teaches us that we should be kind and forgiving to others, even when we feel like they don't deserve it.

So, this verse reminds us that God's love is always there for us, no matter what, and teaches us the importance of forgiveness and showing love to others just as God does for us.

Kid's Story

Once there was a family of playful monkeys living in the jungle. One day, Baby Monkey found a big, juicy mango and ate it all by himself. His big brother, Wise Monkey, saw what happened and scolded him for being selfish.

Baby Monkey felt sad and guilty. But Wise Monkey surprised him by giving him a hug and saying, “Even though you made a mistake, I still love you and want to share my bananas with you.”

Baby Monkey realized that even when we do wrong things, our family still loves us and forgives us. Just like in the Bible verse, the father forgave his son and celebrated his return. It's important to show love and forgiveness to others, even when they make mistakes.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for always loving us, no matter what. Help us to remember that just like the father in the story welcomed back his lost son with love and forgiveness, you also welcome us with open arms when we turn back to you. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the older brother in this story was upset when his younger brother returned home?
2. How do you think the father felt about both of his sons, even when they made mistakes?
3. What do you think the father’s actions in this story teach us about forgiveness and love?
4. Have you ever felt jealous or upset like the older brother? How did you handle those feelings?
5. How can we show love and forgiveness to others, even when they have done something wrong?

Life Application

In this verse, the older brother is feeling upset because his father celebrated the return of his younger brother who had made bad choices. Children can apply this message in their lives by practicing forgiveness and understanding towards others who may have made mistakes. At home, they can choose to forgive a sibling who has done something wrong and show them love instead of holding onto anger. In school, they can choose to include a classmate who may have made a mistake in a group project instead of excluding them. With friends, they can offer kindness and support to someone who may have made a poor decision instead of judging them. By showing forgiveness and understanding, children can reflect the love and grace that God has for each of us.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a "Prodigal Son" diorama to help understand the message of Luke 15:30! You can use a shoebox to create a 3D scene.

1. Inside the shoebox, create two sides: one representing the extravagant living of the younger son and the other side representing the older son's hard work on the farm.
2. Use small figurines or paper cutouts to represent the characters in the story, like the father, the younger son, the older son, and maybe even some farm animals.
3. Add details like a paper ring to symbolize the father's love, fake coins to represent the younger son's wastefulness, and a small calf to symbolize the celebration.
4. As you work on this craft, you can talk about how the father's forgiveness and love for both sons shows God's unconditional love for us.

This hands-on activity can help children visually see and understand the message of the parable of the Prodigal Son in a fun and creative way.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

When the lost son came back home one day,
Dad celebrated in a big way!
A party with a calf so fat,
Forgiveness and love, just like that!

Songs or Videos

One Christian song that relates to the message of Luke 15:30 is "The Prodigal Son" by Go Fish. This song tells the story of the prodigal son and emphasizes God's unconditional love and forgiveness.

Another great song is "Come Back Home" by Seeds Family Worship. This song encourages children to return to God when they stray and highlights the joy of being welcomed back into His loving arms.

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