The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son

Light a candle and remember the presence of God is with you.

Cut out the pieces to help you tell this story.

Jesus told us sacred stories called parables.

Sacred means that something is extra special. Jesus was extra special and so were the stories he told. The selfish son left his family. He became hungry, but did not have enough money for food.

The extra special stories Jesus told were

messages about how to love God and love each other. Let us wonder how this parable helps us love. (Pause.)

There was a good dad who loved his two sons.

Place the father and two sons with money bag in front of you.

One son followed all the rules. The other son did not. He was selfish.

Point to the rule-following son and then point to the selfish son. 

“Prodigal” means wasteful.

Move the selfish son far away up the path.

The rule-following son stayed home and did everything his father asked him to do.

Move the rule-following son closer to the father.

The selfish son spent all of his money.

Pick up the selfish son and say, “No,” 3 times, and take away his money.

What should the hungry son do?

He decided to head back home to see if he could at least work for his father.

Move the selfish son halfway to the his home.

When the father saw his son returning, he was filled with love.

The dad threw him a big party.

Move the father to the selfish son, and have them do a little dance.

The rule-following son was jealous. He did not want to go to his brother’s party.

Move the rule-following son away.

The good dad told the rule-following son that he had never been selfish or away from his father’s love like his brother. They were to celebrate him returning to the love of his family.

Bring all 3 people back together near their home