Returning Home: A Journey of Grace Through the Parable of the Prodigal SonSample

1. Have you ever felt a little jealous when something good happened to someone else?
2. PARENTS: Share a story of when you followed all the rules and things still didn’t go your way. Maybe you were a straight-A student and someone else got chosen for an award. Or maybe you obeyed your Sunday school teacher and they didn’t notice or say thank you. How did you feel? How do you wish someone would have responded?
3. READ ALOUD: Finally, we come to the older brother. The son who did everything right—followed all the rules, did what his father told him, didn’t make any trouble. But as we read the story, we see that the older brother is mad! He’s done everything right, but where’s his party? Where’s his inheritance? Where is his embrace? The older brother thought that by following all the rules, he could earn his place in the family and the love of his father. He thought by doing something good, he would get something good in return. But this is not how real love works. Real love accepts others for who they are—exactly how they are—not by anything they have or haven’t done. And the father gently reminds his oldest son of this truth. The oldest son always belonged in the family by simply being part of the family. We know this is true because we belong to our families. We didn’t do anything to be a part of it. We were simply born into it and, as such, were loved by our parents simply because. Just like the father in the parable, God loves us no matter what. We’re part of His family no matter what. Nothing can separate us from being part of the family.
4. What are some ways that make you feel like you are part of your family?
5. What are some ways that make you feel like you are part of God’s big family?

Pray This Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us no matter what. Forgive us for the times when we followed all the rules trying to earn Your love and our place in Your family. Help us to feel confident that nothing can separate us from Your family. Thank You for being the loving father who will celebrate us even when we mess up. Amen.