Luke 15:11 to 15:24 Our heavenly Father loves us with open arms, running to welcome and forgive us whenever we say we are sorry and come home to him. Hear the story of the younger son who took his inheritance and wasted it in a distant country. See how the loving father watched the road and ran with joy to hug his returning son. Learn that God is always ready to forgive us completely whenever we turn to him. In ancient culture, a dignified father would never run in public. But in Jesus' story, the father casts aside his dignity and runs to welcome his broken child! Leaving Home for a Far Country Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. The younger son was impatient and selfish. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the property right now.' The father divided his goods, and a few days later, the younger son packed his bags and traveled far away to a distant country. There he wasted all his money on wild and foolish living until he had nothing left. Hungry Pigs and a Repentant Heart A severe famine hit that country, and the boy had no food to eat. He found a job feeding dirty pigs. He was so starving that he wished he could eat the smelly carob pods the pigs were chewing! Sitting in the mud, he finally came to his senses: 'My father's hired servants have plenty of bread, and here I am starving! I will arise and go to my father, and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' Running with Open Arms He got up and walked all the long, dusty miles back home. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him! Filled with deep compassion, the father pulled up his robe and ran to his son, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The father did not wait for an apology; he shouted to his servants: 'Bring quickly the best robe, put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet! Let us celebrate, for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found!' For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Luke 15:24 What did the younger son do with his money in the distant country? He wasted it all on foolish living until he had nothing left He saved it in a bank He bought food for poor people He built a school He wasted it all on foolish living until he had nothing left Luke 15:13 notes he squandered his property in reckless living. What job did the starving boy have to take to survive? Feeding pigs in the field Driving royal chariots Catching fish Singing songs Feeding pigs in the field He was hired to feed pigs and longed to eat the carob pods they chewed. What did the father do when he saw his son returning home from far away? He ran with open arms, hugged him, and kissed him He locked the front door He shouted at him angrily He told him to go away He ran with open arms, hugged him, and kissed him Luke 15:20 shows the father was filled with compassion, ran, embraced him, and kissed him. Give your mom or dad a huge hug this week and say: 'Thank you for loving me and forgiving me when I make mistakes.' Loving heavenly Father, thank you for waiting with open arms to forgive me. Whenever I make wrong choices, help me run right back home to you. Thank you for your amazing grace that welcomes me and loves me forever. In Jesus' name, Amen. Why did the father run to his son instead of waiting angrily on the porch? How does knowing God welcomes us with hugs and forgiveness make you feel when you make a mistake? Early readers learn that God is like the loving father who runs to embrace, forgive, and restore his children whenever they return home. Open your arms as wide as you can. Ask children how big God's love is. Explain that in this story, the father opened his arms wide and ran to welcome his lost son home! Was the older brother happy when the younger son came home? No, the older brother was jealous. But the father gently reminded him that everything the father had was already his, and that celebrating when someone is found is the right thing to do. 5 min Open Arms Hook, 15 min Story Time, 10 min Memory Verse Drill, 10 min Discussion, 5 min Prayer