The Father Who Ran

Five-minute object lesson

Prop: a pair of sandals or paper shoes

Hold up a pair of sandals or paper shoes. In about five minutes, tell the class this: A son wastes everything, comes home, and meets a father who runs to forgive. Show the prop and ask, “What does this have to do with The Father Who Ran?” Let two children answer. Then read Luke 15:20 together: ““He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Close by asking one child to say the lesson back in their own words, using the prop.

Story script

Jesus told about a father with two sons. The younger one asked for his share of the inheritance early, left home, and wasted the money. When a famine came, he was so hungry he wished he could eat the pods he was feeding to pigs. He came to his senses. “I will go home and say, Father, I have sinned. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like a hired worker.”

He rehearsed the speech on the road. He did not get to finish it. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt compassion, and ran. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. He called for the best robe, a ring, sandals, and a feast. “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The older brother stayed outside, angry that grace looked unfair. The father went out to him too. “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate.” The father’s heart is bigger than both sons’ mistakes.

If you are on the road home, God is already watching for you. If you are the one who never left and still feels grumpy about grace, he comes outside to you as well. Come in. There is music.

Open the bedtime version