First Thoughts: This is such a familiar parable that many of us already have a deep relationship to it. In our lives as children perhaps we were rebellious and angry, choosing against our parents or other authority figures who were doing their best to care for us. Or perhaps we were very "good" children who felt the unfairness of watching a parent give extra attention to the child who was acting out. Or perhaps we are the parent of these children, who genuinely wants the best for them, who can see that the "rebel" child is as stuck with his anger as the "good" child is with his resentment. Wherever you connect in this story, invite God to touch you in your own wounded places. Whether you need the sons' restoration or the father's abiding patience and faithfulness, ask God to grow these gifts in your life. Carry your prayer with you in your time with the children.
Teaching On Your Own: You know what drives me crazy? People who cheat. Man, they make me mad. Just last week I actually caught this guy George cheating off my math test. I told the teacher and you know what happened? He didn't even get into trouble. She just TALKED to him. Then she offered to meet with him after class to help him practice the math. So this week he took the test again and got an A. The teacher made such a big deal out of it. She even put his test on the bulletin board so everyone could see. Isn't that unfair? I mean, I didn't cheat, but she didn't make a big deal out of me. It makes me so mad! But you know what? This sort of reminds me of something I read in our Bible story today.
See, Jesus told a story to his disciples about a man with two sons. Now the youngest son decided he didn't want to work on the family farm anymore, he just wanted to take off and see the world. So he took his dad's money and went off and partied. But then the money ran out, and the boy was alone and hungry. Finally he decided he needed to go back to his father and just hope his father would let him be a servant in the house. But when the son returned, the father was so happy that he grabbed him and hugged him and threw a big party! Everyone was so happy that the son had returned -- everybody but the older brother. He was angry. Here his brother had run off and wasted their father's money, acting like a real brat. Now he was back and what did their father do? He threw him a party. He had done what he was supposed to all this time. But he didn't get a party. The father told the older son that he loved them both equally. He wanted them both to be safe and happy. Now the younger son was safe but was the older son happy? Not really. What do you think he could do to change that? I guess he could join the party. When I complain about George I sort of sound like that older brother, don't I? Maybe I need to do something to change my feelings too. You know, I'm really lucky that math comes so easy to me. Maybe I can be happy for George now that he's learned how to do the math problems. Maybe I could even offer to help him out myself. That would be more fun than staying grumpy about it. I think that would make my teacher very happy. And me too!
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 kicks the ground, looks angry)
Leader 2: I'm really annoyed with my teacher. It's just not fair!
Leader 1: What's not fair?
Leader 2: In class last week, this one guy George cheated off my math test. I saw him and told the teacher and you know what happened?
Leader 1: What?
Leader 2: He didn't even get into trouble. She just TALKED to him. Then she offered to meet with him after class to help him practice the math.
Leader 1: Yeah...?
Leader 2: This week he took the test again and got an A. The teacher made such a big deal out of it. She even put his test on the bulletin board so everyone could see.
Leader 1: And you think that's unfair because he never got in trouble for cheating?
Leader 2: Yeah. I didn't cheat, but she didn't make a big deal out of me.
Leader 1: You know, you sound like the older brother from our story today.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: Jesus told a story to his disciples about a man with two sons. Now the youngest son decided he didn't want to work on the family farm anymore, he just wanted to take off and see the world. So he took his dad's money and went off and partied. But then the money ran out, and the boy was alone and hungry. Finally he decided he needed to go back to his father and hope his father would let him be a servant in the house. But when the son returned, the father was so happy that he grabbed him and hugged him and threw a big party! Everyone was so happy that the son had returned -- everybody but the older brother.
Leader 2: The one I sound like?
Leader 1: Right. He was angry. Here his brother had run off and wasted their father's money, acting like a real brat. Now he was back and what did their father do? He threw him a party. He had done what he was supposed to all this time. But he didn't get a party.
Leader 2: Yeah, that does sound like me.
Leader 1: But the father told the older son that he loved them both equally. He wanted them both to be safe and happy. Now the younger son was safe but was the older son happy?
Leader 2: Doesn't sound like it.
Leader 1: So what could he do to change that?
Leader 2: I guess he could join the party.
Leader 1: Maybe you can do the same thing. You know, you're blessed that you have a good mind for math. Maybe you can be happy for George, now that he's learned how to do the math problems. Maybe you could even offer to help him out yourself.
Leader 2: Hey, yeah. That would be more fun than staying grumpy about it. Maybe I'll try it.
Leader 1: I think that would make your teacher very happy. And you too!
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, that you always love us and welcome us back home when we make mistakes. Help us to be kind to each other too, forgiving others' mistakes as you forgive ours. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, invite the children to spend more time thinking about these sons. What did the younger son do that was so wrong? (disrespected his father, ran off, wasted money) What about the older son? (served his father but not with a kind heart, pouted over his brother's return) Which one did the worse wrong thing? Now ask the children to think about the father. What was he like? He was kind, loving, forgiving, and his response to both his sons is gentle and instructive. He wants the younger son to know that, whatever happens, he can always come home; he wants his older son to realize that he's loved and appreciated and doesn't need to feel competitive with his brother. God feels the same way about us. God wants us to be healthy and happy and also have good relationships with each other. To do that, not only do we need to ask for forgiveness when we mess up, but to also forgive others when they mess up. We can do that since we know God is with us and loves all of us, no matter what.
Tell the children the part in the story where the father puts the special ring on his younger son's finger, to show everyone that he has rejoined the family. We are a part of God's family too, and so, to help us remember that, we're going to make a special ring. You will need to collect the plastic seals you pull off of new milk cartons, enough for each child to have one. Provide each child with one seal and allow them to apply a thick coat of glue to the round part. Then give each child seed beads to press into the glue. (You can also use different decorations like glitter glue, small jewels, and so on.) Allow the rings to dry. Close with a time of prayer.
