Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 45- to 60-minute lesson plan to supplement “The Parables of Jesus: The Prodigal Son.” (It can also be broken into two or more smaller sessions.) It goes with the lesson objectives:

• “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b);
• “Be able to describe the importance and benefits of friendships; identify the variety of relationships that are present in life, and how each friendship affects one’s life” (Character Building: Social Skills: Friendship-2a);
• “Learn how to recognize the difference between acting in pride and in humility, and how to work toward making one’s reactions humble” (Character Building: Values and Virtues: Humility-2f).

Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Prodigal Son.”

Read Luke 15:1–2.

Discuss why the Pharisees complained about Jesus spending time with the tax collectors and sinners. Explain that the tax collectors were looked down upon because they collected taxes for the Roman Empire that was governing their land. The tax collectors also often collected more taxes than they were meant to and pocketed the excess, so it’s understandable that the tax collectors were disliked.
     Perhaps the Pharisees felt that if Jesus was to be a good religious example that He should only spend time with good people. They might have felt that if He spent time with tax collectors and immoral people, that would poorly reflect on His character as well, and they didn’t want it to appear that a teacher of the Scriptures was an immoral person.

Discuss making friends with “sinners” as Jesus did and how that differs from being friends with them and taking part in their activities. For example, Jesus ate, drank, talked, and probably also laughed with them. He honored them with His friendship, and He used those opportunities to teach them about the love of God and the kingdom of heaven. But Jesus wasn’t taking part in things they might have been doing that were wrong, such as getting drunk or belittling someone or gossiping or stealing or anything that was hurtful to another. He won disciples through building these friendships. Ask your child if they can relate that to friendships they have made or could make.

Read “Jamie’s Friends.”

Discuss how the story “Jamie’s Friends” relates to the example Jesus set by being friendly to the tax collectors and sinners of His day. Bring out how Jamie didn’t have to join in doing the same things the other children did, just the same as Jesus didn’t need to be a swindler or immoral like the tax collectors and sinners He befriended in order to be their friend.

Ask the child how they could portray an example of what Jesus showed us to do in befriending these people.

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A tip for this second half of the class: Since this second half is largely discussion points, you might consider breaking it up into two classes or with a pause in the middle for time to color the coloring page that goes with this class and/or assembling the 3D picture.

Read Luke 15:11–32. (If you wish, you could also view “Superbook – The Prodigal Son.”)

Examine the different aspects of the story from the point of view of the prodigal son.

• The prodigal son wanted his inheritance to spend on enjoying himself.     
• He proudly felt his father owed the inheritance to him, instead of humbly acknowledging that it was the product of his father’s hard work. It was a gift. 
• By the time the prodigal son arrived home, he no longer felt worthy of being called a son and was willing to take the low seat of a servant.
• The prodigal son arrived home knowing he had sinned against his father and sought forgiveness.       

Examine the different aspects of the story from the point of view of the older brother who had stayed on to work with his father.

• The older brother worked hard for his father, and he might have felt his workload increased due to his younger brother’s departure.
• He might have at times wished he could be off enjoying himself like his younger brother.       
• He felt he was better than the younger brother because he had continued helping his father.
• He was proud of his obedience to his father and resentful of the younger brother.
• He was also guilty of sin. His was the sin of pride, which was manifested in how he lacked the humility to forgive his brother and be happy for his return.

Watch the “Video: The Parables of Jesus: The Prodigal Son.”

Examine the different aspects of the story from the point of view of the father.

• He worked hard in order to care for his family, resulting in him having an inheritance to give his sons to help them in their lives.    
• He was disappointed that his youngest son just wanted to waste the inheritance on having fun.
• Maybe he knew that the youngest son needed to learn the hard way and that giving him his inheritance earlier might help him learn and mature through the hard things he would experience. 
• He had to teach his older son about humility and forgiveness.

Explore with the child ways they can apply aspects of either of the sons’ lives to their own life.

Listen to the audio, “Forgive and Forget” (song #12).

Read the following Bible verses that relate to humility and pride, and talk about how they relate to the parable Jesus told about the two sons.

• Proverbs 16:18 The younger son arrogantly felt the inheritance was his right that he could use as he wished, even if it was to waste it, and that didn’t work out well for him.
• Philippians 2:3 Selfishness and pride played into the younger son’s poor choice to waste his inheritance as he did. Neither brother truly honored his father as he should have. The younger one dishonored his father by wasting his inheritance. The older son dishonored his father by being upset that his father forgave the younger son.
• Matthew 23:12. The younger son exalted himself by asking for the inheritance while his dad was still alive. The older son exalted himself by being upset that the father welcomed the younger son back with a celebratory meal held in his brother’s honor. The older son felt that it was unfair to celebrate the younger one’s return when there had never been a celebration for the older one’s diligence in staying by his father and doing the work.
• Philippians 2:3. If each brother had considered others better than themselves, neither would have fallen in their pride and arrogance. The younger brother would have been more considerate of his father and older brother, and he wouldn’t have selfishly asked for his inheritance to be given to him early. The older brother would have been happy for the return of his brother and not jealous.

Celebrate the inheritance that our heavenly Father has given you through Jesus: love, compassion, forgiveness, eternal life, and more. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all God has done for each of you! And if applicable, you can include praying to be able to forgive someone who you felt has wronged you.

Additional Material:

• Audio “Prodigal Son”