Remember
How many sons did the father have in Jesus' story?
2
What does it mean that the son "came to his senses"?
He realized he had made a wrong choice and needed to return home.
Imagine you hurt your best friend's feelings and later realize you were wrong. What could you do that would be similar to what the son did?
Admit you were wrong, apologize, and try to make things right.
What is the difference between the son's attitude when he left and his attitude when he returned?
He left wanting independence and his inheritance; he returned humble and aware that he had done wrong.
What did the younger son do with his inheritance?
He spent/wasted it.
What did the younger son ask his father for?
His share of the inheritance
Why was the younger son willing to return home even though he had made a huge mistake?
He knew his father's servants were treated better than he was living, and he wanted to repent and return.
If someone who hurt you sincerely apologized, how could you show forgiveness?
Accept their apology, stop holding the mistake against them, and treat them with kindness.
Why do you think the father ran toward his son instead of waiting for him to reach the house?
It shows how excited and loving the father was to have his son back.
What happened after the younger son spent all his money?
A severe famine came, and he became hungry.
Where did the younger son go after leaving home?
A distant/faraway country
What does the father's reaction show about how he felt about his son?
He still loved him and was happy to have him home.
A classmate makes a bad decision and feels like nobody will forgive them. What could you tell them based on this story?
They can admit their mistake and seek forgiveness; their mistake doesn't mean they are unloved.
The son planned to ask to become a servant. What does this tell us about how he viewed himself after his mistake?
He felt unworthy of being treated like a son.
Who did the younger son go to work for?
A citizen of that country.
What did the younger son do with his wealth?
He wasted/squandered it
What does the word "lost" mean in Luke 19:10?
Being separated from God or living apart from Him.
If you were the father in the story, what would you do when your child came home? Why?
Answers will vary; students should explain their reasoning.
How are the words "lost" and "saved" connected to the story?
The son was separated from his father but returned home; this illustrates how God seeks people who are separated from Him and wants to bring them back.
What animals did the younger son feed?
Pigs
What job did the younger son end up doing?
Feeding Pigs
What does the father's welcome teach us about forgiveness?
We should be willing to forgive people who genuinely turn from their wrong choices.
How could your class show someone that they are welcomed after making a mistake?
Include them, forgive them, encourage them, etc.
What evidence from the story shows that the father's love was not based on the son's success or behavior?
Even after the son wasted his inheritance and made terrible choices, the father still welcomed him home.
What did the younger son want to eat when he was hungry?
The pods/food the pigs were eating.