📖

The Prodigal Son Leaves

Jesus' Parables of Love

Day 178of 180
Week 36of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that making selfish choices can lead to difficult consequences

2

Retell the basic story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15

3

Recognize that God loves us even when we make mistakes

📖 Scripture Connection

Luke 15:13

“Not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his wealth by living recklessly.”

— Luke 15:13 (WEB)

Demonstrates the consequences of selfish choices and the importance of making wise decisions

📦 Materials Needed

  • Paper play money
  • Small backpack or bag
  • Costume pieces (optional)
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide: Grade 2 Bible
  • World English Bible
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll explore a special story Jesus told about a son who made some not-so-wise choices.

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about God's love in yesterday's lesson about the Good Samaritan?
2Teaching (8 min)

Let's read the story of the Prodigal Son from the World English Bible. This is a parable Jesus used to show how much God loves us, even when we make mistakes.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • The son asked for his inheritance early
  • He left home and spent all his money
  • He made choices that made his life difficult
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why do you think the son wanted to leave home?
  • What might the son have been thinking when he spent all his money?
3Activity: Prodigal Son Playact (10 min)
drama

Children will act out the story using simple props and costumes from the BibleMouse Printables Library

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide children into roles: father, younger son, older son
  2. Use play money to represent the son's inheritance
  3. Act out the son asking for money and leaving home
  4. Encourage children to use their imagination
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use stick puppets to tell the story

Challenge: Add narration and more detailed character development

4Closing (3 min)

Review the main points of the story and God's endless love

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did the son do with his money?
  • How do you think the father felt?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You that You love us even when we make mistakes. Help us to make wise choices.

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn about the father's amazing welcome when the son returns home!

💎 Memory Verse

Luke 15:7

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

— Luke 15:7 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Heaven's Happiness Hop: Create a simple dance where children jump each time they say 'repents' to help memorize the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This parable illustrates God's unconditional love and forgiveness

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle language when discussing consequences
  • Emphasize God's love over punishment
  • Encourage empathy and understanding
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may find it hard to understand why the son would leave home

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Signs of understanding about choices and consequences

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a storyboard of the Prodigal Son's journey
  • Write a letter from the son to his father
  • Use BibleMouse Song Collection to find songs about God's love

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 179 →Back to Bible