Leader Guide

Activity

Jesus’ story about the Prodigal Son is a parable. In the video, Gizmo defined a parable as a short story which uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point. Parable comes from a Greek word that means to place one thing beside the other to compare them. In the parable Jesus told, who do you think the father represents? God.

Yes, He did this to help us understand the depth of God’s love and forgiveness for His children. Who do you think the Prodigal Son represents? The lost, sinners, those who make unwise choices or turn from God. 

In this activity, we are going to make up very short parables to describe God. Let’s look up a verse and then think of something in the world that we can use to explain it. I’ll do the first one.

Have children look up and read each scripture, then think of ways to explain God’s love:

1.God’s love and patience. Psalm 103:8:

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Let’s make up very short parables about God’s love and patience. I’ll start: “God’s love is like a water faucet that you can’t turn off.” How else can you describe God’s love or His patience?

2.God’s goodness and faithfulness. Psalm 100:5:

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Can you make up a short parable about God’s goodness or His faithfulness?

3.  God’s power and protection. Psalm 18:2:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Can you make up a short parable about God’s power or His protection?

Conclusion: Let’s Pray. Dear God, thank You for showing us Your love and forgiveness in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Thank You for giving us the Bible so we can learn more about Your love, mercy and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.