What did Jesus teach us?

Today we will be:Finding out about the parable of the lost son.

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Have you ever lost something that was important to you?

How did this make you feel?

Did you ever find it again?

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During his life, Jesus wanted to teach people about God and how He wanted them to live. To do this, he often taught in parables. A parable is a story that

teaches a message.

One of the most famous parable is the story of the lost son.

Let’s read it together...

Once there was a father who had two sons. One day the younger son asked if he could have his share of his father’s wealth so he could go into the world by

himself. His father agreed and gave each son his share of his fortune.

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(All images courtesy of © Sweet Publishing)

The young man moved away from his family and went to the city. He spent all his money on fine wine, food and parties. Before he knew it, all his money was

gone and he had nothing left. “What will I do now?” he thought. “I have nothing left to live on.”

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The man had no money, no job and nowhere to live. Eventually he found a job for a farmer. His job was to feed the pigs. “I wish I could eat the food that the

pigs are eating,” he thought. But no one gave him anything.

“What am I doing?” he said. “The hired men on my father’s farm are fed better than me. I will go home and tell my father I have sinned against him and against God. I know I cannot be called his son any more since I have behaved so badly,

but maybe he will be able to hire me as a servant.”

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So the man went home again. He was scared about how his father would treat him but he had no choice but to carry on. When his father saw him coming over the hill, he opened his arms and ran towards him. He was overjoyed that his son

had come home.

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“Father, I am not good enough to be called your son any more. I have wasted your fortune through my selfish actions.” His father ignored him and shouted to the

servants, “Quick! Get my son my finest robe and some sandals for his feet. And prepare a feast too. Tonight we will celebrate because my son has returned home!” The son was

amazed but so glad that his father was happy to see him after all he had done.

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So the father held a feast to celebrate his lost son returning home. Meanwhile, the man’s brother was very angry. “I have been here the whole time working

hard for my father but it is my younger brother who has wasted his money who is treated like a king. It’s not fair!”

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“Why are you angry, my son?” asked the father when he saw that his older son wasn’t joining in the celebrations.

“I have been working hard all the time for you and keeping you company while my brother wasted your money on wine and parties. Yet you give him the best

we have and give me nothing,” he replied.

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“You are always with me and everything I have is yours,” said the father, “but your brother was dead to me and now he has returned. He was lost but now he is found. So let us be glad and celebrate.” So they went into the party together

to welcome the lost son home. www.planbee.com

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What do you think Jesus was trying to teach us through this

parable?

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In this story, the father is like God. Jesus is saying that God is happy when we return to him. Sometimes people like to do their own thing and not live how God

wants them to live. Through this story, Jesus is saying that when people live by their own rules and not God’s rules, they can end up sad and lost.

When the son returns home, the father is so happy to see him again. He forgives him for

all the things he has done wrong and welcomes him home. This is just how

Christians believe God treats them. They believe that God will forgive all the things

they do wrong if they turn to Him again. He will be overjoyed to have them back too!

Jesus is saying that

God celebrates

when people

return to Him!