The Forgiving Father

Luke 15:11-32


Our true story comes from a part of the Bible called the Gospel of Luke. Luke loved Jesus and wanted others to know and love Jesus, too. And the word gospel means “good news!”

One day, Jesus told a story about a father and his two sons. The younger son said to his father, “I want to go far away and live on my own.” So, the father gave him what he asked for.

The son went far away and spent all his money. Soon, he had nothing left. There was no food, and he was very hungry. He even had to feed pigs, and he wished he could eat the pigs’ food!

Then the son began to think. He said, “My father’s helpers have plenty of food. I will go back home. I will tell my father I am sorry.” So, the son started the long journey home.

While he was still far away, his father saw him coming. The father was so happy! He ran to his son, hugged him, and kissed him.

The son said, “Father, I am sorry.”

But the father was full of love. He called for a robe, a ring, and sandals for his son. Then he said, “Let’s celebrate! My son was lost, and now he is found!” They had a joyful celebration.

But the older son was not happy. He said, “I have always stayed with you and obeyed you. Why are we celebrating him?”

The father said, “My son, I love you, too. But we must celebrate, because your brother was lost and now he is found.”

Jesus told this story to show how much God loves us. God is like the loving father. When we make wrong choices and come back to Him, He forgives us and welcomes us with joy.

Key Takeaway for Preschoolers

God loves you and forgives you. You can always come back to Him, and He will welcome you with love.


Dear God,

Thank You for loving us even when we make wrong choices. Thank You for always welcoming us when we come back to You. Help us say we are sorry when we do something wrong. Help us forgive others and welcome them with love, too. Thank You for Your wonderful love and forgiveness. We love You, God.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.





Bible Verse: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” —1 John 4:11, BSB

Paraphrase: “God loves us, so we should love one another.”



Activities

These activities help preschoolers engage with the story through movement, crafts, music, and storytelling, making the lesson fun and memorable.


1. Welcome Home!

Objective: To help children remember that the father lovingly welcomed his son when he returned home.

Materials: Open classroom space, Optional simple robe or scarf for pretend play 

Activity: Choose one child to pretend to be the son and another to pretend to be the father. Have the “son” walk to the other side of the room and then slowly begin the journey home.

When the “father” sees the son returning, encourage the father to walk quickly toward him and welcome him with open arms. The children can pretend to hug, or simply hold their arms wide if they prefer.

Have the entire class say together: “Welcome home! I am glad you are back!”

Let several children take turns playing the father and son.

Remind the children that the son had made wrong choices, but he came home and told his father he was sorry. His father still loved him and was very happy that he had returned.

Talk About It: “How did the father feel when his son came home? He was happy! Jesus told this story to teach us that God loves us. When we do something wrong, we can say we are sorry and come back to God.”


2. The Journey Home

Objective: To help children understand the son's decision to turn around and return to his father.

Materials: Painter's tape, paper footprints, or floor markers, Optional picture of a simple house.

Activity: Create a winding path across the classroom using tape or paper footprints. Place a picture of a house at the end to represent the father's home.

Let each child follow the path while everyone describes the son's journey:

• “He was far away.”
• “He knew he had made wrong choices.”
• “He decided to go home.”
• “His father saw him!”
• “His father welcomed him home!”

At the end of the path, have the child hold out both arms while everyone says: “The father loved his son!”

For additional movement, children can pretend to walk slowly during the long journey and then joyfully hurry for the final few steps home.

Talk About It: “The son could have stayed far away, but he decided to go home. When we make a wrong choice, we can tell God we are sorry. God loves us and forgives us.”


3. "The Father Welcomes His Son" Song (Musical Activity)

Tune: London Bridge Is Falling Down (Public Domain)

Objective: To reinforce through music that the father loved, forgave, and welcomed his returning son.

Materials: None

Activity: Teach the song slowly, adding simple motions. Children can walk their fingers away from themselves for “went away,” turn their fingers around for “came back home,” open their arms for “welcomed him,” and hug themselves for “loved him so.”

Song Lyrics:

        The — son went far, far away,
        Far away, far away.
        The — son went far, far away,
        Then he came back home.

        Father welcomed him back home,
        Him back home, him back home.
        Father welcomed him back home,
        And he loved him so.

        They were happy he was home,
        He was home, he was home.
        They were happy he was home.
        What a joyful day!

Talk About It: “The father was happy because his son had come home. Jesus told us this story to help us understand God's love. God loves us, forgives us, and welcomes us when we come to Him.”


4. A Welcome-Home Celebration

Objective: To help children remember the joy of forgiveness and the celebration when the son returned home.

Materials: Construction paper, Crayons or washable markers, Child-safe stickers, Optional paper plates or paper circles, Child-safe glue

Activity: Explain that the father was so happy to have his son home that he prepared a celebration.
Invite each child to make a colorful “welcome-home celebration” picture. Children might draw the father and son together, decorate a pretend celebration table, or decorate a paper plate with pictures of foods they imagine might have been served at the feast.

While the children work, remind them that the most important part of the celebration was not the food. The father was celebrating because his son had come home.

When everyone finishes, gather the pictures together and have the children cheer: “He was lost, and now he is found!”

Talk About It: “Why did the father celebrate? Because his son had come home! The father loved and forgave him. God loves us, too. When we do something wrong, we can say we are sorry and know that God loves and forgives us.”

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Story illustrations are the copyright of James M. Thomas. All rights reserved.
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