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Suggest pagesThe Compassionate Father
From Door43
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This is the published version, approved on 27 April 2012.
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Luke 15:11-32
5 - Video Complete
A story told by Jesus about the love of God.
One day, Jesus was teaching many tax collectors and sinners who were with him.
The religious leaders were grumbling because Jesus was treating these people as friends. So Jesus told this story:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger son told his father, 'Father, I want my inheritance now!' So the father divided his property between the two sons.
"Soon the younger son sold all that he had and went far away and wasted his money in sinful living.
At that time a severe famine came on the land and he had no money to buy food. So he took the only job he could find, feeding pigs. He was so miserable and hungry that he wanted to eat the pigs' food.
"Finally the younger son said to himself, 'What am I doing? All my father's servants have plenty to eat and yet here I am starving. I will go back to my father and ask to be one of his servants.'
"While the younger son was still far away, his father saw him and felt compassion for him. He ran to his son and hugged him and kissed him.
The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am not worthy to be your son, let me be your servant instead.'
"But his father told one of his servants, 'Go quickly! Bring the best clothes and put them on my son! Put a ring on his finger and put sandals on his feet. Then kill the best calf so we can have a feast, because my son was dead, but now he is alive! He was lost but now he is found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Before long, the older son came home from working in the field. He heard the music and dancing and wondered what was happening. When he found out that there was a party because his brother had come home, he was very angry and would not go into the house.
"His father came out and begged him to join the party, but he refused and said,
'All these years I've worked so faithfully for you! I never disobeyed you, and still you didn't even give me one small goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours wastes your money on sinful behavior you kill the best calf for him!'
"The father answered, 'My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But it is right for us to celebrate, because your brother was dead, but now is alive. He was lost, but now is found!'"
Comprehension Questions for Children
- What did the younger son ask for?
- What happened to all of the money?
- Why did the younger son decide to go home?
- Was the father angry with the younger son?
- How did the father treat the younger son when he returned home?
- Why was the older son angry?
- What did the father tell the older son?
Application Questions for Children
- How do you feel when you have done something wrong?
- How do you think the younger son felt when his father welcomed him home?
- Have you ever felt like the older brother in the story?
- How is God like the father in the story?
- Why did Jesus tell this story?
Devotional Thought for Children
God created us to be part of two families. One family is our earthly family, and the other is God's family. Jesus told this story to describe what being part of God's family is like. God is our heavenly father who loves us with a perfect love. God wants us to be happy and safe so he gives us rules to follow. Sometimes, however, we act like the younger son in the story.
We think we know best what will make us happy. We go off in our own direction and forgt or ignore our heavenly father's rules. Soon, we find out we were very wrong! We wind up hurt or scared or lost or in a very dangerous situation. All we can think about is how sorry we are. We want to go back home where our heavely father loves us and will take care of us, but we are afraid.
We feel guilty or ashamed of what we have done. We think God doesn't want us to be his child anymore, but that is not true! God is like the father in the story. God is not angry with us. He is not waiting to punish us. Jesus already took the punishment for all of the wrong things we do in our life. When we are apart from God, he misses us so much, he comes looking for us. God wants us to come home to him so he can love on us! There will even be a great party in heaven when we do!
Sometimes we act more like the older brother. We remain close to God. We worship him and walk in his ways on a daily basis. We think we desrve more love than others because we try harder to be a good child.
Our heavenly father does love us in a great big way! But this love is not because of what we do, it is because of who we are. We are all God's children. Like the father in the story,God has so much love, that there is more than enough for everyone! God wants you to know he will always love you with more love than you could possibly imagine. God's love will never change. That is why Jesus told this story.As they are completed, The Compassionate Father will be available as PDFs, DOCs, MP3s, AMRs, MP4s, 3GPs, etc.
Apps
We are also developing mobile phone apps for viewing and sharing the story. Coming soon!
