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The Prodigal Son Free Bible Lesson Plans Bible Lesson Plan

The Prodigal Son

Age Time Created By
Any Age 1 hr(s) 8/7/2017 TheBible .life
Purpose:

Remind self and students that we must repent (turn away from sin), ask forgiveness, and for God's help to not do it again. Thankful that the Holy Spirit is there to help and if needed, convict/remind us.

Objective:

How much God loves us, and how He doesn't hold a grudge. That asking forgiveness is important. Repentance is required, not just being sorry.

Any Required Materials:

Luke 15:11-32, Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 5:32

Bridge In:

Have you ever been afraid to ask for forgiveness? Is there a limit on the number of times you can ask forgiveness (what if it's the same sin over and over)? What is true repentance?

Your Input:

We should never be afraid to ask for forgiveness. God is nothing but gentle and loving when we repent. God has unlimited grace for us no matter what we've done (aside from total rejection of Jesus as Lord and Savior).

Guided Practice:

Remind students of how to ask for forgiveness as in Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Summary:

How much love and mercy waits for those who are truly sorry when asking for God's forgiveness. How great it is God does not hold a grudge but forgets our sin. Thankful for grace upon grace. Thankful that the Holy Spirit is there to help and if needed, convict/remind us, that just as Christ has forgiven us, we should should also forgive others.

Evaluation:

Grace is a 'meaty' topic unto itself.

Risk Assessment:

May loose some understanding regarding grace.

Self Analysis:

Perhaps stay focused more on story and less verse hoping but not sure?

Continuity Notes:

Is consistent with teaching about Jesus, his love for us, his death on the cross for our sins.

Check Understanding:

Should be be afraid to ask God for forgiveness? How many times should we forgive other people? Was the Prodigal Son truly sorry or sorry he was caught?

Related Bible Verses:
Related Verses:
  • I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32
  • Then Jesus continued, “A man had two sons; Luke 15:11
  • and the younger of them said to his father ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ So the father divided the property between them. Luke 15:12
  • A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life. Luke 15:13
  • After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want. Luke 15:14
  • So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs. Luke 15:15
  • He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything. Luke 15:16
  • But, when he came to himself, he said ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death! Luke 15:17
  • I will get up and go to my father, and say to him “Father, I sinned against heaven and against you; Luke 15:18
  • I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.”’ Luke 15:19
  • And he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20
  • ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.’ Luke 15:21
  • But the father turned to his servants and said ‘Be quick and fetch a robe – the very best – and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet; Luke 15:22
  • and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; Luke 15:23
  • for here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.’ So they began making merry. Luke 15:24
  • Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing, Luke 15:25
  • and he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant. Luke 15:26
  • ‘Your brother has come back,’ the servant told him, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ Luke 15:27
  • This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father came out and begged him to do so. Luke 15:28
  • ‘No,’ he said to his father, ‘look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might have a merrymaking with my friends. Luke 15:29
  • But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.’ Luke 15:30
  • ‘Child,’ the father answered, ‘you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours. Luke 15:31
  • We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.’” Luke 15:32
  • The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, Acts 17:30


What is the Sinner's Prayer for Salvation?

The sinners prayer is a common Christian term for a prayer that is said when someone wants to repent of their sin, ask God for forgiveness, and verbally state their belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"For, if with your lips you acknowledge the truth of the message that JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with their hearts people believe and so attain to righteousness, while with their lips they make their Profession of faith and so find salvation." Romans 10:9-10

Christ's death on the cross paid in full the debt of our sin. Action must be taken to take hold of the gift.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven through any good works. At this moment I trust Christ alone and receive by faith all Grace purchased by Jesus as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him and by my faith take hold of His grace and love for me. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Thank you for your word that will guide me as to how I should live my remaining days. Please grant me the wisdom to discern correctly and motivation to grow my faith, obedience, understanding, appreciation, and love for you. Thank you for your Grace and mercy that I do not deserve. Thank you that my salvation is not based on my level of performance in my short life but in my receiving what your victory on the cross did pay for. Thank you that I can receive by my faith alone, your glorious gift of salvation. Thank you for hearing this prayer and for saving me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.