Welcome home
Children's sermon
Object:
a hug for each child
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead
and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. (v. 32)
Good morning, boys and girls. The Bible is filled with wonderful stories about God's people. What is your favorite story in the Bible? (let them answer) Bible stories usually teach us something very important. Today there is a great story about a father and his two sons. One day, the youngest brother decided that he wanted to move into the city and live a more exciting life. He asked his father to give him money for his share of the farm. The father tried to discourage him from leaving, but the younger son wanted to leave as soon as he could. The father gave him a lot of money for his share of the farm. The younger brother was happy and he packed his bags and moved to the city.
In the beginning, he got up in the morning and walked around the city and made friends. He met many people. He began to drink strong wine and play games with his money. Most of the time he lost, but he had a good time. He bought expensive food, more wine, and played more games. He did not worry about how much it cost because he had made so many friends. One day all of his money ran out. He had to move out of his house. His friends left and he was alone. He had no place to live, nothing to drink, and no food. He found a job feeding pigs. Even the food for the pigs looked good to him because he was so hungry. He told himself, "I must be crazy! My father's servants eat healthy food and have a house to live in that is warm. I will go back to my father and ask him for a job and be his servant."
The father had always been sad about his son leaving. One day, the farm workers saw the younger son coming home and reported it to the father. The father ran down the lane to greet his son. When the two saw each other, they hugged -- big hugs. The father told everyone to prepare for a party. When the older brother heard that his brother was home and that his father was giving a great party, he was furious. The older son had stayed home to help his father. His father had never given a party for him. The father told his older son that he loved him very much and everything that had been promised to him still belonged to him. Today, though, his son that was lost had come home and they were going to celebrate.
Jesus told this story so that we would understand that people are always welcome in God's house. God is so happy we are returning that he gives us big hugs. Before you go back to your seats, I would like to share one of God's great hugs with you. (give each child a hug) Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. The Bible is filled with wonderful stories about God's people. What is your favorite story in the Bible? (let them answer) Bible stories usually teach us something very important. Today there is a great story about a father and his two sons. One day, the youngest brother decided that he wanted to move into the city and live a more exciting life. He asked his father to give him money for his share of the farm. The father tried to discourage him from leaving, but the younger son wanted to leave as soon as he could. The father gave him a lot of money for his share of the farm. The younger brother was happy and he packed his bags and moved to the city.
In the beginning, he got up in the morning and walked around the city and made friends. He met many people. He began to drink strong wine and play games with his money. Most of the time he lost, but he had a good time. He bought expensive food, more wine, and played more games. He did not worry about how much it cost because he had made so many friends. One day all of his money ran out. He had to move out of his house. His friends left and he was alone. He had no place to live, nothing to drink, and no food. He found a job feeding pigs. Even the food for the pigs looked good to him because he was so hungry. He told himself, "I must be crazy! My father's servants eat healthy food and have a house to live in that is warm. I will go back to my father and ask him for a job and be his servant."
The father had always been sad about his son leaving. One day, the farm workers saw the younger son coming home and reported it to the father. The father ran down the lane to greet his son. When the two saw each other, they hugged -- big hugs. The father told everyone to prepare for a party. When the older brother heard that his brother was home and that his father was giving a great party, he was furious. The older son had stayed home to help his father. His father had never given a party for him. The father told his older son that he loved him very much and everything that had been promised to him still belonged to him. Today, though, his son that was lost had come home and they were going to celebrate.
Jesus told this story so that we would understand that people are always welcome in God's house. God is so happy we are returning that he gives us big hugs. Before you go back to your seats, I would like to share one of God's great hugs with you. (give each child a hug) Amen.
