Share the Word

Adult & All Age

Share the Word

Ways to present the readings

All age act of worship Session

2 Corinthians 5.16-21

When the Covid-19 vaccination campaign got under way, a call went out for people to encourage others to get the jab. Words and actions together, designed to break down the walls of fear and suspicion. Paul uses similar language to encourage similar action: Christians who have experienced the breaking down of the barriers that divided them from God should embody that reconciling message to others. Before you hear Paul’s words, listen to ‘There is a place of commanded blessing’ by Robin Mark. The final verse repeats the words: ‘We will break dividing walls and we will be one’. The song can be found in various volumes of The Source; and its lyrics and a link to a YouTube video can be found on the internet.

Luke 15.1-3,11b-32

Frame the Gospel reading with this imagined monologue by the father in the story.

Father: (enters and speaks to all present) I have two sons and I love them. Both of them have caused me heartache, but I still love them. Listen to my story (sits and listens along with everyone else).

Narrator: Reads Luke 15.11b-33.

Father: (stands up) So there you have it. I know what many of you are thinking: I was too soft and indulgent with my younger son. It is true that he acted disgracefully. He shamed our family – not only by going off in the way he did, but also by how he acted while he was away. So why did I run to meet him? Why did I not only allow him back, but also celebrate his return with a party – and restore his status as a son? Couldn’t I understand my other son’s resentment and anger? From his perspective, his brother had ruined our family, and didn’t deserve to be forgiven – let alone be reinstated. He had never gone astray.  So why should his brother’s outrageous behaviour be rewarded? (pause)

But if you have ever caused hurt to parents or family, then you understand that this story is not about deserving anything; it is about costly love. If, like my elder son, you have never gone astray, and imagine love is earned by good behaviour and forfeited by bad, you probably have yet to understand what costly love is. That is why I am begging my elder son to come in. I have two sons. I love them both. And I don’t want to lose either of them.

Go to:

Very young children's session for a version of the story for the under 5s.
Sermon ideas
Thought for the week
Bible study

Children & Youth

Share the Word

Ways to present Luke 15.1-3,11b-32

Activities marked with an asterisk next to the activity title are in addition to the resources in the Ready to go sessions. Suggested timings for these activities are also shown. NB The inclusion of additional activities varies from week to week.

For very young children
For children
For young people

A version of the story for very young children

Very young childrens Session

Invite the children to choose a puppet to tell the story: the man, the two sons, pigs.

Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons.
One day, the younger son asked his dad
to give him his share of money.
The young man took the money and left home.
He wasted all his money and had to get a job.
But the only job he could find was feeding pigs.
He was so hungry, he started eating the pig food!
He decided to go home and say sorry to his dad.
As soon as the dad saw his son, he rushed to him,
gave him beautiful gifts and held a party.
The older brother was jealous of the celebrations.
His dad explained that he was always with him,
but now they could celebrate
because the younger brother had returned home.

FOR CHILDREN

Childrens Session

Read the story and pause at the to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together. (10 mins)

Click on the image to view a PDF.

Stop and share

The Pharisees were Jews who followed religious laws strictly and thought Jesus was not strict enough.
Sin is a word to describe when we don’t live life as God intends.
The fatted calf was the best thing on the farm the father could give his son.

Represent the emotions W E S

Read the story. Pause every time you get to the end of one of the bold sections, and ask the children to mime and/or make a facial expression that they think best represents how the character was feeling at that moment in the story.

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Young people Session

People’s perspectives 10 mins W E S

Play the track ‘The Prodigal Song’, Cory Asbury on To Love A Fool.
Split the group into three, representing the father, younger son and older son. Ask them to read the passage, reflecting on the events from their character’s perspective.
Afterwards, encourage everyone to talk to each other in character, to find out why they feel and act as they do.

Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles

See less