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Treasure Champs. 30: Forgiveness - 'The Prodigal Son'

In short...

Themes: Christianity; forgiveness; parables of Jesus.

Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a parable that Jesus told which is found in the Bible and is popularly known as 'The Prodigal Son'.

Resources: The and an image to display You will also need a whiteboard or chalkboard large enough for the children to see and a pen or chalk to write with.

The video

This story is from Christianity and is one that Jesus told. It is found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15.

In the story there is a farmer with two sons. The younger son wants his inheritance early and to leave the farm. The father lets him have his way and the younger son leaves. He lives a life full of parties and excitement
until the money runs out and the parties stop. He decides to return to the family farm and ask if he can work for his father. His father is so happy to be reunited with his son that he forgives him straightaway.

This story helps us to reflect on forgiveness. Forgiving someone means not holding their wrongdoings against them and instead making a fresh start. Christians believe this story shows how God feels about every person.

Duration: 3' 48".

Final words: 'See you again soon. Bye!'

Video questions

  1. What does the younger son tell his father he wishes to do? (He wants to leave the farm and have his half of his inheritance - the money that would normally be passed on to him when his father died)
  2. How does the father feel about this? (Very sad)
  3. What does the younger son do when he leaves the farm? (He spends all his time partying and spends all the money)
  4. How does the father react when the son returns to the farm? (He is overjoyed and forgives his son for spending all the money)

Key links

Download / print the assembly framework ready for use

Assembly framework (pdf)

Click for the full size image.

Image: the word Forgiveness

1.Entry
Play your chosen music as the children enter.

2. Introduction
Ask the children to look at the board and then start to write numbers on the board. Ask the children to imagine that each number is a mistake that someone (or perhaps a toy character) has made. When you have filled the board, say that there are a lot of mistakes here and the person (or toy character) must be feeling sad about them.

Explain that forgiving someone is making a fresh start and we sometimes use the phrase 'to wipe the slate clean'. Clean the whole board so that it is clear and say that is a way of imagining what people try to do when they forgive someone. They choose to let go of all the mistakes and to start again.

Explain that the story in the video that everyone is about to watch is about the value of forgiveness.

3. Play the video
Duration: 3' 48". Final words: 'See you again soon. Bye!'

4. Time to talk
Lead a discussion about forgiveness by asking:

  • What happens when the younger son’s money runs out? (He is sad, hungry and lonely and finds a job looking after pigs)
  • What does the younger son decide to do? What happens? (He decides to return home to the farm, intending to become a worker there. His father is overjoyed to see him again and forgives him)
  • This story is about forgiveness. The father found it easy to forgive his son. Are there times when it is more difficult to forgive other people?
  • Why do you think forgiveness is important? What happens if we refuse to forgive?

5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from ±«Óătv collections below.

6. Opportunity for reflection
Let's take a moment to think about the amazing forgiveness in the story of 'The Prodigal Son'

When people agree to forgive they agree to make a fresh start

Think about how the son felt when he was forgiven by his father

And how he might have treated other people after he had been forgiven
 and given the chance to make a fresh start

Think about times when you have forgiven
 and about why it felt the right choice to make


7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for stories that help us to think about forgiveness.
Thank you for the parable of 'The Prodigal Son' and that You forgive.
Help us to be kind to others and to value forgiveness.
Thank you for the opportunities when we are able to make a fresh start.
Amen.

Suggested songs

Song: 'Down by the riverside' (Come and Praise, no 142. Vocal version)

'God is watching over you' (All about our school, no 7)

Song: 'We will grow' (All about our school, no 10)