Scripture: Luke 15:11-32
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God wants us to repent of our sins.
- Students will learn God forgives Christians when they repent of their sins.
- Students will learn God expects us to willingly forgive those who repent.
- Students will participate in a service project that supports ministries and shelters for young people.
Guiding Question: How can students serve other young people who are runaways and their families?
Materials: Will vary depending on the need of the shelter or ministry you choose to work with
Procedure: Review the story of the Prodigal Son from the scriptures above. Explain that being selfish like the prodigal son requires repentance because selfishness can lead us away from God and cause us to sin. God will always forgive us if we repent to Him and truly mean it but we always have to ask for forgiveness. Explain that when you are selfless, you are putting God and others before yourself and God wants us to always try our best to be selfless.
Introduce the service project. Find a local shelter for runaways (might be a teen homeless shelter or a ministry to young people that have been sexually trafficked or a foster group home). Find a need they have and work as a class to meet that need. Reinforce the benefits of staying with family and the difficulties even today that are part of being a runaway.
Additional Questions: How can the students provide encouragement to runaways?
Supplemental Activity: Have students create a book of encouragement with scripture and encouraging words to give to young people who have runaway and are being supported by shelters or ministries.