Pigs Without a Blanket
Theme: What is Forgiveness?
Jesus liked to teach by telling stories. Did you know that stories can teach lessons too?
One of his best stories was about a father and his two sons. One son was good, but the other one ran off with lots of money and wasted it on parties. When the naughty son returned home to say he was sorry, the father had to decide whether to forgive him or to stay mad. The older brother had to decide the same thing. What do you think they did?
Day 1 – Early Inheritance
Passage
Luke 15:11-12
12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Key verse: 12
Observations
- Crowds gathered around Jesus to listen to him teach. So Jesus told them a good story–about a dad and his two grown-up sons.
- “Hey Dad,” the younger brother said, “someday when you are old and you die, you’ll leave me money. Right? But could I please have it now?”
- The dad loved both of his sons very much.
- He decided to let the younger son have what he wanted.
- He divided up the inheritance.
- “This is crazy!” the older brother said. “Dad, I’m staying here and we can manage my share of the money together.”
Discussion
- Dads do give their kids money sometimes. Can you think of something better than money that dads give to their children?
- What about when dads say “NO”?
- How can someone like Mom and Dad say NO to you if they love you?
- What should the father in Jesus’ story have said?
- Do you want what you want NOW? Is it hard to wait for what you want?
Day 2 – Inheritance Squandered
Passage
Luke 15:13-20
13Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living…
Key verses: 13; 16-17
16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Observations
- The younger son said “see ya!” to his father and brother and went far away.
- He wanted to go where he could just have fun all day and all night. After all, he had plenty of money in his pocket!
- But he spent all his money on parties and presents for people who didn’t even like him very much.
- When he had no more money, he got a job feeding pigs.
- The pigs ate better food than he did.
- He finally realized how stupid he’d been.
- He decided to go home and beg his father to forgive him.
- He figured that maybe Dad would take him back as a servant, which would be better than feeding pigs.
Discussion
- If Dad gave you 50,000 bucks and you left home, how long do you think you could live on your own? What would you buy first?
- Pretend you’re the prodigal son. Look at Dad. Tell him you messed up with crazy parties, and ask him if he’ll take you back as a servant.
- Alternative – swap roles, and have Dad pretend to be the prodigal, asking you for forgiveness. If you’re the Dad, what would you say back to him?
Day 3 – Biggest Party Ever – What?
Passage
Luke 2:20-24
23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.
Key verses: 23-24
Observations
- The younger brother had to walk a long, long way to get back to his dad’s house.
- All the way home he worried about telling his dad that he’d spent all his money.
- His father saw his son and ran and ran and ran full speed a long way down the road to hug him.
- It was the happiest day of the dad’s life to have his son back home.
- “Let’s throw a party and invite everybody,” he told his servants.
- The son didn’t have to become a servant after all!
Discussion
- If you messed up as badly as the prodigal son, how would Dad react when you say you’re sorry?
- Can you believe the father threw a big party for the younger brother?
Day 4 – The Older Brother – Uh-oh
Passage
Luke 15:25-32
29But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
Key verses: 29-30
Observations
- The big brother heard music and singing. The happy smells of the feast over the grills wafted across his nostrils.
- He’d been out working in the field so he didn’t even know his brother had come home.
- The older brother pouted and shouted:
- “I’m not going to that party,” he told the servants.
- “Dad never had a party for me, and I’ve been a good son.”
- “I never went away and spent all his money.”
- The dad left the party to talk to the older son, who was pouting in the field.
- “Please come to the party,” Dad begged. “I love you both.”
Discussion
- Do you think the two brothers ever forgave each other? Will you always forgive your siblings?
- Who’s happier at the end of the story?
- The dad who forgave?
- Or the older brother who was mad?
- What does it mean to forgive? How has God forgiven us?
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
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