The Prodigal Son

I did a retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)  yesterday. I wove 1 Corinthians 13:3-8a throughout it. It was the children's story during a Sunday morning church service. But this one was a little different, because the church service was followed by my sister's wedding.  She wanted something that would be lively and could engage her grandchildren, of which she has many.

Here is an outline of the story, which I told in my own words. The outline gives the main story line from Luke, and I embellished it by giving the prodigal a name (I used my sister and her new husband's initials), and bringing it up to contemporary times by adding a Harley, dumpster-diving, and subway sick cars--among other things. It took about 15 minutes. 

I'm posting the outline here so that anyone can use it to tell the story in their own words.  It's amazing how well the two passages blend with each other. If anyone wants the text of my retelling, I can post it, but I really want to encourage people to develop their stories in their own words.

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Prodigal Son:
Luke 15:11-32; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Congregation reading:  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV) Put the scripture on slides 
LEADER: Love is patient and kind; 
WOMEN: love does not envy or boast; 
MEN: it is not arrogant 5 or rude.
WOMEN: It does not insist on its own way;
MEN: it is not irritable or resentful;
WOMEN: it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 
GIRLS: Love bears all things,
WOMEN: believes all things, 
BOYS: hopes all things,
MEN: endures all things.
ALL: Love never ends.

Introduction

Talk about what’s happening today, and segué into the story.

Story beginning

 ·        Jesus scolded by Pharisees for hanging out with "bad" people, so he tells story

·        Family business--mom, dad, two boys

·        Son doesn’t like hard work; he wants out

·        Parents give him money

·        He heads for big city to live it up

·        Parents sad because they love him.


And love is…


CONGREGATION: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. (Repeat the Congregational Reading)

Story middle

 ·        Son lives it up

·        Runs out of money

·        Homelessness, poverty, desperation, remorse

·        Point of decision: he decides to go home

AUDIENCE MEMBER reads: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

Story end

 ·        Family working hard

·        Parents see son coming down road, run to him

AUDIENCE MEMBER reads: Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful.

·        Welcoming the prodigal home

·        Celebration

AUDIENCE MEMBER reads: Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

·        Older brother’s resentment

·        Father: The lost is found

CONGREGATION:  Congregation reads the last part of the passage
GIRLS: Love bears all things,
WOMEN: believes all things, 
BOYS: hopes all things,
MEN: endures all things.
ALL: Love never ends.