The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout
Bible:
Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 15

Prints on letter paper in black and white. No answers are printed on the student sheet.

Luke 15 · Grade 5

The Father's Welcome

Name Date

Read and Think

Luke 15 shows the heart of God. Tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled. Jesus did not defend Himself with an argument. He told three parables that show what God is like. God is the one who seeks the lost.

A shepherd who loses one sheep leaves the ninety-nine to search until he finds it. A woman who loses one silver coin lights a lamp and sweeps carefully until she finds it. Both call friends to rejoice. Jesus explained that there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.

In the third parable, a younger son dishonored his father by demanding his inheritance and wasting it in reckless living. Hungry and feeding pigs, he came to himself and planned to say he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But the father ran, embraced him, and restored him with a robe, a ring, sandals and a feast. The older son stayed outside, angry, sure he had earned more. The father loved him too, and pleaded with him to come in. The story ends without saying what the older son chose. Jesus left that question for the grumbling Pharisees, and for us.

Show What You Know

  1. What do all three parables show about God?

  2. What was the younger son planning to say to his father?

  3. How did the father restore the son?

  4. Whom does the older son represent in the setting of this chapter?

  5. The story ends before we hear the older brother's answer. What question does that leave for us?

Crossword

564312

Across

  1. How many sheep the shepherd had.
  2. The shepherd carried the sheep home on his ____.

Down

  1. The younger son had a job feeding them.
  2. The father gave his son a ____ and a ring.
  3. The woman swept the house to find it.
  4. The woman lit one to search.

Think About It

  1. Have you ever felt like the younger son, or like the older son? How does the father's love meet you there?

  2. Jesus told these stories because sinners were coming to Him. How can your church welcome people who are far from God?

Memory Verse

Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

Luke 15:10 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How does the father's joy change how you see God?
  • How can you be glad when others are forgiven?
  • The father said, This your brother was dead, and is alive again. Who do you know that God might be calling home?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.