Big Feelings: Taking Them to God · Lesson 5
Big Feelings: Jealousy
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32; 1 Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 14:30; Romans 8:16-17 New Testament PrincipleContentment
Jesus told a story about a son who ran away, wasted everything and came home. His father ran to hug him and threw a big party. But the older brother was jealous. He stayed outside and wouldn't go in. "I've worked for you all these years, and you never gave me a party!" The father came out to him too and said, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Jealousy is a big feeling we can take to God. When we remember how much our Father loves us and gives us, we can be glad for others.
Jealousy says someone else got what should be ours. God our Father says, "You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." His love is enough, so we can be content and celebrate with others.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.”
Luke 15:31 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
The older brother stayed outside, angry that his brother was welcomed home. Jesus is the better older Brother. He didn't stay home and grumble. He left His Father's house to find lost people and bring them back, and "He is not ashamed to call them brothers" (Hebrews 2:11). Even better, He shares everything with us. We are "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). No one can take our place in the Father's love.
Luke 15:1-2; Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:16-17; 1 John 3:1
The Big Story · Redemption
God the Father welcomes lost sinners home and pleads with proud, jealous hearts too, and through Jesus, our better older Brother, He shares all He has with His children.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: The bigger cookie
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Ring, robe and sandals
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Come to the party
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
God loves me, so I can share.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Party dance, Color the sharing
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with brothers and sisters, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus told a story about a son who ran away and came home. His father threw a big party! But the older brother was jealous and stayed outside. The father came out and told him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Jealousy is a big feeling we can take to God. When we remember how much God loves us and gives us, we can be happy for others.
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever said, 'That's not fair!'? What happened?" Let kids share. Say, "Today's big feeling is jealousy. Let's meet a big brother who said, 'That's not fair!'"
Bible story 6 min
Jesus told a story. A dad had two sons. The younger son took his share of the money and ran far away. He wasted it all. Then he came home. He was sorry and hungry.
His dad ran to him and hugged him. "Bring a robe! Bring a ring! Let's have a party! My son was lost. Now he is found!"
The older son was out in the field. He heard music. "What's going on?" he asked. A servant said, "Your brother came home! Your dad is having a party!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Yay for you! 8 min
- Sit in a circle. The leader says something good that happened to someone, like "Sam got a new puppy!"
- Everyone throws their hands up and shouts, "Yay for you!" Then a child shares something they're thankful for.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
When the lost son came home, his father threw a feast. But the older brother, who had stayed and worked, was jealous and refused to go in. The father came out to him too. "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Jealousy is a big feeling that grows from comparing. We take it to God and remember that in Jesus we're loved children with a full share in the Father's house, so we can be content and celebrate others.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Envy or enough?, Already mine
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with brothers and sisters, at school, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Jesus aimed this story at grumbling religious leaders. A father welcomed home his wasteful younger son with a feast, but the dutiful older son refused to go in, insulted that "this son of yours" got a party he never had. The father went out and pleaded with him too. "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Envy grows from comparing and feeling shortchanged. Its cure is the Father's love, which makes us content and frees us to celebrate grace given to others.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Two lost sons, Inside the party
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
Jesus the KingThe Lost SonLuke 15:1-32Jesus told a story about a son who ran away and wasted everything, and a father who ran to welcome him home, showing how much God loves lost people.New TestamentLove
Found! The Lost Sheep and the Lost CoinLuke 15:1-10Tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told two stories. A shepherd with a hundred sheep lost one, so he left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it. Then he carried it home on his shoulders with joy. A woman with ten silver coins lost one, so she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched until she found it. Both said, "Rejoice with me!" There is joy in heaven when one lost person turns back to God.New TestamentJoyMore lessons on Contentment
The same principle in other Bible stories.
The Rich Young Ruler: One Thing You LackMark 10:17-27; Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-27; Hebrews 13:5A rich man ran up to Jesus, knelt and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," Jesus said. "Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." But the man went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom – but "all things are possible with God." Contentment means being satisfied with what we have, because Jesus is our greatest treasure.New TestamentContentment
In the BeginningBread from HeavenExodus 16:1-36; John 6:30-35When Israel grumbled in the desert, God rained down bread from heaven every morning, and Jesus is the true Bread from heaven who gives life forever.Old TestamentContentment