Free Bible lesson for kids · On the Way to Jerusalem
The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
Jesus told of a shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to find the one that was lost, and of a woman who swept her house to find one lost coin. Both called their friends to rejoice.
- Bible passage
- Luke 15:1–10 · Matthew 18:12–14
- Big idea
- Heaven rejoices when one person comes back to God.
- Memory verse
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15:7 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Tax collectors and sinners came to hear Jesus, and the Pharisees complained, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:1–2). So Jesus told a story. A man had one hundred sheep, and one was lost. He left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it (Luke 15:3–4). He laid it on his shoulders, rejoicing, and told his friends, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” (Luke 15:5–6).
Heaven has joy like that over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). Then Jesus told of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She lit a candle and swept the house until she found it (Luke 15:8). She called her friends to rejoice with her (Luke 15:9). Likewise “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).
Read it in the Bible: Luke 15:1–10 (KJV)
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 18:12–14 (KJV)
12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Questions to ask
How many sheep did the shepherd have?
One hundred.
What did the woman do to find her coin?
She lit a candle, swept the house and searched diligently.
When is there joy in heaven?
When one sinner repents.
What this story teaches
- Jesus welcomes sinners who come to hear Him (Luke 15:1–2).
- God goes looking for people who are lost (Luke 15:4).
- Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents and turns to God (Luke 15:7).
- Every single person matters to God (Luke 15:8–10).
- God does not want even one little one to perish (Matthew 18:14).
Jesus Brings Us Back
We were like sheep going astray. Jesus carried our sins on the cross, so we can return to Him, the Shepherd of our souls.
1 Peter 2:24–25
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God that He looks for the lost. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Heaven rejoices when one person comes back to God.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 15:7 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Lost Coin Sweep
You need: Ten cardboard coins, small brooms or flashlights
- Hide ten coins around the room.
- The kids search, sweeping and shining lights like the woman in the story.
- When the last coin is found, everyone celebrates with a big cheer: “Rejoice with me!”
There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. Every single person matters to God.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes
Lost and Found Hunt
You need: Photos of odd corners of the building, taken close up, one list for each team
- Give teams a set of close-up photos taken around the church.
- They find each place and take a selfie there.
- The first team back with every photo wins.
The shepherd searched until he found the one. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
Pray
Thank God that He looks for the lost.