Bible Study – The Lost Are Found
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Who are these people invited to table with Jesus, grumble the Pharisees? How dare he eat with sinners! These are people who have blown it, know it, own it, and choose to go beyond it. These grateful people know the sweetness of forgiveness and its power.
Can you remember a time when you were very little, and you got lost? Perhaps lost from your mother in a grocery store, maybe lost in a mall, or wandered away at a campsite, for example.
Try to imagine what it might feel like to be lost because you had chosen to run away and now you are sorry you did. Today's story has to do with people who were lost and were looking for a way to come back.
Opening Prayer: Thank you God, for always finding us when we get lost. Amen
Please open your Bibles to Luke 15:1-10 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 15:1-10
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
Questions for verses 1-2
- If Jesus were speaking at our school today, who are people that cause trouble at school who might be there to hear Jesus?
- Who would be the people that would ask: what are THESE people doing here?
Questions for verses 3-7
- Most people in our country do not make their living taking care of sheep. So, if Jesus were telling this story at our school, what do you think he would tell about instead of sheep? Can you help Jesus by telling his story for our school? What might be lost?
Questions for verses 8-9
- Pretend that Jesus is telling this story of the lost coin to us. What example might he use for the item that is lost?
- Paraphrase the story, setting it in our town, today.
Questions for verse 10
- How would you define the word "sinner?"
- How would you define the word "repent?"
- If we do something wrong, and we are sorry, what does this verse tell us about God's reaction?
Bible Memory Verse: Luke 15:7 - I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Daily Gospel Reading Video – St Luke 15: 1-10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZKr7y44gEU
Gospel of Luke Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z_KhwNdD8
Song: The Lord Is My Shephard Imani Milele Choir – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2QdRoea9ZM&list=RDz2QdRoea9ZM&start_radio=1
Psalm 23 Song Kid on the Move - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGPOMB5ZRq8&list=RDnGPOMB5ZRq8&start_radio=1
Activities:
Journal: In your journal write a letter to yourself, from Jesus, in which Jesus tells you that something you are not proud of is forgiven and you don't have to do that anymore or worry about it anymore. You can also sketch in your journal.
Coin Etching: You will need any kind of coin, pencil and a piece of white paper. Slip the coin under the paper and etch the coin or ten coins with the side of the pencil. (If pressed hard enough with the side of the pencil, the etching will show the coin.) Title the paper with Luke 15:10 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Parable of the Lost Coin - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-coin
The Lost Sheep - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-lost-sheep-2
Parable of the Lost Coin – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-coin-1
The Lost Sheep - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-lost-sheep-3
Parable of the Lost Sheep - Maze: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-sheep-maze
Parable of the Lost Sheep – Cryptogram: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-sheep-cryptogram
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you are always ready to forgive us and celebrate that we have come back. Amen.
Answers to the Questions:
Questions for verses 1-2
- If Jesus were speaking at our school today, who are people that cause trouble at school who might be there to hear Jesus? (Bullies? Tattletales, etc.)
- Who would be the people that would ask: what are THESE people doing here?
Questions for verses 3-7
- Most people in our country do not make their living taking care of sheep. So, if Jesus were telling this story at our school, what do you think he would tell about instead of sheep? Can you help Jesus by telling his story for our school? What might be lost? (Children who do not have a home to live in. Children who do not speak our language?)
Questions for verses 8-9
- Pretend that Jesus is telling this story of the lost coin to us. What example might he use for the item that is lost? (My favorite CD? My baseball glove, the book I checked out from the library?)
- Paraphrase the story, setting it in our town, today.
Questions for verse 10
- How would you define the word "sinner?" (Someone who has ignored God or turned away from God.)
- How would you define the word "repent?" (To turn around, change your mind, decide to change your behavior.)
- If we do something wrong, and we are sorry, what does this verse tell us about God's reaction? (Even the angels will be happy.)
