Lesson 8: Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin

Welcome

          Thank kids for coming.

          Just for fun, have preschoolers give a high-one (high-five with just one finger) to three friends.     

          Make announcements.

          Introduce new kids.

          Celebrate birthdays by having preschoolers say “happy birthday” in a deep voice.

          Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

          Say: Today we’ll learn some stories Jesus told about things that were lost. We’ll find out that Jesus looks for us.

Share

          Tell about a time you got lost.

          In leader-led small groups, have kids tell about a time they got lost. If preschoolers can’t think of a time they were lost, they can share about a toy or other object they lost.

          After pairs have discussed, have adult or teen leaders share with the whole group what they talked about in their groups.

Summarize

          Open a Bible, and say: It can be scary to get lost! And it can be just as scary to lose something. Today we’ll learn about some people who lost something very important to them. We’ll see how hard they looked for the things they’d lost and what the Bible says about how Jesus looks for us. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. God uses the Bible to change our lives. As we read his Word today, let’s see how he changes us.

          Pray, thanking Jesus that he looks for us.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Make the Game Board

          Say: Jesus loves us so much and wants to be our friend! That’s why Jesus looks for us! Just like the man who looked for his lost sheep and the woman who looked for her lost coin, Jesus looks for us.

          Show the sample craft and say: We’re going to make our own board game today. It’ll be a seek-and-find game to remind us of the Bible story we heard today. When you’re finished making your game, you’ll get to hide pictures of coins and sheep under the colorful squares (demonstrate hiding the pictures on the sample craft), and a friend will have to guess which squares the lost coins and sheep are hiding under!

          Give each child a sheet of construction paper and the game board template you cut apart from the handout. Help children tape the game board to the sheet of construction paper. Then preschoolers can each pick out eight construction-paper squares to tape over the square outlines on their game boards. Help preschoolers tape down only one side of each square, and make sure they tape each square on the same side so that all the squares lift in the same direction.

          Once preschoolers have taped down the game board template and the eight construction-paper squares, let them color and decorate their game boards and the coin and sheep game pieces.

Play With a Friend!

          When children have finished making their game boards, have them each find a partner to play the game with. Preschoolers can take turns by having one child hide the four coin and sheep pictures under the colored squares while the other child turns away or closes his or her eyes.  Preschoolers can then play in one of two ways: by simply guessing which squares have something hidden under them until all four pieces have been found, or by playing a memory game and having to correctly guess which two squares have the matching coins and the matching sheep. Depending on time, have children play one or both versions of the game. Make sure kids each get a chance to use their game board to hide the coins and sheep as well as a turn to guess using the other child’s game board.

          Say: You can remember that just like you looked for the hidden coins and sheep on your friend’s game board, Jesus looks for us, too!

Spin Around

          Say: Today we get to hear two stories that Jesus told. He wanted everyone to know that he looks for us. That means he wants to be our forever friend, and he’ll come looking for us so that we can be with him. Without Jesus, it’s like we’re lost. We need him to come looking for us. Let’s do something to help us think about that.

          Lead the children in spinning in circles. When they’re dizzy, have them try to walk in a straight line to one corner of the room with you. Before you spin a second time, point out an object in the room, and have children try to keep track of that item as they spin. Before you spin one last time, have children partner up. Have individuals spin, and after several seconds of spinning, have them try to find their partners as quickly as possible.

          Say: Spinning made us feel dizzy. It might’ve been hard to get somewhere we wanted to be. It might’ve been hard to find an object. Or it might’ve even made it hard to get to our partners. After we spin, we can feel kind of lost—like we can’t find our way. Maybe we can’t see straight or walk straight. In times when we feel lost, Jesus comes to find us.

Look for Cotton Balls

          Show the Bible. Say: Jesus wanted everyone to know that he looks for us. So he told a story to help everyone understand that.

          Read Luke 15:3-6.

          Say: Jesus wanted each person—including you—to know that Jesus loves us so much and he looks for us and wants to be with us all the time, just like the man looked for one lost sheep.

          Show a cotton ball, and then say: I have a bunch of these. We’ll pretend that they’re sheep. Let’s play a game to look for lost sheep.

          Put kids into two teams. One team will stand facing a wall with eyes closed and count to 15 while the other team hides cotton balls—at least one per child on the other team. Have an adult or teen helper lead the other group as they hide the cotton balls.

          When all the cotton balls are hidden, have the Finding Team look for the cotton balls. It’s important you know exactly how many cotton balls were hidden so that you can encourage kids to keep looking just as hard until they find the last one.

          The team who hid the cotton balls can cheer for the Finding Team and help them find all the cotton balls.

          Say: We found every last cotton ball! Just as you looked for all the cotton balls, Jesus looks for all of us. He wants all of us to be with him! That’s because he loves us no matter what. Jesus told the story about the lost sheep to let us know that.

Look for Play Money

          Say: Jesus didn’t stop there. Maybe he wanted to be sure that everyone knows he looks for us. He told one more story about something that was lost. Here’s what he said.

          Read Luke 15:8-9.

          Say: To the woman in the story, that coin mattered a lot! She looked really hard for the coin, and she found it! Jesus will make sure he looks for us and finds us, too. Let’s look for some play money the way the woman in the story looked for her lost coin.

          Have the Finding Team from the cotton ball game hide play money while the other team faces a wall with eyes closed and counts to 15. Have an adult or teen helper lead the other group as they hide the play money.

          Again, make sure you know exactly how many pieces of play money are hidden, and encourage kids to look for every last one.

          After all the play money is found, ask: • Tell whether it was easy or hard to look for the play money.

          • What helped you keep looking for the money even if you felt like giving up?

          Say: Maybe you really wanted to find every last cotton ball or every last piece of play money. Or maybe you didn’t care. But in the stories we heard today that Jesus told, the missing sheep and coin mattered a lot to the people who had lost them! We matter to Jesus. He cares a lot for us, and that’s why Jesus looks for us.

Sing and Play

          Say: Let’s sing a song about that.

          Teach the children this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

          Our Jesus looks for us.

          Our Jesus looks for us.

          Jesus loves us all so much!

          Our Jesus looks for us.

          Our Jesus finds [child’s name].

          Our Jesus finds [child’s name].

          Jesus loves you all so much!

          Our Jesus finds [child’s name].

          Sing the two verses a few times so that preschoolers can learn the song. Then lead children in singing while you play this game: First establish a “home” where you can bring each of the children when you find them. To play, you’ll have all the children spread out in the room and sing the first verse together. They can wander in the room on their hands and knees like they’re lost sheep. Then during the second verse you’ll “find” one of the children and bring him or her “home.” All of the children can cheer when you find that one child. You’ll repeat the second verse several times until you’ve “found” all the children and brought them home. If you have more than eight to ten kids, have adult and teen helpers gather children so you can bring home more than one child at a time during the second verse. Encourage the children who are already “home” and waiting for all the others to crawl in a circle together as they sing.

          Say: Just like I looked for each of you in our song, Jesus looks for us. Each of you matters so much to Jesus! He loves you and will always look for you so you can be his forever friend!

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Isaac’s Story”

          Say: We’re learning that Jesus looks for us. That means that when we don’t know where Jesus is, we know he’ll always find us and be there for us! Jesus told stories about a lost sheep and a lost coin to show how people look hard for things that are important to them.

          Ask: • Tell about something you’d be really upset to lose. Share your own example first.

          Say: We’re going to see a video where a mom and her son lose something very important to them—each other! Let’s see how they look for each other.

          Watch “Isaac’s Story.”

          Ask: • What would you do if you got lost in a store?

          • What do you think your parents would do?

          Say: Isaac was very important to his mom. And Isaac’s mom was very important to him! When they lost each other, they didn’t stop looking until they found each other. That’s how it is with Jesus! Jesus looks for us.

Tip

• Before printing, turn on page numbering in Word to keep the pages in order (or simply hand-number each page after printing). You may also find it helpful to highlight your part and set the script on a music stand nearby during the skit.

Leader: It’s time for our puppy friend, Theo, to come for a visit. Let’s call him to our class with a “woof, woof.” Ready? (Leads kids to bark until Theo is brought into view.)

Theo: Hi, friends! (Pants.) My back is so itchy today. Would you scratch my back? (Circulates among kids so each child can pet him.)

Leader: Thanks for welcoming Theo, kids!

Theo: Thank you! I love a good back scratch!

Leader: We always love to see you here, Theo. Would you like to hear what we’re learning today?

Theo: Yes, please!

Leader: We’re learning that Jesus looks for us. He wants to be our friend. We read in the Bible about someone who lost a coin and looked everywhere until she found it!

Theo: (Puts a paw to his chin.) Hmmm…that makes me think of one of my favorite games.

Leader: What game is that, Theo?

Theo: I love hiding while others find me. (Looks to kids.) Want to play? (Listens to kids’ responses, and then looks to the leader.) Can we?

Leader: Sure. It’ll remind us of how Jesus looks for us.

Theo: Cool! (Chooses one child to join him in hiding while the other kids close their eyes and the leader counts to 30. The leader can let go of Theo while they’re hiding. Then the kids come and find Theo and the child with him. When Theo is found, the leader picks Theo up while he’s talking and until he hides again. The game continues as Theo chooses different children to hide with him in new places. Play as time allows, attempting to give each child a turn to hide, if possible.)

Leader: This has been a fun game!

Theo: I think so. And now whenever I play it, I’ll remember that Jesus looks for us.

Leader: That’s great, Theo. Thanks for visiting us today! I think I hear your mom calling, so we’ll see you later.

Theo: Okay, I’ll see you all later!

Leader: Kids, let’s say goodbye. Let’s give Theo a big “woof, woof, goodbye”! (Leads kids in a “woof, woof, goodbye,” and then puts Theo out of sight.)

Tip

• You can provide 2 or 3 magnets for every group of 6 and have children take turns searching for the hidden metal objects.
• Preschool-safe magnets are those that are too large for kids to swallow and aren’t super magnets.
• Be aware that small objects can be a choking hazard to younger children. Remind preschoolers not to put anything in their mouths during this activity, and have one helper supervising each group of children.

Use Magnets to Search for Hidden Objects

          Say: Our Bible story today helped us learn that Jesus looks for us. Let’s play with something else that looks for hidden things.  

          Organize preschoolers into groups of no more than six, and give each group a tub and several magnets. Have preschoolers take turns moving the magnets through the tub to see what the magnets find. After a few minutes, have preschoolers switch places so that others can have a turn. While preschoolers are experimenting, have them talk about places they look when they lose something (under the bed, in between couch cushions).

Talk About It         

          Once everyone has had a turn, show children the metal objects they found in the tub and say: The magnets helped us find all of the metal objects in the tub—all the things that are silver and shiny and hard. Magnets especially look for things that are metal. Even if those metal things are hiding and there is a lot of stuff in the way, a magnet can find them! And Jesus always knows where we are, too, because Jesus looks for us and loves us so much!

          Just like nothing could get in the way of the magnets finding the metal, nothing can get in the way of Jesus’ love for us!

Lose a Shoe

          Say: Earlier we got to hear two stories that Jesus told. The stories have a special name: parables. And parables are stories that help us learn something about Jesus.

          Show the Bible. Say: In one story, there was a man who had 100 sheep. That’s a lot of sheep! But one of his sheep got lost. The man still had 99 sheep—all of his sheep except one. But the man didn’t stay with all the sheep he still had. He was sad about the one lost sheep and went out to look for it. Let’s see how the man might have felt. Help children each take off one of their shoes and put it in your container. Have children close their eyes as you and a helper quickly hide the shoes around the room. You may want to have children lie on the floor with their heads down so they aren’t tempted to peek!

          Say: Your shoes are gone! You each have only one shoe now.

          Ask: • Why is having only one shoe a problem? Help children if they have trouble thinking of ideas—for example, the ground is dirty; sharp objects are on the ground.

          Ask: • How would you feel if you had to go home with only one shoe?

          Say: It probably wouldn’t be very fun to go home with just one shoe—your foot might feel cold, or you might accidentally step on something icky. And maybe you would feel sad because you really like your shoe!

          That’s how Jesus feels about us. He would be sad if we were away from him because he wants us to be his friend! And that’s why Jesus looks for us. Let’s look for our lost shoes like Jesus looks for us. Allow time for preschoolers to find their missing shoes and put them back on.  

          Say: Just like you were happy when you found your shoe again, the man in the story who found his lost sheep was so excited! And that’s how Jesus feels about us. He loves us so very much and is so happy when we love him, too!  

Sing a Song

          Say: Let’s sing the song we learned earlier, only this time let’s do some hand motions instead of acting it out.

          Have preschoolers sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Jesus loves us all so much! (hug self)

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Jesus loves me so, so much! (hands over heart)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Our Jesus finds us all. (point to children around the room)

          Our Jesus finds us all.  (point to children around the room)

          Jesus loves us all so much! (hug a friend)

          Our Jesus finds us all. (point to children around the room)

Repeat the song a few times as time allows.

Tip

• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Play Tag

          Say: Today we got to hear a story Jesus told that helps us remember that Jesus looks for us! In Jesus’ story, a man had lots and lots of sheep. But one of those sheep got lost, so the man looked until he finally found his sheep and brought it back. The man was so happy when he found his lost sheep! The man loved each one of his sheep, just like Jesus loves each one of us. Let’s play a game of Sheep Tag to help us remember our Bible story.

          Explain that you’ll choose one child to be the Shepherd and the rest of the preschoolers will be Sheep. The Shepherd will try to tag as many Sheep as he or she can. When a Sheep is tagged, that child gets to return home to the sheep pen (hula hoop) until the next round.

          Begin playing by choosing one child to be the Shepherd. When preschoolers are tagged, remind them to stand inside the hula hoop sheep pen. After a few minutes of play (or when the hula hoop is filled with preschoolers), free all the tagged Sheep from their pen and choose a new child to be the Shepherd. Turn on music while kids play.

          Play multiple rounds as time allows.

Figure Out What’s Missing

          Say: Today we’re learning that Jesus looks for us! He loves us so much and always wants us to be close to him as his friend. Just like the man who knew when one of his sheep was missing, Jesus sees each one of us and cares very much for us. Jesus will always look for us!

          Show preschoolers the tray of objects. Say: Let’s play a game where you’ll have to use your memory to figure out which object is missing when I take one away.     Allow a few moments for preschoolers to study the tray of objects. Then have preschoolers close their eyes. Remove one object from the tray, hiding it behind your back. Have preschoolers open their eyes and guess which object you took away. Play multiple rounds, having preschoolers close their eyes and taking away a different object each time.          

          After playing, ask: • Tell whether it was hard to remember which object was missing.

          • What’s something you would try really hard to find? Why would you look so hard for that thing?

          Say: If you look really hard for something, it shows how important that thing is to you. We matter so much to Jesus that Jesus will always look for us.

Learn a Song

          Say: Today we learned that Jesus looks for us! He loves each of you so much. That’s why he’ll always come looking for you. Now that’s something to celebrate! Let’s sing a song to celebrate Jesus. Have preschoolers sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Jesus loves us all so much! (hug self)

          Our Jesus looks for us. (hand above eyes as if looking around)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Jesus loves me so, so much! (hands over heart)

          Our Jesus looks for me. (point to self)

          Our Jesus finds us all. (point to children around the room)

          Our Jesus finds us all.  (point to children around the room)

          Jesus loves us all so much! (hug a friend)

          Our Jesus finds us all. (point to children around the room)

           Repeat the song a few times as time allows.

Thank Jesus

          Say: Now let’s thank Jesus. Have preschoolers sing one more verse of the song to thank Jesus.

          We can thank our Jesus. (clap hands)

          We can thank our Jesus. (clap hands)

          We love our Jesus so, so much! (hug self)

          We can thank our Jesus. (clap hands)

          Say: We thank Jesus because he’ll always come looking for us, just like the man in our story went looking for his sheep. Close the lesson in prayer. Then thank the children for coming, and invite them to join you at church next week.

           Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.