Lesson: We are important to Jesus (Part II)
1. Icebreaker:
Hide coins/circles/chocolate coins around the room. Divide kids into 2 groups and and get them to look for the coins (QUIETLY). Group with most coins wins.
2. Story:
- Tell the story of the woman who lost her silver coin from Luke15:8-10.
- Heart for the lost:
- Remember that Jesus was friends with the “sinners” — the tax collectors and prostitutes and those who knew that they couldn’t help themselves?
- Each of these people was like the lost silver coin in the story. They were valuable. Important. Not forgotten.
- Jesus wanted the religious leaders to understand how he felt about those who were lost.
- Search for the lost:
- God longed for us so much that He took the ultimate action; He offered up His Son as a sacrificial lamb. This He did to cleanse the sinner from sin and restore him to Himself. He would go through any means, any expense to bring them to Himself.
- Just like the woman lit a lamp, took a broom to sweep the house carefully and searched for the coin until she found it, Jesus came as a light into this world (John 1:9). He sought out the sinners. And He paid the ultimate price to redeem them — His own life.
- Rejoicing for the found:
- Just like the woman rejoiced and celebrated with her friends and neighbours, whenever a sinner returns to God, there is great rejoicing in heaven.
- This is the whole plan of salvation; this is why Christ came. God seeks sinners and rejoices when they are found. He is not content for any sinner to be away from Him.
- Memory Verse: 2 Peter 3:9 God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
- Craft: Any coin-related craft with the words “Jesus searched for me till He found me!” or the memory verse 2 Peter 3:9