Tell story based on Luke 15:8-10.
(For older kids, get them to read the Bible passage out loud.)
3. LESSON
Jesus loves 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.
Jesus is the Light:
Light the lamp = Jesus, Light of the world
John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Jesus searched for the lost:
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 to “hunt us down” in love to rescue us.
He did not rest, and He did not give up, searching in the deepest, darkest corners (even when we try to hide in our sins).
He sought out the sinners. And He paid the ultimate price to redeem them — His own life.
Jesus rejoices over us:
Just like the woman rejoiced and celebrated with her friends and neighbours, whenever a sinner returns to God, there is great rejoicing in heaven. (Luke 15:7)
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 3:9God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Or Luke 19:10 (younger kids): “Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.”
4. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
Memory Verse: Do a game/activity to help kids memorize the verse
E.g. Hunt for Letters:
Write out the memory verse with several missing letters. Hide the missing letters around the classroom. Get the kids to hunt for the missing letters and stick them on the correct blanks, then read the verse out together.
