Luke 15

Kids’ lesson · about 5 minutes

The big idea

God loves you so much that He searches for you when you’re lost - and when you come home, He runs to you with joy.

The story

Some people grumbled that Jesus spent time with people who had done wrong. So Jesus told them three stories. “Imagine a shepherd with a hundred sheep,” Jesus said. “One wanders off and gets lost. Does the shepherd just shrug? No! He leaves the ninety-nine and searches everywhere until he finds that one. And when he does, he lifts it onto his shoulders, full of joy, and calls his friends: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost sheep!’” Then Jesus told the best story of all. “A young man took his father’s money and ran far away, and wasted it all on foolish things. Soon he had nothing left - not even food. He was so hungry he wished he could eat the pigs’ food. Finally he thought, ‘I’ll go home and tell my father I’m sorry.’” “So he started home. But while he was still far down the road, his father SAW him - because the father had been watching and waiting every single day. And the father RAN to him, threw his arms around him, and hugged him tight. ‘My son was lost,’ the father cried, ‘and now he’s found! Let’s have a feast!’” That father, Jesus said, is just like God. When even one person who was lost comes home to Him, all of heaven throws a party.

Memory verse

“He was lost. And now he is found.”
Luke 15:24 (NIRV)

A big word: Found

When something that was lost is back where it belongs. God loves to find what was lost - and there’s a huge celebration every time.

Talk together

• The shepherd searched and searched for one lost sheep. How does it feel to know God would search for YOU like that?
• The father ran to hug his son and threw a party, even though the son had messed up. What does that tell you about how God welcomes us back?
• Heaven throws a party when one lost person comes home. Have you ever been SO happy to find something you lost?

Try this — Lost and found

Hide a small toy sheep (or any little toy) somewhere in the room. Now search for it together. Look high and low - don’t give up until you find it! When you do, throw your hands up and celebrate. That’s exactly how heaven feels when someone comes home to God.

You’ll need: A small toy to hide

Pray together

Dear God, Thank You that You search for me when I wander, and run to welcome me home. Thank You that You’re so happy to have me close. Help me come to You quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 15· Free to photocopy and use in Sunday school, kids’ church, homeschool or at home. No licence and no attribution required. More at learnofchrist.com