Found! The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
Luke 15:1-10 New Testament PrincipleJoy
Tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told two stories. A shepherd with a hundred sheep lost one, so he left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it. Then he carried it home on his shoulders with joy. A woman with ten silver coins lost one, so she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched until she found it. Both said, "Rejoice with me!" There is joy in heaven when one lost person turns back to God.
Joy is deep gladness that comes from God. God Himself is full of joy when a lost person is found, and we can share His joy and rejoice with Him.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
Sin left all of us lost, like a sheep that wandered off. Jesus came "to seek and to save the lost," and heaven celebrates every time one is found.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: One is missing
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Light a lamp
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Search and rejoice
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God finds me! God is glad!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Find the lamb, Color the happy shepherd
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Lots of people who had done bad things came to listen to Jesus. Some leaders grumbled, "Jesus welcomes sinners!" So Jesus told two stories. A shepherd lost one sheep out of a hundred. He looked until he found it and carried it home with joy. A woman lost one of her ten coins. She lit a lamp and swept until she found it. Both called their friends to celebrate. Jesus said heaven is full of joy when one lost person turns back to God.
Memory verse
“There is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.”
Adapted from Luke 15:10
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever lost something special? How did you feel when you found it?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Jesus told stories about lost things and the joy of finding them."
Bible story 6 min
Lots of people came to hear Jesus. Some were tax collectors who cheated people. Some had done other bad things. Jesus was kind to them. He even ate with them.
Some leaders were not happy. They grumbled, "Jesus welcomes bad people! He eats with them!" So Jesus told them two stories.
"A shepherd had one hundred sheep. One got lost! So he left the ninety-nine. He went to look for the lost one. He looked and looked until he found it."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?
The shepherd had one hundred sheep, and he still went looking for just one!
Luke 15:4
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A stuffed lamb or other stuffed animal, A small broom, Silver paper or foil-covered cardboard (for coins)
- Choose Jesus, two Pharisees, a shepherd and a woman. Everyone else is the friends and neighbors.
- Act out the skit. Everyone cheers, "Hooray!" each time something is found.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
Tax collectors and sinners crowded around to hear Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled that He welcomed them. So Jesus told two parables. A shepherd left his ninety-nine sheep to search for one until he found it, carried it home on his shoulders with joy and called his friends to celebrate. A woman lit a lamp and swept her house until she found one lost silver coin, then threw a party. In the same way, there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. God seeks the lost, and He rejoices when they are found.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Lost and found, Search and rejoice
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
When the Pharisees grumbled that Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them, Jesus answered with two parables about God's heart. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for one "until he finds it," carries it home on his shoulders with joy and throws a party. A woman lights a lamp and sweeps her dark house "until she finds" one lost coin, then calls the neighbors to celebrate. The lost contribute nothing; the seeker does everything. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, and Jesus invites grumblers to share His joy.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The seeking God, Grumble or rejoice?
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Joy
The same principle in other Bible stories.
The Church BeginsPhilip and the EthiopianActs 8:26-40; Isaiah 53:7-8God sent Philip to a desert road to meet an important man from Ethiopia who was reading the Bible. Philip told him the good news about Jesus, the man was baptized, and he went home full of joy.New TestamentJoy
The Church BeginsThe Holy Spirit ComesActs 2:1-47; Genesis 11:1-9On Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. The disciples told about Jesus in many languages, Peter preached, and 3,000 people believed. The church was born with great joy.New TestamentFreeJoy
God Made Sarah Laugh: Isaac Is BornGenesis 18:1-15; Genesis 21:1-7One hot day, three visitors came to Abraham's tent. One of them was the LORD. He said that in a year, Sarah would have a son. Sarah was about ninety years old, and she laughed to herself. "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" God asked. A year later, Isaac was born, just as God promised. His name means "he laughs." Sarah said, "God has made me laugh!" God keeps His promises, and He fills His people with joy.Old TestamentJoy
The Joy of the LORD: Ezra Reads God’s WordNehemiah 8:1-18After God's people came home from exile and rebuilt Jerusalem's wall, they all gathered in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra read God's Word aloud from early morning until noon, and the Levites helped everyone understand it. When the people heard it, they wept. But the leaders said, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The people went home to eat, drink and share food with those who had nothing, and they celebrated with great joy because they understood God's Word.Old TestamentJoy
Jesus the KingJesus Is BornLuke 2:1-20; Micah 5:2In Bethlehem, God's Son was born as a baby and laid in a manger, and angels told shepherds the good news of great joy that a Savior was born.New TestamentJoy
The Church BeginsPaul and Silas Sing in JailActs 16:16-34; Philippians 4:4Paul and Silas were hurt and locked in jail for telling about Jesus. At midnight they prayed and sang to God. An earthquake opened the doors, and the jailer and his family believed in Jesus and were filled with joy.New TestamentJoy