Finding the Lost

Luke 15:8-10, NIRV

The Story of the Lost Coin

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won’t she search carefully until she finds the coin? And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors together. She will say, ‘Be joyful with me. I have found my lost coin.’ I tell you; it is the same in heaven. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin.”

Visual aid

A quarter (25 cents)

Scrabble letter

“Y”

Message

(As you welcome the children, act as if you have misplaced something. Check your pockets, look around the children, etc.). Good morning. I am sorry that I seem to be a little out of sorts this morning, but I can’t seem to find my quarter. I brought a quarter with me this morning, and now I can’t seem to find it. Have you seen it? (Allow the children to look around for the quarter. Keep the quarter hidden in a different pocket or somewhere on your person.)

I will keep looking for that quarter. Searching for the lost coin reminds me of this week’s words of Jesus.

Jesus told the story of a woman who once had ten silver coins and lost one. She will use a flashlight and sweep the floor to try and find the coin. When she does find the coin, she will joyfully tell her friends that she found her lost coin! Show me on your faces how she must have looked when she finally did find the lost coin. Can you show me what joy and excitement look like? (Allow children to pantomime joy on their faces.) Wow, you all seem so joyful!

Jesus goes on to tell people that there is that same joyful excitement in heaven when one person who sins turns away from sin. God desires to love us and wants what is best for us. When we sin, mess up, or make mistakes, we can always trust that God still loves us and wants us to be found. That makes me feel good. Does it make you feel good too to know that God loves us and forgives us when we make mistakes? (Allow children to answer.)

Today, to help us remember the joy and excitement that both the woman and heaven felt, I have a Scrabble piece for each of you. (Reach into a different pocket from the one you searched and “find” the lost quarter.) Look at that! I found that quarter. That brings me great joy as well.

The game piece today has the letter “Y” on it to remind us of how sometimes joy and excitement cause us to yell. What do you think the letter “Y” represents from this week's message? (Allow children to guess.) Those are all good guesses. (If a child guesses correctly, identify the correct answer). The letter “Y” stands for – “Yell.” This week, when you see the letter “Y,” remember the joy and excitement in heaven when a sinner turns away from sin and turns toward God. When we get excited about something, many times we want to yell and shout for joy!

Prayer

God of forgiveness: We know that sometimes we make mistakes. It brings us joy to know that you love us and forgive us when we do. Help us to turn away from sin and turn instead toward you. Help us to show others the joy we have in knowing that you love us. Amen.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.