Note to the Teacher:

Learning Outcomes: Students will understand the importance of others outside the “flock” and reaching those who are lost.

Icebreaker: This icebreaker, while simple with no preparation, is something everyone can relate to. Think about and cite examples from your own life that you can share with students to get the discussion going.

Activity: You do not need expensive prizes or money. Teens love food, so consider providing even candy bars or gum. The prizes do need to be wrapped, so give yourself some prep time.

1. Icebreaker (10 minutes)

Has anyone lost anything lately?
How many of you lose your phone, keys, remote?
Where is the craziest place you have found something?
What is the longest you’ve spent searching for something that you lost?
Have you ever lost something that you never got back?

2. Read Scripture (5 minutes)

Our scripture reading today comes from Luke 15:1-10. (Read from a couple of Bible versions.)

3. Discussion (15 minutes)

The story of the lost sheep (verses 3-7) may be a familiar one for many of you. How does that parable leave you feeling?
Look at the first two verses again. How does Luke set this story up for us? Why do you think this was included? What does it tell us about Jesus?
What message in those two verses do you think he was trying to get across to the people who were there and listening? Is that the same message that we get from the parable?
How does the parable challenge us as believers?
Does anyone feel that maybe it’s not fair? Here we are. We followed the rules and listened to where we are supposed to be; and you are going to leave us to go find that one dumb sheep? Do you think the Pharisees and teachers of the law from verse 2 would have also felt that this parable was unfair or an attack on the way they lived their beliefs?
What about the second parable about the lost coin? Do you think you would spend the time to look for a lost coin? Do any of your Bibles have a reference for what her coins were worth (each was worth about one day’s wages). If you worked for ten days and lost one day’s worth of your wages, would you look for the lost wages?
When something is found (like the coin), why is it worthwhile to rejoice and celebrate with others?
Do you think something can become more valuable once it is gone? Have you ever lost something, found it, and discovered that you valued it more now that you had it back? What was it, and why do you think that happens?

4. Activity and Discussion (20 minutes)

Hide and Seek

Hide some prizes in the room or meeting area. These could be gift cards, dollar bills, or another trinket that your group would be motivated to find. (If you have worked ahead, you may get congregational members to donate gift cards.) Have enough items, so that everyone will get something; hide only a couple of items.
You can choose to hide multiple items but let students know how many items are hidden. Wrap the items like small gifts, but don’t tell students what are in them.
Before you begin the activity, ask for enough volunteers for the next activity. You want at least half of your students who are not involved with the activity.
To modify this activity for virtual meetings, you have two options:
Ahead of time, drop small prizes off at the participants’ homes and enlist their parents to hide those prizes in the room where students will be videoconferencing.
Search for images that have “Easter eggs” or hidden items (Where’s Waldo, for example) in the images. Provide participants a list and look for items together. Those who find an item can be sent a prize later.

Discussion: Ask the following questions:

How motivated were you to find the prize? What motivated you to look?
For those that found something, how did you feel when you found it?
Those of you who came back empty-handed, how did you feel?
What about those who sat here while others got to find prizes?
At this point, hand out prizes to everyone, even to those who didn’t get to look. As them how they feel now?
Is it fair that you received a prize, even though you didn’t have to work to find it?
If we think about the sheep as a person, how would we act or treat the person once he or she first comes to one of our youth-ministry classes or fellowship activities? What if the person came here, left, and then decided to come back? Does that person deserve all that God has to offer as much as you do?
It’s easy for us to sit here and say, “Yes, of course!” But what things can we do to put our words and actions into practice for those who haven’t come back or have never been here among us? In other words, what would it look like for us to always be welcoming other youth who seem “lost”?

Prayer: End your time together in prayer, maybe praying for specific people or a general prayer about reaching the lost. Keep reminding students about reaching out to others and offering hospitality as new people join.