Parable of the Lost Sheep

Games/Bible Skills

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will review the story by playing a life-sized board game.

For scripture, objectives, and background - see above.

Preparation and Room Set Up:

• Read the Background Information, teaching tips and lesson plan.
• Play the Rotation Music CD as children arrive and during journaling.
• Gather supplies.

Important Note for Games Workshop Leaders:

The purpose of the Bible Quest workshop is two-fold:  to develop Bible skills and to reinforce that knowledge by having fun with games. The games are not frills and fluff!  Playing games helps to cement the knowledge and reinforce the skills you introduce during the Bible lesson. Children learn best when actively involved, so please do not skimp on the games portion of the lesson!  Follow the time guidelines to help you stay on track.  Remember – children will study this story for 4 weeks, so if you can’t cover all the details of the Bible story it’s ok.

Please start on time!

Time Guidelines:

          Introductions/Opening Prayer:     5 minutes
          Bible Study                               15 minutes
          Gathering Sheep Game              25 minutes
          Reflection/Closing Prayer:                     5 minutes

Presentation

Early Arrival Activity:  Parable Match Game:

Supplies:

• Index cards 3 X 5 (2 cards per image)
• Pictures to correspond with the story (downloaded from internet or cut from coloring books, clip art, etc.) Some suggestions are:
  •           Shepherd
  •           Heart
  •           Sheep – group
  •           Sheep – single
  •           Shepherd staff
  •           Wolf
  •           Rocky ground
  •           Shepherd holding sheep
  •           Word “lost”
  •           Worried look

Advanced Preparations:

1. Locate and copy images (2 copies of each image) as above and cut to fit on an index card.  Make a duplicate set of cards.
2. Hide the cards around the classroom before children arrive.
   
   

Directions:

1. As children arrive tell them that you have lost some cards in the classroom.  Have them search the room for the index cards with the images.
2. Once found, have them find the match to each card.
3. Early in the rotation, use the cards to introduce the story…. Later in the rotation, use the cards to review the story.  For example:  “What does the heart card have to do with the Parable of the Lost Sheep?”
   
   

Opening - Welcome and Introductions

Welcome the children as they arrive. Please wear a nametag and help the shepherds distribute nametags to the children. Begin each class with introductions.

Opening Prayer

Please open with prayer each week. “Loving and Faithful God, Thank you for this day and for all the people who are here today. Thank you especially for giving us the Bible to guide us and for all the wonderful stories Jesus told. Help us to learn from them so that we can be the kind of people you want us to be. Help us to open our hearts and minds to your Word as we study and play here today.”  Amen

Important Teacher Notes:

Each workshop includes the Bible story. One of our primary goals is to improve the children’s Bible literacy!If children did not bring their Bibles from home, use the classroom Bibles. Shepherds should help the children locate the stories. Use the Background Information to help you introduce the story.

Remember that as the rotation progresses; the children will become more familiar with the story.  When this happens, allow the children to tell you what they know. The children should still locate the story in their Bibles every week. Use the bold headings in their Bibles to guide your discussion.  You may want to review some of the Bible notes as well. Be sure to fill in any missing information and add additional details using the Background Information to help you. One of the greatest advantages of this model is that children who come regularly learn the story in great depth.

Each lesson contains more Background Information and discussion questions than can be used in one session. Remember, children are studying this story for four weeks! Be sure to follow the time guidelines and leave ample time for the activity.

Scripture:  Luke 15:1-10, Matthew 18:10-14,“The Story of the Lost Sheep,” The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories.

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Bible Study - Introduce the Story

Jesus is sometimes called the Master Teacher. He taught by telling stories that helped people understand more about God and God’s Kingdom. He used everyday objects to tell the stories. Do you know what these special stories were called?  (Parables) Shepherds and sheep were very common in Bible times.  We don’t see many shepherds any more. If Jesus were teaching us today, I wonder what he might use as examples to help us understand more about God….

Where would we find stories about Jesus teaching in the Bible?  (New Testament)

The first four books of the New Testament are called _______ (Gospels)

Gospel means good news. The gospels tell the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  Let’s find the story in our Bibles now.

Bible Study - Grades K-2

The Picture Bible

This story is not included in The Picture Bible. Have the children turn to page 600 where it discusses parables. Review this information with the children. Then use the handout attached from the Children’s Bible in 365 stories to tell the story.

Bible Study - Grades 3-5

NIV Adventure Bible

Help the children locate the story first in Luke 15:1-7 (through v. 10 includes the lost coin as well) and then in Matthew 18:10-14.  Read as the children follow along in their Bibles, or ask for a volunteer to read.  Read and discuss the following Bible notes:

Life in Bible Times:  The Shepherd’s Staff page 1147
Life in Bible Times: The Sheep Pen, page 1179
Let’s Live It:  God’s Not Mad at Me! Page 1075

Reflect:

• Why would the shepherd leave 99 of his sheep to look for just one sheep?  (because he loved ALL his sheep – every single one was important to him!)
• Have you ever lost anything?  How did that feel?  What did you do?
• I wonder how the shepherd felt when he realized one sheep was missing….
• I wonder why the sheep got lost….
• I wonder what it means to be “lost?”  (for older children, explore the different levels of meaning – being separated from God, rebelling from God, taking our eyes off the shepherd – Jesus, etc.)
• What is grace?  (God’s free gift of mercy and love to us,  nothing we can do to earn it, just accept it)

• How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus?  (they were angry and jealous, they were full of pride and self-righteous about how well they followed the rules, they thought Jesus shouldn’t spend time with “sinners” and tax collectors)
• Why did Jesus disagree with the Pharisees?   (he knew everyone was important to God, especially the “lost,” he came to save the lost)
• When is a time you have felt especially lost or separated from God?
• What happened?
• How does it feel to know that God will never stop “looking for you?”

Reviewing the Bible Story in Later Weeks – Key Words

When it is apparent that MOST children know the basics of the story, please use this supplemental idea to explore the story in more depth.

Preparation:

1. Write several “key words” on the flip chart or onto index cards. (Suggestions: sinners, lost, Good Shepherd, story (ask them what type of story this is), 100, sheep, rejoice)
2. Before reading/telling the story, review the words with the children.

Directions:

1. Tell them to listen carefully to the story and when they hear one of the “key words” to raise their hands.
2. As you read the story, pause to discuss the meaning of these key words. Use the Background Information to discuss in more depth.

Deeper Discussion for later weeks of the rotation

• What does it mean to be “lost”?  (for older children, explore the different levels of meaning – being separated from God, rebelling from God, taking our eyes off the shepherd – Jesus, etc.)
• How might it feel to be lost?
• How does it feel to know that God will never stop “looking for you?”
• What are ways we get lost? Do we just not pay attention and wander away? Do we take our eyes off Jesus for a moment or two and find ourselves lost? Do we intentionally sneak away?
• What does this story teach us about God?

For older children: This is a story about God’s grace….grace is God’s free gift of mercy and love. God loves us so much that he will always come after us if we wander away or get lost. John Wesley (founder of Methodism) described this kind of grace as prevenient grace. This grace means before we even know about God, God is loving us and coming after us, calling us to Him. Grace is a FREE gift. It can’t be earned. There is nothing we can do to deserve it – God gives it to us for free.

Did the religious leaders who weren’t happy understand this about grace? (No… they believed they could be “good enough” to earn God’s love by following all the rules. Now rules are a good thing. But rules won’t save us. Only God’s grace will save us.

Memory Verse

Each rotation we encourage the children to memorize the Rotation Memory Verse. Review it with the children at this time.

“Rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep.”  Luke 15:6b.

• What happened once the lost sheep was found?  (the Shepherd rejoiced, he called all his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him)
• How should we react when someone who is “lost” is found?
• How do we rejoice with the Good Shepherd?

Gathering Sheep – Life-Sized Board Game

Children will play a life-sized board game, answering questions about the story as they gather up sheep and finally locate the lost sheep.

Supplies:

• Life-sized Game Board (for instructions on how to make a life-sized game board see link.)
• 99 Small sheep tokens – draw or photocopy a picture of a sheep and cut out from cardstock
• Stuffed sheep
• Large foam game die (available online)

Advanced Preparations:

1. Unroll the game board onto the large open area of the classroom.
2. Set the stuffed sheep at the finish line.

Directions:

1. Have children remove their shoes before walking on the game board.
2. Divide children into two or more teams of 3-4 players.
3. One player from the first team rolls the die. Teams should roll the die on the ground, rather than throw it in the air!
4. The team advances the number indicated on the die. Teams must move together on the game board.
5. If teams land on a designated space (cross, dynamite or question), they must respond to a corresponding question. Cross question lists are life application situations with positive results, dynamite lists are life application situations with negative results and question lists pose questions about the day’s story.
6. IMPORTANT:  Teams should confer together before responding. Individuals who shout out answers without conferring with their team will lose a turn. This is important – conferring together helps infrequent attendees and visitors feel a part of the game. This also prevents overly assertive children from monopolizing the game. 
7. If a team answers correctly or lands on a Cross space they are awarded with 1 sheep token for each member of their team. No sheep tokens are awarded for Dynamite spaces.
8. Cross and Dynamite spaces may require teams to move forward or back according to card directions.Once they have moved, play passes to the next team.
9. The first team to cross the finish line will find the lost sheep!
10. Have team members count the number of sheep tokens they have accumulated. Team with the most sheep wins!

Teacher Tip:

Please pause and discuss the situations described on the cards. The Cross and Dynamite cards are designed to promote lively discussion within the teams. Kids often know the “right” answers that we expect. Encouraging them to explore more deeply and confront their own attitudes is more difficult. This is how life transformation occurs, however, and we need to try to get them to think beyond the simple, “pat” answer.

Modification for Grades K-2:

If the questions seem too difficult for this age level, modify them into “True-False” statements. If the question requires looking up a specific scripture reference, you or the shepherd can look it up and read it to the children from the NIV Adventure Bible. Have the children listen as you read the scripture, then have them answer the question or perform the action.

Question List:

Question Mark List

1. Where in the Bible do we find the story of the Lost Sheep?  (New Testament, Matthew and Luke- for grades 3-5)
2. The books in the New Testament that tell about Jesus’ life are called ______.  (Gospels)
3. Jesus told special stories called __________ which were stories that had two meanings.  (Parables)
4. Everyone loved Jesus’ stories, True or False?  (False – the scribes and Pharisees were angered by Jesus’ stories – Luke 15:1-2)
5. How many sheep did the shepherd have in this story?  (100 – Luke 15:4)
6. What happened to one of the sheep?  (got lost)
7. Who does the shepherd represent in the story?  (God, Jesus)
8. Who do the sheep supposed to represent?  (people – us)
9. What did the shepherd do?  (looked for the lost sheep)
10. How is God like a good shepherd to us?  (looks for us, loves us, cares for us, wants us to be close to him)
11. When the lost sheep got home, he got spanked by the shepherd, True or False?  (False – the shepherd rejoiced and carried him gently home on his shoulders)
12. How does God feel when we come to him?  (rejoices)
13. What are ways we can get lost or separated from God?
14. How do you think the 99 sheep felt when the shepherd went out searching for the one lost sheep?  (maybe a little mad, worried, nervous that they were left alone)
15. What does this story tell us about God’s love for us?  (every one of us is precious to God!)                                

Cross List:

1. You have a friend who has never been to church and doesn’t know anything about Jesus. You invite him to come with you to Sunday school.  Move ahead 2 spaces.
2. You memorized your Rotation Memory Verse and taught it to your neighbors. Move ahead 1 space.
3. Go as a team to the mural on the wall and point to the sheep that are painted there.
4. You have been too busy to read your Bible lately, and realize that it’s been several weeks since you prayed.  You pray to God asking him to forgive you and to help you get close to God again. Move ahead 3 spaces.
5. You decide to ask a friend to come with you to church each Sunday and Wednesday. You especially want to invite friends who don’t already go to church. Move ahead 2 spaces.
6. You understand that you have done wrong things and you are sorry. You believe that Jesus died so you could be forgiven. Move ahead 3 spaces.
7. Jesus told a parable about a shepherd who had 100 sheep. Go to the white board and quickly draw 100 sheep. Move ahead 1 space.
8. The shepherd herded his sheep into a safe sheepfold at night to protect them from wild animals and to keep them together.  Go as a team to a corner of the room. Baa like sheep ten times!  Move ahead 1 space.
9. Sheep followed their shepherd because they loved and trusted him and they knew his voice.  Have one person from your team be the shepherd and lead your team of “sheep” all around the room.  Move ahead 2 spaces.
10. Each person on your team, tell a way that you know God loves you. Move ahead 3 spaces.
11. Each person on your team, tell a way that you can show God you love and trust him. Move ahead 3 spaces.
12. Go to the white board and write out the Memory verse for this Rotation. Don’t forget the scripture reference.  Then stand together and recite it together out loud. Move ahead 2 spaces.
13. You’ve been feeling far away from God lately. You talk with your mom and dad about it and pray together.  Move ahead 3 spaces.
14. Your family prays together every day before meals and at bedtime. Move ahead  spaces.
15. You help your little brother say his prayers. Move ahead 2 spaces.

Dynamite List:

1. You used to come to Sunday school and Wednesday night church all the time, but you have gotten so busy you don’t come anymore. Move back 2 spaces.
2. You tell your parents you don’t want to come to Sunday school because your friends don’t come and you don’t want to meet new people. Move back 2 spaces.
3. You forget your Bible at home. Move back 1 space.
4. You thought about asking the new kids at school to come to church, but you’re afraid your friends won’t like them, so you don’t. Move back 3 spaces.
5. Your friends at school say they believe in Jesus, but they say mean things about people behind their backs.  You join in with them so they will like you. Move back 3 spaces.
6. You got into a fight with someone at school and really hurt them. You’re sure God could never forgive you for doing such a mean thing, so you decide not to come back to church. Move back 2 spaces.
7. Your friends at school form a club that only invites kids who belong to the Country Club. You join them. Move back 2 spaces.
8. Your mom spends a weekend with your cousin who got into trouble at school. ou get mad because she can’t take you to the pool with your friends. Move back 2 spaces.
9. A girl at school who is always in trouble says that she has become a Christian. Your teacher lets her go on the special field trip. You are mad and say it’s not fair because she doesn’t deserve to go.  Move back 2 spaces.
10. You are too tired to pray before bed. Move back 2 spaces.
11. A boy at school asks if he can come to church with you sometime. You say no because you are afraid he won’t fit in with your other church friends. Move back 3 spaces.
12. You never talk about Jesus to any of the kids at school because so many of them are so mean, they don’t deserve to know about Jesus’ love. Move back 3 spaces.
13. You decide to go to a pool party instead of coming to Sunday school. Move back 2 spaces.
14. You get back late from vacation on Saturday and sleep in on Sunday morning. Move back 2 spaces.
15. You tell the new girl in your class that you will come to her party. Later you find out your friends are going to a different party. You call and tell the new girl that you can’t come because you are sick. Move back 3 spaces.

Leaving 99 Music Video – Grades 3-5

Leaving 99 by Audio Adrenaline, someone created this movie video found on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugufw8UOwIc

Preparation:

• Download the music video to a laptop or burn to a DVD and show on a TV.

Directions:

Older children will watch the video and then write in journals.

Play the video as the children watch and listen.

Journal Reflection

The last ten minutes should be reserved for journal time. This is an opportunity for processing and reflection about what the children have learned. Ask the shepherds to pass out the journals and pens/pencils. Place the journal question sticker for the day in each journal.

Journal Questions:

Grades K-2:  Draw a picture of the shepherd with his sheep.

Grades 3-5: How did the sheep know that the shepherd loved them? How do we know that God loves us?

Closing:

Gather the children together. Review with them one word or concept that they learned in today’s session.  (Love, grace, lost, mercy, rejoice are some suggestions). Encourage the children to come back next week for another workshop, and to invite a friend, especially friends who do not belong to a church. Remind them to bring their Bibles. Ask for prayer requests and pray together, ending with the Lord’s Prayer.

Clean-up

Have the children help clean up the room. Roll the game board back up on the carpet roll and store at the edge of the wall. Replace the stuffed sheep and game die in the cabinet.

A lesson by Jaymie Derden from: State Street UMC
A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.