Rotation.org Writing Team

Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin

A "Rejoice" Bible Skills & Game Workshop

Summary of Activities

Students will learn the parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin by finding and assembling the story, then going on a treasure hunt to collect "Rejoice" party decorations and snacks as well as props for a "Coins in a Cup" demonstration that will help them reflect on the meaning of the parables.

We've included a number of options to shorten, simplify, or extend these activities.

Scripture for the Lesson

Lost Sheep: Luke 15: 1-7
Astray Sheep: Matthew 18: 10-14
Lost Coin: Luke 15: 8-10

Key Verses: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices." Luke 15:4-5 (NRSVue)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at Rotation.org for insights on this story and this set's complete list of objectives.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• Print the Bible Illustrations from the attached PDF. If you prefer a translation other than the NRSVue, cut off or cover the verse captions and write in your own.
• Before students arrive, hide the 17 sheets from the printable Bible illustrations packet around the classroom. Don't completely hide them, but let a little bit of each sheet stick out so that students can find them. (If hiding or finding 17 sheets is too many, just hide the illustrations from one of the parables.)
• Get the items for the coins in a cup demonstration, review the tips in the lesson, and practice the demonstration.
• Place the following coins in a cup demonstration props nonchalantly about the classroom prior to the lesson:
  • Cup (glass or clear plastic)
  • Rubberband
  • Single-ply toilet paper
  • Eyedropper or similar device
  • Colored water
  • Coins of various sizes
  • A box of party decorations (tablecloth, streamers) and a snack
    (If you will be letting each student do their own coin demonstration, hide more supplies or have extras you can pull out and share.)
• A coin for each student to take home

Lesson Plan

Opening ~ Finding the Story

Welcome children as they arrive, explain what they'll be studying and what you hope they'll learn, then open with a prayer.

Tell the students that you have "lost" the Bible story illustrations for today and need their help to find them. Invite them to find all of the story sheets and bring them back to the table for assembly.

After they have found all 17 illustrations, have students separate the pages into the two parable stories. Then, split into two groups and have each group assemble their pages in the correct story order and prepare to read them to the class.

If they are unfamiliar with the stories, invite them to find Luke 15:1-10 in the Bible and use it to put the illustrations in order.

Let your students know that the uncaptioned illustration is "extra"—meaning, the artist has imagined a scene in the story that doesn't have a specific scripture verse to go with it. Have your students figure out where in the storyline the extra illustration might go and what that extra illustration tells you about the sheep and the shepherd.

Now have your students read aloud both stories, then continue with some digging...

Digging Into the Assembled Scripture Illustrations

As you ask these questions, point to various illustrations.

Ask: These two stories are what are called "parables." Does anybody know what a "parable" is?  (Accept all answers then zero in on the most correct and expand on it.)

Say: A "parable" is a kind of short story that Jesus often told to teach something important—like how much God loves us and how we are supposed to act in the world. Parables almost always have a "secret" in them, and that secret is usually that YOU and GOD are the characters in the parable.

Ask:  Which character is God in the Parable of the Lost Sheep? In the Parable of the Lost Coin?  (the shepherd and woman)

Ask: We have often heard of God described as a shepherd. What does a shepherd do?

Ask: Have you ever heard of God described as a woman in a house?  In the time of Jesus, what did the woman of the house do?

Ask: Which character is YOU in these parables? How does the parable describe YOU? (lost)

Say: One of the important things to remember about parables is that they almost ALWAYS have a surprise in them—something that you didn't expect, something startling, a twist.

Ask: What's surprising to you in the Parable of the Lost Sheep?

Ask: What's surprising to you in the Parable of the Lost Coin?

For the teacher:
A typical married woman's job in the time of Jesus was to provide for her family, take care of the house, and supervise the children. It was a full-time job. The point is that God does the same thing with his family, and doesn't let even one coin become lost in his house.  The "surprise" to the Pharisees and scribes listening to the parables would have been that God cares about the lost and would go to all that trouble to find them. They assumed that God had judged the lost as unworthy and didn't want Jesus spending time with them or welcoming them back into the family.

In the Coins in a Cup demonstration, you will elaborate more on our "lostness."

The Coins in a Cup Treasure Hunt & Reflection Activity

The purpose of this quick treasure hunt is to assemble the props for the Coins in a Cup activity. Prior to the start of class, place the seven common objects listed below in various places in your classroom. The demonstration will delve further into the questions:

What separates us from God?
What can bring us and others closer to God?

The 7 Clues for the Prop Treasure Hunt:

Announce these seven clues one at a time to your students, waiting until they find one prop before giving out the next clue.  Depending on the size or age of your class, you may assign one clue to one student at a time or have them work in pairs, or have the entire class search for each clue. To make sure that everyone finds something, invite the "better finders" to sit out with you and be a "clue reader." If needed, repeat the clue and give more hints about the objects. Adjust the clues to be as cryptic or obvious as time and age require.

1. Cup: Just like the story of the lost sheep and lost coin are at first look simple and plain, I may look like something plain that you take a drink out of—but when you use me to understand God's amazing love, you'll see me in a new way.
2. Rubberband: I'm rubbery and stretchy, and usually found in the shape of a circle among school and office supplies. Even though I can break if you stretch me too much, God's love never breaks. His love will always stretch out to save us.
3. Single-ply toilet paper: I'm almost always found in sheets on a roll. Like God's love, I'm something most people don't want to be without!
4. Eyedropper or similar device: When squeezed, I drip liquids drop by drop. Like drops of water, God's love often works in small and constant ways.
5. Colored water: I'm usually clear, but today I've got color so that the truth of God's love for us will be plain to see in our demonstration!
6. Coins of various sizes: The woman in the parable finds every last one of me. Though each of us is different, we are all valuable!
7. A box of party stuff (decorations, tablecloth, streamers, a snack): If you're going to rejoice in today's great message, then you're definitely going to need the things in this container for your celebration!

When you have found the party decorations, unpack them and have the students help you quickly decorate before you move on to the Coins in a Cup activity. You may serve your snack at this time as well—reminding them that the shepherd and woman rejoiced when they found their lost sheep and lost coin. So too God never gives up on sinners and has in mind a party to celebrate when we embrace our forgiving God. God's call to "Rejoice!" with him and others in his unfailing, finding love is a key part of both parables!

The Coins in a Cup Reflection Activity

Summary: In this demonstration-reflection activity, you will secure a sheet of single-ply toilet paper to the top of a glass or plastic cup using a rubber band. You will then place a coin onto the tissue, then add drops of water to the tissue until the tissue breaks and the coin drops into the glass.

Performing the Demonstration:
Start with one big coin on a single ply of tissue and a handful of coins inside the cup so that you get to teach your initial point which is "nothing can separate us from the love of God." (Romans 8)  "Like a good shepherd or good woman, God's love seeks us when we are lost, doesn't give up, and will bring us to himself and to his flock."

As you put the pieces of the demonstration together, tell your students what each piece might represent. It's a loose visual metaphor designed to help your students remember what you say to them.

• The tissue represents "the things which separate us from God." (But nothing is stronger than God's love and desire to bring us to himself!)
• The coins represent us. Though each of us is different, we are all valued the same amount by God—precious!
• The drops of water represent God's will to bring the sheep and coins back together so that "nothing can separate us from the love of God." Things that bring us closer to God and to each other can include forgiveness, kindness, helping each other, being thankful, prayer. Every little good thing brings us closer.
• The coin dropping into the glass and joining the other coins can represent God's desire (will) to overcome our lostness (sin) and keep us together in his family.

This is metaphor! Feel free to make it as simple or as rich as you need for your students.

Be sure to note that "lost" is a metaphor for "sin." Sin separates us from God (like the tissue separates the coin outside the cup from the coins in the cup). God's gifts of mercy and forgiveness can feel like a flood of drops, or they can sometimes feel like drops in our lives. In one sense we are already "found" (saved) when God finds us, but in another sense, we are always in need of forgiveness. The sheep are forgiven, not perfect! Our faith helps us stay together with God and teaches us the way home when we wander.

Important Coin in a Cup tips from our tester:

1. Use single-ply toilet paper (i.e. cheap). Do not use facial tissues because they often have a chemical coating that will make the water bead rather than soak into the tissue. Do not use double-ply "quilted" tissue which is designed not to tear.
2. Use a tall plastic or glass jar or drinking glass so that the coins make a nice clinking sound when they drop and everyone can see them in the glass. Put a few coins in the bottom of the cup to receive the coin that drops (and they make a nice noise).
3. To seal the tissue to the top of the glass, place your fingers inside the rubber band and then stretch them out to fit the band over the tissue and glass. Gently adjust the tissue so that it is relatively tight across the glass.
4. Be sure to test your materials in advance by doing the experiment. Note how many coins and drops of water work best for your materials. Adjust size and number of coins and what you say accordingly.
5. If you don't have an eyedropper, you can add drops of water with a small spoon or a straw. Use only a single drop of water at a time for best effect.
6. Take your time between drops to let the water do its work. Use this time to ask about ways (drops) that will bring us closer to God.
7. If your tissue is resistant to tearing, use a bigger coin or stack more coins. If it tears too quickly, use fewer or smaller coins and smaller drops of water.
8. Have a variety of coins both already in the glass and ready to go on top.
9. Consider adding some confetti or party decorations to the coins already down in the glass. Jesus wants us to "rejoice" when someone who is lost becomes part of those found, who turn their lives around and give them to God.

Demonstration variation: To demonstrate that some people are "more lost" and God takes longer to bring them to himself, use two-ply and/or take extra time in-between drops. If you need to help the paper tear, either add extra water or add a penny or two to the original coin, saying "God has lots of helpers!"

Deeper questions and thoughts on the metaphor you may share:

• What do the water drops represent? (They are the ways God gets people's attention and lets them know of his love. God can use YOU to be someone's drop of water by reaching out to them when they are lost.)
• Who is the one doing the water-dropping in our lives? (God)
• How does the church use water in another way to symbolize God's acceptance of us? (Baptism)
• It may take several drops and some time for the coin to drop. How much time does God have to save your soul and bring you into the kind of relationship God wants with you?
• What about those coins already in the cup?  How should they treat the coins who haven't yet allowed God to bring them into the party of faith? Should we judge them? Should we call them sinners? (That's what the Pharisees in the story were doing.)
• Two-ply makes it harder to get the coins to drop. What attitudes can a sheep or coin have that makes it tougher for God to embrace them and rejoice?
• Do our sins make it impossible for God to bring us closer to him? (Nothing is impossible for God! You can demonstrate this by using a whole bunch of layers of tissue and then even using your hand along with water drops to push through the tissue. Point: God has all the time in the universe to "get through to us" and God has a lot more than "drop power" to save us!)

Closing Coin Prayer:

Give each student a coin to take home. Have them hold it in their open hands while you ask them to "repeat after me" this prayer:

Lord, thank you for teaching me
that every single sheep and coin,
no matter how small or lost,
is precious to you.
Thank you for finding me
and rescuing my life with your forgiving love,
Help me to welcome and not judge others who may be lost.
Teach me to look for you every day,
and rejoice in your love.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.

Adaptations

Party "game" option:

Following your Coins in a Cup demonstration and discussion, have your students work together to recreate the demonstration on their own, and perhaps prepare supplies to do the demonstration at home. Let them try "double-ply" and more coins. This kind of play will help them remember what you just taught them, and gives you more opportunities to share insights and ask questions.

For those with younger students:

Read the captions on the illustrations to them and ask leading questions to help them put them in the correct order, such as "which of these two illustrations do you think goes next?"

Make the illustrations and treasure hunt props easier to find.

Repeat the coin demonstration, letting each student take a turn dropping water.

For those with less class time:

You can eliminate having to find the illustrations and just start with them on the table.

You can skip the treasure hunt and go right into the coin demonstration after decorating the room to emphasize the point of "rejoicing."

For those with more class time, older students, or at-home:

Invite students to perform their own coins in a cup demonstration with their own explanation of what it means in relation to the parables.

You can finish the lesson with a quick game of "find the lost coin" or "lost sheep" prop. For the lost game, split into two teams and let one team secretly pass the coin or sheep behind their backs until told to stop. The other team tries to guess who has the coin. Keep track of how many guesses it took.

Written by Dawn Parr and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.
Bible illustrations licensed from freebibleimages.org