Lost and Found Parables

Jesus' parables illustrated many different things.  The parables in Luke 15 all demonstrate God's great love and desire to seek out and find those who have wandered away.

Teacher prep:
Read the three parables in Luke 15, looking for similarities between them. 
Hide the memory verse pieces around the room before class.
Draw the following chart on the board to fill in during story time.
 

Parable	Who had it?	What happened?	How was it found?	What did they do?
Sheep
Coin
Son

Memory Verse: Luke 19:10 
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Lesson Process
Gaining interest
Write each word of the memory verse on an index card.  Hide pieces of the Bible verse around the room for the children to find and put in order. 

Tell the story
Tell each of the parables separately, and fill in the blanks for each chart.
 

Parable	Who had it?	What happened?	How was it found?	What did they do?
Sheep	Shepherd	One sheep got lost	Shepherd left 99 to find it and carried it back on his shoulders	Called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him
Coin	Woman	Lost one coin	She cleaned her house and searched until she found it	Called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with her
Son	Father	Son left	Son realized his mess and came back	Accepted him back, servants and family had a party to celebrate

Explore the story
Ask the following questions:

• What is the same in each story? 

(Each character had something, lost it, found it again, then celebrated)  
• Ask the children if they have any idea what Jesus meant by this story, since parables have double meanings. (accept any answer at this point)
• Who do the people (shepherd, woman Father)  represent? (God)
• What does the lost item represent? (someone who goes away from God)
• What does the celebration represent?  How does that happen today?

(angels rejoice in heaven when one sinner repents, the church rejoices when one is saved or returns from backsliding)
• How were the sheep and coin found? (owner went to find them)
• How was the son found? (he came to his senses and went back)

Application
Complete storyboard worksheet, and/or coloring sheets. Extended time
Play Huckle Buckle Beanstalk