Jesus was talking to a group of people. Some were important people from the temple and others were tax collectors who were sinners because they cheated (some of you may remember the story of Zacchaeus). Some of the people who thought themselves to be very good people started to grumble about the company that Jesus kept. They said, “This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.” When Jesus heard this grumbling, he told them two stories or parables so that they would understand and change.
Jesus said, “If any of you has one hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine (safely) in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will be so glad, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.” In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine people who didn’t need to.”
Then Jesus told the people another story: What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won’t she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it? (When she finds it) she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin I lost.” Jesus said, “In the same way God’s angels are happy when even one person turns to him.”
Each of these stories tells us about something being lost. If the shepherd or the woman were like the people who grumbled, they would have thought that one sheep out of one hundred or one coin out of ten was not worth bothering with. The grumbling people probably would not take the time to look for them. But, the woman and the shepherd were like God because they cared enough to look for that which was lost. And when they found what they were looking for, instead of being angry about the trouble of looking, they celebrated. Jesus was like that with sinners. He forgave their sins and was happy to be their friend. Likewise, God forgives sinners and is filled with joy when they come to him and make God part of their lives.
Our Memory Verse is:
And God said, “I will look for those that are lost and bring back the ones that wander off.” Ezekiel 34:16 (CEV)
What we will learn:
Pantomime the parable of the lost coin and herd “sheep” in Apostle's Playhouse
Visit the Bread of Life Café to make Sheep Treats in Good News
In Holywood, watch an unusual re-enactment of the lost sheep and coin when we watch
“Mr. Henry’s Wild and Wacky 7 – Jesus Died for Me?"
Find the missing “piece” and play games in Antioch Arcade
Create a picture of one of the parables in Creation Station
Family Time and Prayer:
Read: Luke 15:1-10
Reflection: Why do you think Jesus told these stories?
Prayer: Thank you God for taking care of us, keeping us safe, and never giving up on us when we are lost.
Offering:
Your offering will go to the Raleigh Women’s Correctiona
Thank-you to our Parable Workshop Leaders:
Creation Station - Kathy Nigro
Holywood – Lisa Van Genderen
Good News – Dewey Cassell
Antioch Arcade – Sandra Clark
Apostle’s Playhouse - Terri Fleming
Thank you to our Curriculum Design Team: Carole Rhodes, Lee Smith, Sara Ridings, Allison Connors, Angela Farthing, Robin Morris, Amy Woynicz, and Lori Houck.