The Parable of the Lost Sheep Lesson for Children

This is a Bible lesson about Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. It is one of several lessons covering some of the parables of Jesus. The others are listed on this parable lessons summary page. This lesson on the parable of the lost sheep can help kids understand God’s great love for all people, including those who may not appear to be religious. 

Lesson Title: The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Bible Text: Luke 15:3-7

Learning Objective: To help the children understand that God loves all people and will do all He can to save them.

The Lead

Choose a free, printable activity from the list of related Bible activities that will be good to open the lesson. As children complete the activity, explain that today’s lesson is one of many parables or stories that Jesus told. Use the chosen activity to introduce the parable.

Read the story from the Bible or invite a child to read the story aloud. Depending on the age and maturity of your kids, you may want simply to tell the story in your own words.

The Lesson

Select an appropriate number of printable activities from the list of related Bible activities and use them to engage your kids in the story. As they work on the activities, emphasize the following truths:

• God loves all people regardless of what they do.
• God sent Jesus to bring people back to God.
• Jesus’ told the parable of the lost sheep in response to the Pharisees accusation that Jesus was hanging out with “sinners.” Help children understand that we can love and befriend all people even if we disagree with things they may do. (This truth may be more appropriate for older kids, but it’s important to keep in mind.)

The Landing

Help the children understand that God loves all people and made the ultimate sacrifice to save people by sending Jesus to dies for us.