The Lost Sheep: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 15:1-7
An interactive lesson for ages 6-10 on the parable of the lost sheep. Children act out the story, play a find-the-sheep game, make a cotton ball sheep and learn that Jesus searches for each person and rejoices when they come home.
Memory verse
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:5, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell Jesus' parable of the lost sheep in order.
- Explain that Jesus cares about every single person and searches for them.
- Respond with thanks and by choosing to welcome others.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Lost and Found (5 min)
Greet each child by name. Ask: "Has anything of yours ever been lost? How did it feel to find it?" Let 3 or 4 children answer.
Say: "Good morning! Today we hear a story Jesus told about someone who looks for what is lost."
Say: "Let's do a warm-up. Stand up, and when I say 'lost,' put your hands out and look around. When I say 'found,' jump once and cheer!"
Call out "lost" and "found" several times, then have everyone sit.
Say: "Now let's hear what Jesus said."
Hear the Parable (7 min)
Read Luke 15:1-7 aloud from the KJV, or retell it in order using the actions below.
Say: "Many people who were known as sinners came near to hear Jesus."
Say: "The Pharisees and scribes grumbled, 'This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.'"
Say: "So Jesus told them a story about a man with a hundred sheep."
Retell: One sheep is lost. The man leaves the ninety and nine in the wilderness and goes after the lost one until he finds it. He lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. At home he calls his friends and neighbours: "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." Jesus says there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Actions: children say "Baa!" at "sheep," hold hands out at "lost," and cheer at "found."
Say: "Now let's play the story!"
Find the Lost Sheep (8 min)
Setup (before class): Cut out 10 paper sheep. Put 9 together on a table as the flock. Place the 10th somewhere in plain view across the room, such as on a chair or shelf.
Time: about 8 minutes.
Steps:
1. Say: "Pretend these are a hundred sheep." Count the flock together: 9. Ask, "Is anyone missing?"
2. Choose a child to be the shepherd. They walk (no running) to look for the lost sheep while the class calls, "Where is it?"
3. When the sheep is found, the shepherd lays it on their shoulders.
4. The whole class cheers, "Rejoice with me!"
5. Return the sheep to the flock, move it to a new spot and repeat with new shepherds. Let children who prefer to watch be the cheering crowd.
Say: "The shepherd did not stop until he found his sheep. Let's find out why Jesus told this story."
Jesus, Our Good Shepherd (7 min)
Say: "The grumbling leaders thought Jesus should stay away from people who did wrong things."
Say: "Jesus showed them that God cares about every single person, even one who is lost."
Point 1: The shepherd had ninety and nine safe, yet he still went after the one. Every person matters to God.
Point 2: He did not give up. He went "until he find it."
Point 3: When he found it, he was full of joy. He did not scold the sheep. He carried it home.
Background: Sheep need a shepherd to lead them. The Bible often calls God our shepherd.
Say: "Sometimes we wander away from God by choosing our own way. 'Repent' means to turn back to God."
Say: "Jesus came to seek and save the lost. When someone turns to him, heaven is full of joy."
Ask: "Who is the shepherd in our story? (Jesus.)"
Say: "Now let's make a sheep to remember this."
Cotton Ball Sheep (8 min)
Safety: Cotton balls and paper pieces are small parts, so this craft is not for children under 3. Check for allergies and supervise glue use.
Setup (before class): Pre-cut a black head and four legs for each child. Put supplies on tables.
Time: about 8 minutes.
Steps:
1. Give each child a paper plate. Glue the black head to the top edge and the legs to the bottom.
2. Glue cotton balls over the front of the plate for wool.
3. Draw eyes on the head.
4. On the back, write "Luke 15:5" and "Rejoice with me!" Younger or slower writers can copy from the board.
5. Say the memory verse together once while the glue dries.
Say: "Take your sheep home and remember that Jesus searches for you."
Talk About It (5 min)
Gather in a circle. Ask each question and take one or two answers.
1. Why did the shepherd go after just one sheep? (Because that one mattered to him.)
2. How do you think the lost sheep felt when it was found? (Safe, happy, glad to be carried.)
3. What did the shepherd do when he found it? (He rejoiced and told his friends.)
4. How can we welcome someone who feels left out or alone? (Invite them to play, sit with them, be kind.)
Say: "Jesus welcomes everyone, and we can too."
Rejoice and Pray (5 min)
Say: "Let's say our memory verse with actions." Say Luke 15:5 together three times. Mime laying a sheep on your shoulders at "layeth it on his shoulders," and raise your arms at "rejoicing."
Say: "Let's pray together." Pray one line at a time and let children repeat:
- "Thank you, Jesus, for being our Good Shepherd."
- "Thank you for looking for us and never giving up."
- "Help us turn back to you when we wander."
- "Help us welcome others the way you welcome us."
- "Amen."
Send each child home with their sheep. Say: "Remember, Jesus rejoices over you!"
Materials
- KJV Bible
- 10 paper sheep cutouts
- Paper plates (one per child)
- Cotton balls
- Glue sticks
- Black construction paper, pre-cut into heads and legs
- Markers or crayons
- Tape
Teacher notes
- Safety: the craft uses cotton balls, glue and small paper pieces. Check for allergies, supervise closely and keep small parts away from children under 3.
- Adaptation: use visual aids such as the paper sheep for children who learn by seeing. Offer buddy pairs or a quieter job, such as counting the flock, for children who need less movement.
- Keep the focus on Jesus' love for the lost. Do not turn the story into shaming anyone. Briefly explain "repent" as turning back to God.
- If children ask about being lost or feeling far from God, listen kindly and tell them Jesus loves them. Share any serious concerns with your church leader.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Luke 15:1-7, where Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves ninety and nine sheep to find the one that is lost. Jesus cares about every person, searches for them, and rejoices when they come home to God.
- Why do you think the shepherd went after just one sheep?
- How can we welcome someone who feels left out this week?
Play Lost and Found at home. Hide a stuffed animal in plain view, let a child search for it, then cheer "Rejoice with me!" together. Talk about how Jesus looks for us.
Welcome one person who seems left out at school or in your neighborhood. Say Luke 15:5 together each night.
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