The Lost Sheep: Bible Story for Kids (Luke 15:1-7)
Episode 2 · 2:59 · Bible passage: Luke 15:1-7
Watch on YouTubeSubscribe on YouTube
Playlists: Parables of Jesus · All Episodes
The story
Tax collectors and sinners were coming close to Jesus to hear him, and the Pharisees and scribes complained that he welcomed sinners and ate with them. So Jesus told them a parable, a story that teaches. A man has one hundred sheep and loses one. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes after the lost one until he finds it. He carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing, and when he comes home he calls his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him.
From the Bible
Bible quotation, word for word
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”
Luke 15:6 (WEB, World English Bible)
Bible quotation, word for word
“I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7 (WEB, World English Bible)
The passage’s point: Jesus explains his own story in Luke 15:7: there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who need no repentance. To repent means to be sorry for the wrong things we have done and to turn back to God.
Application for families: God cares about each person. We can say sorry to God and turn back to him.
Read it in your Bible: Luke 15:1-7. Quotations on this page and in the video are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain. The rest of the narration is a child-friendly paraphrase.
Talk about it
- How many sheep did the man have? How many were lost?
- What did he do when one sheep was lost?
- How did he carry the sheep? How did he feel?
- Jesus said there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). What does it mean to repent?
- Jesus told this story to people who were complaining that he welcomed sinners (Luke 15:2). Why do you think he told it to them?
Try this together
Hide a paper or toy sheep somewhere in the room. Everyone searches; when it is found, celebrate together like the man and his friends in the story.
A short prayer
Dear God, thank you for caring about every one of us. Help us to say sorry and turn back to you. Amen.
Free printable coloring page
Tap a picture to open the printable PDF (US Letter, landscape). The pages show the Bible reference only.
How to use this story at home, in Sunday school or in a homeschool → · All coloring pages