During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Before class, tear out the page at the end of the lesson and cut or tear apart the Bible verses.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10
When Jesus came to earth as a newborn baby, He did not look like the Saviour people were expecting. Jesus’ birth may not have seemed like the beginning of a world-changing plan to rescue the lost, but that is exactly what it was. God knew that the people He loved were unable to save themselves—so He sent His Son to seek and save the lost.
You are precious to Him—so precious that He sent His Son to seek you and save you! You are of such great value to Him that He would go to the ends of the earth to bring you back to Him. As you celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, think of 1 way He has shown you that great love today, and thank Him for it. Spend some time rejoicing in Him as He rejoices in you!
Encourage the teens to share the story of Jesus’ birth with a family member. They can then share that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, a truth worth celebrating.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Before class hide a small, valuable object. Describe the object to your students and have them spend a few minutes searching for it. If they are having trouble, give them some clues.
Once someone finds the object and brings it to you, ask the students to sit down.
Have you ever lost something that was valuable to you?
Did you ask anyone to help you find it?
Allow teens to share their experiences, the qualifications of the person they asked for help, and how the situation resolved. Be prepared with a story of your own to share.
Today we are going to talk about someone who came into the world to seek something valuable. That person was Jesus, and that valuable object was you!
What does it mean to be lost?
Allow 2–3 students to share their ideas.
When we think of being lost, we usually think of not being able to find our way to where we want to go or looking for something that we cannot find. But the Bible gives us a different message about being lost and how we can be found.
Divide the class into 3 groups. Give each group 1 of the Bible passages from the tear-out page at the end of the lesson. The passages are included here for your reference.
Group 1: The Parable of the Lost Coin
Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:8–10
Group 2: The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:4–7
Group 3: The Parable of the Lost Son
There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. …
Luke 15: 11–13
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father,have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15: 20–24
Have a student in each group read the Bible passage. Then have the students discuss the following questions with their groups.
Give the students 5 minutes to read their passages and discuss the questions. Then gather them together.
After reading these verses, what do you think it means to be lost?
These Bible passages are parables. A parable is a story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus often used parables to teach God’s truth. These parables teach us that being lost means being separated from God.
The Bible also teaches us that all people are lost. We are all separated from God by our sin. But God did not want us to be separated from Him, so He did something amazing. He sent His Son! Listen to the reason Jesus gave for coming to earth.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10
If you were going to send someone to search for something valuable, whom would you send?
What characteristics would that person have?
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. They might suggest that they would send someone smart, brave, or powerful.
God sent someone who had all of those characteristics. But it might surprise you to find out how He came to earth. Let’s read the story.
Have 3 students read Luke 2:1–6 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the passage is printed here.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1–7
A baby may not seem to be the right person to send when you have lost something valuable. But Jesus was not an ordinary baby. Jesus is the Son of God, and He came to earth to seek and save the lost.
What did we learn about things that are lost from the parables Jesus told?
The lost things were of great value, the people who had lost them made great efforts to find them, and there was a celebration when they were found.
God sent His Son to earth because we are of great value to Him—so valuable that He did something great to save us. Listen to this Bible prophecy about Jesus’ birth, which was given hundreds of years before His birth.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6–7
What do you think it means that the zeal of God will do this?
How does it make you feel that God seeks with zeal to save you?
The child this passage tells us about is Jesus, who came to earth to bring justice and righteousness and to save the lost. He is our Wonderful Counsellor and our Prince of Peace. This passage also tells us that God’s zeal will accomplish His purposes. He has great enthusiasm to save those He loves!
The Bible also tells us that God celebrates when we are found! Listen to a verse from a passage we talked about earlier.
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
When the people God loves are found, He rejoices!
How does it make you feel to know that God rejoices over those who choose to follow Him?
God loves you so much that He sent Jesus into the world as a human baby to seek and save you! That is something worth celebrating!
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
After Jesus was born, there was great rejoicing. Listen to what the Bible tells us.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:8–16
These verses tell us that Jesus’ birth is good news of great joy. Do you think that is true? Why or why not?
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that it is great news because Jesus came to seek and save each one of them.
Jesus’ birth is a reason to rejoice! So let’s celebrate the birth of God’s Son, who came to seek and save the lost!
Celebrate with some traditions that are familiar in your community, such as singing songs, praying for one another, and dancing. If possible, give the students some small gifts or treats. Then invite the students to pray as a group, allowing the teens to say short sentence prayers to thank God for sending Jesus to seek and save the lost.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, give the teens time to do the activity on their pages.
Close with a blessing over your students adapted from Ephesians 2:4–8:
Blessing: May you know God’s great love for you today—love that came looking for you while you were still dead in your sins and made you alive in Christ. May you understand His grace that saves you and His great kindness to you in Christ Jesus.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
