Week 3: September 15 - Creating from Chaos
Luke 15:1-10

Note to the Teacher

The key emphasis this week (for this lesson from Luke 15) is that God loves creation, and even in chaos desires to be in relationship and unity with creation. The ice breaker invites youth to see if they can catch a coin before it falls to the ground. The discussion encourages students to know that even if they feel they have strayed from God, that God desires to be with them and will not let them go. The activity allows youth to work together in a fun way to help out the “lost.”

Times are based on a 50-minute lesson period, but can be adjusted.

Time Description of Activity

10 min. 1. Ice Breaker – Catch the Coins!

Supplies: Enough pennies for each student to have at least one, if not several.

Since we are reading about the parable of the lost coin this week, we are going to do something involving giving out money!

Give each student one penny. Have them lift up their arm, bending their elbow so that their forearm is horizontal and their hand is touching their shoulder. Ask them to make sure their palm is facing up. Now place the penny on top of their elbow so it is facing the ceiling. They are then going to quickly snap their arm downward, trying to catch the penny before it hits the ground. Students can try to do this as many tries as it takes.

If any students can do it easily give them a second penny, have them stack the coins, and try again. If they keep succeeding keep giving them more pennies to see how many they can do.

5 min. 2. Read Scripture

Our Scripture reading today will focus on Luke 15:1-10, the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin.

Read Luke 15:1-10

15 min. 3. Discussion

• How would a shepherd with 100 sheep know if one was missing?
• How does verse 5 describe how the shepherd brings the sheep home? (on his shoulders: he carries it, doing so joyfully)
• Who do verses 1-2 say Jesus is telling the parable to? What is their problem with Jesus in verse 2?
• What does verse 7 say about who the 99 sheep versus the one sheep in the parable represent?
• Verses 8-10 tell the parable of the lost coin, which is very similar. Why do you think Jesus told two different parables about this?
• What is the main point of these parables?
• If you ever feel that you are lost or you have strayed from God, how can these parables be encouraging to you?

20 Min. 4. Activity and Discussion – Finding the Lost

Take this lesson to the next level by helping a blindfolded student find a “lost” student in the group. You can find this and all sorts of other lesson activities at the Youth Worker Collective.

Supplies: You will need a blindfold, as well as the ability to make a small “obstacle course” of tables and/or chairs in your meeting space.

Have the group together make a simple obstacle course in your meeting space, moving tables and chairs around so it is not the normal room arrangement. If necessary, move to a larger space or outdoors if that gives you more room to move.

Now ask for one student who is willing to be blindfolded, and one student who is willing to be “lost.” Take the student who will be blindfolded outside the door of the meeting space and blindfold them. Then have the “lost” student pick a difficult space to navigate to in the space. Instruct the blindfolded student to enter the space to find the lost student. Then tell the class they are to give vocal instructions to the blindfolded student to help them find the lost student (they cannot touch them). When the lost student is found everyone should cheer and rejoice.

Repeat several times as time allows with different students playing each role, have the lost student hide in a different place each time, and possibly start the blindfolded student out in a new place each time.

Conclusion:

• Ask the blindfolded students what it was like to be searching?
• Ask the “lost” students what it was like to be found?
• Ask the students who were giving instructions what made it easy or difficult to give instructions?
• In our lives what are things that can make it challenging for us to return to God when we feel lost?
• Who are the people in your life who can be your encouragers when you feel lost?

Close in the manner that is typical for you. Consider taking joys/concerns from the students, then asking for a volunteer to close in prayer.

50 min.

NEEDED RESOURCES:

• A large number of pennies, enough for every student in your group to have several
• Something that can work as a blindfold such as a bandanna