Imagine having a favorite stuffed animal. You take it everywhere – bedtime, playtime, even on adventures! Now, imagine losing it. You'd look high and low, wouldn't you? That's a bit like the Parable of the Lost Sheep, a special story Jesus told to show us just how much God loves us.

In our parable of the lost sheep Bible story for kids, there lived a shepherd with 100 fluffy sheep! But one day, one little sheep wanders off and gets lost. The shepherd goes on a super important search mission, leaving the other 99 sheep safe while he looks for the missing one. He doesn't give up until he finds his lost sheep!

The entire Bible story of the parable of the lost sheep can be found in the Book of Luke 15: 1-7.

See also: The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Parable of the Lost Sheep Bible Story for Kids

The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a special story Jesus told to show us just how much God loves each and every one of us. It's a story about a shepherd, a lost sheep, and a whole lot of searching!

Meet the Shepherd with a Hundred Sheep

Imagine a big, green field with fluffy white sheep munching on grass. Now, imagine a shepherd watching over them. Shepherds take care of sheep, just like your parents take care of you. This shepherd had a whopping 100 sheep!

Shepherds know their sheep really well. They might even give them special names! A good shepherd makes sure their sheep are safe, have enough food and water, and feel loved.

Uh Oh, Where Did You Go?

One day, our shepherd was counting his sheep, like he always did. But something was wrong! Instead of 100, he only counted 99. One little sheep had wandered off and gotten lost!

Can you imagine how the shepherd felt? Maybe a bit worried, or even sad. But most of all, he knew he had to find his lost sheep.

The Big Search Party!

The shepherd couldn't just leave the missing sheep all alone. He left the 99 other sheep in a safe place and went on a search mission!

He looked everywhere – up hills, down valleys, behind bushes, and even in those prickly spots no one wants to go near. He wasn't going to give up until he found his lost sheep.

"Baaa!" I Hear You!

After a long time searching, the shepherd heard a tiny sound. A soft "baaa!" It was the lost sheep! Can you imagine how happy the shepherd must have been?

He scooped up the sheep, gave it a big hug, and carried it all the way home on his shoulders. That lost sheep must have felt super special and loved!

Time to Celebrate!

Finding the lost sheep was such a big deal, the shepherd didn't keep it a secret. He invited all his friends and neighbors over for a party! They celebrated finding the lost sheep, with smiles, laughter, and maybe even some yummy snacks.

Why Did Jesus Tell This Story?

But why did Jesus tell this story about a shepherd and a lost sheep? Well, think of it like this:

• We are the sheep: Sometimes, we wander off a bit, or don't always make the best choices, just like the little sheep wandered away from the flock.
• God is the shepherd: God loves us more than we can imagine and never, ever gives up on us. Just like the shepherd didn't give up on his lost sheep.
• The Search: When we feel lost or wander away, God comes looking for us because we are so important to Him.
• The Celebration: God is overjoyed when we return to Him, like the shepherd who threw a party for his lost sheep.

Questions to Think About

• Have you ever lost something important, like a toy or a stuffed animal? How did you feel?
• If you were the shepherd, would you leave your 99 sheep to find the one that was missing?
• God loves you so much! How does that make you feel?
• Is there something you can do today to show God's love to someone else?

God's Love: Always There for You

The Parable of the Lost Sheep teaches us that God's love is big, powerful, and never runs out. No matter what happens, no matter if we make mistakes, He is always there with open arms, ready to welcome us back. And that's something truly amazing to celebrate!

Parable of the Lost Sheep Coloring Page

Click on each images below to print out each coloring pages:

Parable of the Lost Sheep Activities

Creative and Hands-On Activities:

• Lost Sheep Search and Find: Hide cotton balls (the "sheep") around a room or outdoor area. Give kids a specific number they need to find (maybe one is a special golden sheep!). Link this back to the shepherd's determination to find his lost sheep.
• Build a Sheep Pen: Using popsicle sticks, cardboard, or blocks, have kids construct a safe "sheep pen." Discuss how the shepherd protected his flock and how God provides a safe place for us.
• Cotton Ball Sheep Artwork: Provide construction paper outlines of sheep and have kids glue on cotton balls for a fluffy effect. They can decorate their sheep and even draw scenes from the parable.
• Play-Doh Creations: Encourage kids to mold their own Play-Doh sheep figurines. They can act out the story with their shepherds, lost sheep, and safe pens.

Storytelling and Discussion Activities:

• Act it Out: Divide kids into roles (shepherd, lost sheep, other sheep) and have them act out the story. Encourage them to think about the characters' emotions.
• "What If?" Scenarios: Ask questions like, "What if the shepherd gave up looking?" or "What if the sheep was too scared to call out?" Discuss how these change the story and connect it to God's persistent love.
• Modern Retelling: Challenge older kids to rewrite the story with modern settings (a lost toy at the store, a missing puppy in the neighborhood). Ask how it still shows God's love.
• Lost and Found Collage: Have kids cut out magazine pictures of things easy to lose, then brainstorm "things" we might misplace in our relationship with God (forgiveness, kindness). Discuss how God wants us to come back.

Extra Tips:

• Visuals: Use illustrations or short videos of the Parable of the Lost Sheep to support younger learners.
• Age-Appropriate Discussions: Tailor discussion questions and the depth of the conversation to the age of your group.
• Connection to Daily Life: Help kids see how the parable relates to their experiences of being loved, making mistakes, and feeling safe.

Parable of the Lost Sheep Bible Verses

• Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV): "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish."
• Luke 15:3-7 (NIV): "Then Jesus told them this parable: '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."