Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Parable of the Lost Coin Craft


Today I wanted to share a fun Bible craft and lesson, that I came up with a couple of years ago when I was teaching my Sunday school class a unit on Jesus' parables. This lesson can be done with a children's Sunday school/bible study group, or as a home study bible lesson. The craft is very simple, and works for all ages.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

This parable is found in the book of Luke 15:8-10.

8." Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9. And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10. 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 (NIV)


This parable is a wonderful way to explain to children how, when we lose something, or something is lost, and it is important, we look for it, and are glad when we find it, the same way God feels when a sinner is lost. With my class, I would ask if any of them had ever lost anything, and listen to their stories, and talk about how happy they were if they found the lost item, and how sad they were when they didn't find it.

I would then tell them that I was going to tell them a Bible story about a woman who had lost something very important to her, and read them the story right out of the Bible - Luke 15:8-10.

Then we would discuss that God is looking for sinners who are lost, and don't know about God, or have stopped listening to God. How God thinks that these people are very important.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10

Also how wonderful it is when sinners repent and are no longer lost.

The memory verse for this lesson is Luke 15:10

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

Then we would make our craft.

Cut a piece of colorful cardstock paper in half. Then fold the half sheet in half to make a little book shape as shown below. Cut out simple broom shapes out of brown cardstock. Print out the title of your story on white paper- The Parable of the Lost Coin, I like to use Papyrus font, trim around it as shown. I also type out the entire story from Luke 15:8-10 , make sure you center it and print it small enough that it will fit inside the book. Trim around the verse as shown. For the coin, use a hole puncher and punch out the coin from aluminum foil.




Let the children cut the fringe in the broom, I like to demonstrate how to do this so the younger children understand. Bend the broom where the handle meets the broom, glue down the broom only by the handle, so the broom itself can be lifted to reveal the coin. Glue the coin under the broom as shown.

Glue the title on the cover, and the story on the page above the broom as shown.





After craft time, it is time for a fun activity and snack- either before class or during class if the children are not watching, hide a dime very well, and instruct the children to find it just like the women did, when they find it, it is time to have a "celebration", everyone can sit down and enjoy a yummy snack. While they are enjoying the snack, I like to go over the story and lesson one more time.


I hope you have fun using this craft in your children's church class or at home with your own children. :)

I would also like to let everyone know that in celebration of my 100th post, this Friday I will be hosting my first giveaway! So please be sure and come back Friday to find out about the giveaway and to enter. :)




10 comments:

  1. Your lessons are wonderful April. I enjoyed reading about the parable of the lost coin also. Sometimes I become so focused on specific books of the Bible (such as Proverbs and the Psalms) and need to be reminded of others!

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  2. Thanks Jane! Glad you enjoyed reading about this parable :)

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  3. I don't have a class to use this with, but it made me wish I did. Such a great lesson. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Have a wonderful day!

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  4. this is very sweet! thank you for sharing!!

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  5. Thanks so much! This is a better activity than the one i have in mind! You're a blessing.

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  6. Myabelle ~ Thank you for visiting and your kind comment. :)

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  7. Thank you so much.. I believe that my class will be excited to do this.. It's such a brilliant idea.. Your an blessing

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  8. Love this idea! Love how we can share our creativity through the internet!

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  9. Thank you for the cute idea - I didn't like the craft listed for this activity in the book I am using and it is so helpful to have people share their cute ideas - thanks.

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  10. Thank you! I just realized yesterday that I'm signed up to teach Jr. Church this morning. You have put together a complete lesson for me. Thank you for sharing!

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I love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and ideas. Please feel free to leave a comment.