Lesson

Lost Coin Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free lost coin Sunday school lesson (Luke 15:8–10) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: Luke 15:8–10
Bible story: The Lost Coin

What you need

A Bible (mark Luke 15:8 and Luke 15:10)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
10 paper circles colored gray (pieces of silver), a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A flashlight (to stand in for the candle; never use a real flame with children)
A broom or a small hand brush (optional, for the story)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed lost coin word search and crayons for early finishers

This free lost coin Sunday school lesson teaches kids that every person matters to God. Jesus asked, "what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" (Luke 15:8). When she found it, she called her friends and neighbours to rejoice, and Jesus said there is "joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (15:10). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a find-the-lost-one game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, the memory verse with motions, and a count-to-ten drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Count to Ten game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Find the Lost Piece memory verse game with ten paper circles, and a Sweep and Seek review game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a Don't Stop at Nine search game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (who was listening, the lost sheep, "seek diligently," "Rejoice with me"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Luke 15:1–10 out loud themselves, then talk about why Jesus told the parable, the worth of one person, and rejoicing instead of grumbling. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Luke 15:10 and Luke 19:10).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: Luke 15:8–10 (with Luke 15:1–7 for the setting)
Main point: Every person matters to God. God looks for the lost, and heaven is glad when one person turns back to Him.
Memory verse: Luke 15:10 (KJV), with Luke 19:10 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about finding the one that is lost.
Bible story: the grumbling leaders (Luke 15:1–2), the woman with ten pieces of silver who lost one, lit a candle, swept the house and sought diligently (15:8), "Rejoice with me" (15:9), and joy in the presence of the angels of God (15:10). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Luke 15:10.
What this means for us: every person matters to God, repentance and joy in heaven, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the lost coin craft, a Sweep and Seek game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching the lost coin

Let kids hear Luke 15:8 read straight from the Bible. Jesus asked it as a question: of course she would search!
Teach it with the lost sheep lesson (Luke 15:4–7): Jesus told both parables to the same people, one right after the other.
Use a flashlight for the candle. Never light a real flame with children.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this lost coin lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of the parable of the lost coin for kids?

Every person matters to God. The woman lit a candle, swept the house and sought diligently till she found her one lost piece of silver (Luke 15:8). In the same way, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10).

Who did Jesus tell the parable of the lost coin to?

Publicans and sinners drew near to hear Jesus, and the Pharisees and scribes murmured, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Jesus spoke this parable to them (Luke 15:1–3), right after the parable of the lost sheep.

Was the lost coin a real coin?

The KJV calls it "one piece" of her "ten pieces of silver" (Luke 15:8). It was a silver coin, one of the woman's ten. The Bible doesn't say what it looked like, so the lessons and craft show it as a plain round silver piece.