Children's Sermon
by Esther Behling Zadeik

VISUALS: Ten half-dollars or quarters and a pouch 
or coin purse to hold them. Hide one coin in the 
chancel before the service. Flashlight, broom, tray.

Remove coins from the purse and pile them on the 
tray.  Would you be happy if you could have this 
money?  Why?  Let children respond.
I can buy a lot of things with this money. I have 
10 coins. Let’s count them and be sure they are 
all here. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,  7, 8, 9 … Wait a 
minute. I know I had 10. Let’s count again … 
Where could my lost coin be?  Would you help me 
find it?  Help children search the chancel area. 
Ask one child to shine the flashlight under 
furniture and another child to use the broom to 
reach under things. Give clues if necessary.
I am so glad we found my coin. In the Gospel 
lesson today, Jesus tells a story about a woman 
who had 10 coins. Each drachma coin could buy one 
sheep. Five bought an ox. But she lost one coin. 
She used a light and a broom to find it, just 
like you did. How did she feel then?  Read Luke 
15:8–10.  She called her friends and had a party 
to celebrate because she was so happy.
Jesus told us this story because he wants us to 
know that we are more precious and valuable to 
him than any coin. Now, we often do bad things. 
That shows that we are sinful, or far away from 
God, like being lost. But Jesus comes looking for 
us. The Holy Spirit gives us faith in Jesus. 
Jesus brings us back to God so that we are found 
by him. When that happens, the angels in heaven 
laugh and have a party because they are so happy.
Let’s say a prayer and thank God that we are 
found and brought back to God by Jesus. Ask the 
children and congregation to repeat each phrase 
after you.  Dear God … we do bad things … we 
forget about you … without our Savior we would be 
lost.… Thank you … for sending Jesus Christ, our 
Savior … to find us … and love us … and bring us back to you.… Amen.

St. Paul Lutheran Church
Mt. Prospect, Illinois