This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Luke 15:1-7, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Jesus was telling people about God. Some of the people who came to listen to Jesus weren’t always good. They are sinners and had done bad things before, but they still wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.
Some Pharisees who were watching didn’t like that Jesus was spending time with these sinners. They grumbled and complained about it.
So Jesus told them a story about a man who had 100 sheep.
One day, one of the sheep wandered off and got lost. The man didn’t just give up and say, “Oh well, I still have 99 sheep.” No, he left the 99 sheep in a safe place and went out to find the lost one. When he found it, he picked it up and carried it back home. He was so happy that he called all of his friends and neighbors to come and celebrate with him.
Jesus explained that this is how God feels when someone who has done wrong turns away from their sins and starts doing what is right. God is happier about that than He is about people who have always been good.
Biblical Lessons
- God is always seeking to save those who are lost, just like the man in the story searched for the lost sheep.
- It’s never too late to turn away from our sins and do what is right, just like the lost sheep was able to be found and brought back home.
Related Stories
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
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