Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son

These parables illustrate God's boundless love and forgiveness.

Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son

Luke 15:1-7

1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Sermons Related to this Bible Chapter - Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son

The Prodigal God : I would like to start by asking you a question but before asking you, here is first a little story. A good 10 years ago now, I had a discussion with my best friend who you probably know, Joël Hirschy. He was pastor of Action Biblique de Meinier and is now in Valais on a missionary project. What animated our discussion was the notion of grace. We found that there was a potential risk regarding grace of misusing it and being able to justify committing sins because in the end, God forgave us. We came to the conclusion that it was better to be more legalistic than under this grace with this fear of living as Dietrich Bonhöffer very well recalled, in his book “living as a disciple”, cheap grace . So I ask you the question: what do you think is the best position to adopt? Are we more inclined to set strict moral rules or live under a grace that ultimately allows us to live as we wish?

Parables #2: Will the one you reject precede you into eternity? : Grace, okay, but I'm worth it, even I'm "Vaud" well (in all respects: I work, I pay my taxes, no debts, I pay tithes and I go to worship every Sundays)… – “After all, I'm not like those who are in social services, on the hook for society after having done anything with their lives. – “There's no risk of them coming to pollute eternity, those ones! “Are you so sure? Their determination to seek God can be amazing. In any case God notices it and would like to see it in your life, that you can, like them, know repentance and the joy that is linked to it.

Parables #1: The one you reject has the same place as you (Gospel of Luke 15); Patrice Berger : Whether we admit it or not, we all have people we consider excluded by the hand that Jesus extends to each person. As these thoughts are common to all humans (collateral effect of our decline), God wanted to emphasize in the Bible, through Jesus, that His grace is accessible to each person who repents, without exception, without hierarchy...You can consult the Bible texts referenced in the sermon in the Bible Segond21 (S21) Gospel of Luke 15 or the Bible NEG 1979 Gospel of Luke 15 available online.Sermons/Bible studies are also available in :Audio: Podcast / Spotify video: The Parables#1: The one you reject has the same place as you ; see also the YouTube channel of the AB Lausanne-Renens church and the YouTube channel of the Action Biblique churches

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A father, his face etched with worry and compassion, anxiously searching for his lost son amid a dimly lit street at night. The lighting should highlight his intense emotion. The scene should portray a feeling of vulnerability and hope. The father's worry illustrates the parental love and persistent hope for the lost son's return, mirroring God's unconditional love.

A detailed image of a shepherd’s crook resting against a rocky outcrop, with a single, small footprint in the nearby earth symbolizing the journey home of the lost sheep. The crook should be weathered and worn, suggestive of years of service. The overall feel is of quiet reflection and gentle relief. The shepherd's crook and footprint symbolize the journey of the lost sheep's return and the shepherd's dedication to finding it, reflecting <a href=

Luke 15:4-7 .' />

An image of a worn leather pouch partially open revealing several tarnished coins, one noticeably missing, suggesting the loss of a coin and the subsequent joy of its discovery. The pouch itself should be old and worn, evoking a sense of age and simple life. The overall mood is one of relief and gratitude. The worn pouch with a missing coin visually represents the loss and the subsequent relief of finding what was lost, mirroring <a href=

Luke 15:8-10 .' />

A macro closeup of a single, mud-caked lamb’s foot, partially obscured by overgrown weeds, symbolizing the lost sheep desperately seeking its way home. The setting is a rocky, desolate hillside at dusk, mirroring the sheep's lost and vulnerable state. The overall mood is one of loneliness and despair. This macro shot focuses on the detail of the lost sheep's plight, emphasizing its loneliness and vulnerability as described in <a href=

Luke 15:1-7 .' />

Macro closeup of a single, tarnished silver coin lying amongst dust and debris on a cracked earthen floor, symbolizing the lost coin. Focus should be on the intricate details of the coin's wear and tear, highlighting its age and forgotten state. The overall color palette should be muted earth tones with hints of rust and decay. The macro focus on the tarnished coin highlights its insignificance and the subsequent joy of its recovery, reflecting the parable in <a href=

Luke 15:8-10 .' />

A bright morning scene with vibrant orange sunlight illuminating a shepherd frantically searching for a lost lamb amongst rolling green hills. The shepherd's attire should be simple and rustic, reflecting a biblical time period. Birdsong and a gentle breeze should be implied. The bright morning light symbolizes hope and the shepherd's tireless search for the lost sheep, mirroring the theme of God's persistent search for the lost.

A nature scene, bathed in the golden light of dawn, showcasing a winding path leading through a lush olive grove, symbolizing the son’s journey home. The path should be dusty, hinting at a long journey. The overall atmosphere should be one of hope and anticipation. The winding path in the olive grove represents the son's journey home, a journey of repentance and return, as depicted in <a href=

Luke 15:11-32 .' />

An evening scene with fading sunlight casting long shadows across a barren landscape, reflecting the son's regret and desperation. The color palette should be predominantly muted oranges and blues. The mood should be one of remorse and loneliness. The setting sun and barren landscape capture the son's feelings of regret and desperation before his return, illustrating the consequences of his choices.

An evening scene, twilight settling over a humble farmhouse, symbolizing the father's unwavering love and patience, awaiting his son's return. A warm, inviting light emanates from the house's windows, creating a stark contrast to the cool, dark surroundings. The warm light of the farmhouse contrasts the darkness, showing the father's unwavering love and the welcoming nature of repentance.

A group of villagers, their faces etched with concern, gathered at daybreak outside a shepherd's hut, awaiting news of a lost lamb. The scene should feature simple, everyday clothing and tools of the time period. The overall mood is one of anticipation and hope. The villagers' anticipation highlights the community's hope for the return of the lost, a reflection of God's joy at the repentance of sinners.

A group of people, dressed in simple robes, silhouetted against the moonlit sky, engaging in a somber conversation during a nighttime celebration reflecting the joy at the return of the lost coin and lamb. The moon should provide the only light source, creating a mysterious and dramatic atmosphere. The moonlit celebration represents the communal joy at a return, reflecting both the lost sheep and coin parables and the joy of reconciliation.

A distraught young man, his clothing torn and dusty, kneeling in the dirt, reflecting the son's profound remorse and desperation. The scene should take place during the day under a clear sky, emphasizing the feeling of isolation and regret. The young man's distress directly embodies the son's remorse, emphasizing the depth of his regret and his longing for forgiveness.

overlayed with the bible verse 1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

NOTE: The images reflect the following descriptions related to the theme : Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son

A macro closeup of a single, mud-caked lamb’s foot, partially obscured by overgrown weeds, symbolizing the lost sheep desperately seeking its way home. The setting is a rocky, desolate hillside at dusk, mirroring the sheep's lost and vulnerable state. The overall mood is one of loneliness and despair.
Macro closeup of a single, tarnished silver coin lying amongst dust and debris on a cracked earthen floor, symbolizing the lost coin. Focus should be on the intricate details of the coin's wear and tear, highlighting its age and forgotten state. The overall color palette should be muted earth tones with hints of rust and decay.
A bright morning scene with vibrant orange sunlight illuminating a shepherd frantically searching for a lost lamb amongst rolling green hills. The shepherd's attire should be simple and rustic, reflecting a biblical time period. Birdsong and a gentle breeze should be implied.
A nature scene, bathed in the golden light of dawn, showcasing a winding path leading through a lush olive grove, symbolizing the son’s journey home. The path should be dusty, hinting at a long journey. The overall atmosphere should be one of hope and anticipation.
An evening scene with fading sunlight casting long shadows across a barren landscape, reflecting the son's regret and desperation. The color palette should be predominantly muted oranges and blues. The mood should be one of remorse and loneliness.
An evening scene, twilight settling over a humble farmhouse, symbolizing the father's unwavering love and patience, awaiting his son's return. A warm, inviting light emanates from the house's windows, creating a stark contrast to the cool, dark surroundings.
A group of villagers, their faces etched with concern, gathered at daybreak outside a shepherd's hut, awaiting news of a lost lamb. The scene should feature simple, everyday clothing and tools of the time period. The overall mood is one of anticipation and hope.
A group of people, dressed in simple robes, silhouetted against the moonlit sky, engaging in a somber conversation during a nighttime celebration reflecting the joy at the return of the lost coin and lamb. The moon should provide the only light source, creating a mysterious and dramatic atmosphere.
A distraught young man, his clothing torn and dusty, kneeling in the dirt, reflecting the son's profound remorse and desperation. The scene should take place during the day under a clear sky, emphasizing the feeling of isolation and regret.
A father, his face etched with worry and compassion, anxiously searching for his lost son amid a dimly lit street at night. The lighting should highlight his intense emotion. The scene should portray a feeling of vulnerability and hope.
A detailed image of a shepherd’s crook resting against a rocky outcrop, with a single, small footprint in the nearby earth symbolizing the journey home of the lost sheep. The crook should be weathered and worn, suggestive of years of service. The overall feel is of quiet reflection and gentle relief.
An image of a worn leather pouch partially open revealing several tarnished coins, one noticeably missing, suggesting the loss of a coin and the subsequent joy of its discovery. The pouch itself should be old and worn, evoking a sense of age and simple life. The overall mood is one of relief and gratitude.

General themes for this chapter of the Bible: The Lost Sheep; The Lost Coin; The Prodigal Son

A link to this resource is much appreciated to let others know about this free christian resource. The AB Church in LAusanne-Renens is happy to make the image collection available for free.