How to Do a Bible Study With Your Kids: A Simple Lost Sheep Plan
By Boundless Writing Team and Dr. Layne McDonald
The short answer
To do a Bible study with your kids, pick one short passage, set aside about 20 minutes, and walk through a few simple steps together: gather, pray, read, retell, ask, apply, and pray again. You do not need a curriculum, a seminary degree, or perfectly behaved children. You just need an open Bible, a little curiosity, and a willingness to show up. Below is a ready-to-use study on the parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) that works for kids roughly ages 5 to 12. You can do it tonight.
If you keep feeling like you are "not the right person" to lead family Bible time, take a deep breath, friend. God is not looking for a perfect teacher. He is looking for a willing parent, and He will meet you right there at the kitchen table.
Why studying the Bible with your kids matters
God has always invited parents into this. Moses told Israel, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NIV). Faith happens in ordinary places: at home, on the road, at bedtime.
Paul reminded young Timothy "how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15, NIV). And Jesus Himself made room for kids: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14, NIV).
Before you start: what you need
A Bible. Any translation works. We quote the NIV in this post, and it is very readable for older kids.
About 20 minutes. Shorter is fine for little ones. Stopping while they still want more is a win.
One small prop. A stuffed animal, a cotton ball, or a sheep you draw on paper. Kids remember what they can touch.
Paper and crayons for the activity at the end.
Phones away, including yours. Your full attention tells your kids this time matters.
The Lost Sheep: a step by step family Bible study
Step 1: Gather and get curious (2 minutes)
Before everyone sits down, hide your toy sheep (or paper sheep) somewhere in the room. Tell the kids, "One of our sheep is missing. Can you find it?" Let them search. When someone finds it, cheer like crazy. Then ask, "How did it feel to find it?" You have just set up the whole story.
Step 2: Open with a short prayer (1 minute)
Keep it simple so your kids can see that prayer is just talking to God. Something like: "Jesus, thank You for this time together. Please help us understand Your Word and love You more. Amen." As kids get comfortable, let them take turns opening in prayer.
Step 3: Read the passage out loud (3 minutes)
Read Luke 15:3-7 slowly and with expression:
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:3-7, NIV)
Tip: Read it twice. The second time, let the kids act it out. One child is the shepherd, one is the lost sheep, and everyone else is the ninety-nine (or the cheering neighbors). The giggles are part of the learning.
Step 4: Retell it together (3 minutes)
Close the Bible and ask your kids to tell the story back to you in their own words. Let the older ones help the younger ones. If they miss a part, ask a gentle question like "And then what did the shepherd do when he found it?"
Step 5: Talk about it (5 minutes)
Pick two or three questions. You do not have to use them all.
For younger kids (about 5 to 7):
How many sheep did the shepherd have? How many got lost?
What did the shepherd do when one sheep was missing?
How do you think the shepherd felt when he found it?
Who is like the shepherd in this story?
For older kids (about 8 to 12):
Why would a shepherd leave ninety-nine sheep to look for just one? Does that seem risky to you?
Jesus says heaven rejoices over "one sinner who repents." What does it mean to repent?
Have you ever felt lost, left out, or far from God? What does this story tell you about how God sees you then?
Is there someone at school or in our neighborhood who might feel like the lost sheep? How could we show them Jesus' love?
Step 6: Point them to Jesus (3 minutes)
Now connect the dots. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11, NIV). And He told us why He came: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10, NIV).
Say it plainly so even your youngest gets it: every one of us has wandered away from God by doing wrong things. That is called sin. But Jesus loves us so much that He came looking for us. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and when we tell God we are sorry, turn away from our sin, and trust Jesus, He carries us home like the shepherd carried that sheep. And all of heaven celebrates. Luke 15:10 says, "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (NIV).
If one of your kids says, "I want Jesus to be my Shepherd," do not rush past it. Pray with them right there, in simple words, and let them talk to Jesus too. Then tell your pastor or kids leader so they can celebrate with you.
For the tender-hearted child who worries about being "the bad sheep," read this: "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart" (Isaiah 40:11, NIV).
Step 7: Make it stick (3 minutes)
Memory verse: "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1, NIV). Say it together a few times with motions. Practice it at breakfast all week.
Activity: Have everyone draw a sheep (or glue cotton balls on paper). On the back, write or draw the name of someone your family can pray for who might feel lost or lonely.
Take it into the week: Hang the sheep on the fridge and pray for those names all week.
Step 8: Close in prayer
Here is a family prayer you can pray together, or have the kids repeat line by line:
Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd. Thank You for coming to find us when we wander away. Help us to love You, obey You, and stay close to You. Help us notice people who feel lost or left out, and show them Your love. Thank You that we are never too far for You to find. In Jesus' name, amen.
Tips for real families (and real wiggles)
Mixed ages? Let older kids read the passage or lead the acting. Little ones can hold the sheep and do the motions. Everyone has a job.
Wiggly kids? That is normal. Let them color while you read. Listening does not always look like sitting still.
Big question you cannot answer? Say, "That is a great question. Let's find out together."
Missed a few nights? Grace, friend. Just start again. God's compassions "never fail. They are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV).
Keep going: a four week "Lost and Found" plan
Use the same steps for a few more weeks with stories that build on this one:
Week 1: The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
Week 2: The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
Week 3: The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Week 4: Jesus finds Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
By week four, your kids may be the ones leading.
A prayer for you, parent
Father, some nights we feel tired and unqualified. Remind us that You are the Good Shepherd of our whole family. Give us patience, joy, and simple words, and let Your Word take root in our kids' hearts and in ours. Holy Spirit, lead our home. In Jesus' name, amen.
Your next steps
Join a group. Parenting is better with friends who pray for you and cheer you on: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/groups
Ask for prayer. Need prayer for your kids, your home, or your own walk with God? Share a request on our Prayer Wall: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/prayer-wall
Send a praise report. Did your family Bible time spark a great conversation, or did your child say yes to Jesus? Post a praise on the Prayer Wall to encourage others: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/prayer-wall
New to Boundless? Start here: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/new-here
In the Memphis area? Connect with First Assembly Memphis: https://www.famemphis.org/connect
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV).
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