MAIN THOUGHT
They say that you can’t judge a book by its cover. By the same “token,” you can’t judge a coin by its printed value! This is especially true of coins with “imperfections,” like typos or misprinted images. One might think that imperfections make a coin worthless. Instead, these imperfections can make a coin highly desirable to a collector! In a similar way, we all have our own imperfections - but God assigns great value to us. He seeks after us. He doesn’t give up on us, and there is great joy in Heaven when we’re “found.” We should live knowing we’re valued, and see others in that same light.
MAIN PASSAGES
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,…. if she loses one coin, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:8-10
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” - Luke 15:1-2
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you ever felt like you weren’t valued, or that you were unwanted or unloved? How did that mindset affect your life?
Value is ultimately determined by the price someone is willing to pay to obtain something. In order to redeem us, Jesus paid with His life. How should this affect the way we see ourselves? How does this affect the way we view and treat others?
We invest in things, or treat them well, when we know they’re valuable. How can you “invest in yourself” in response to the value God sees in you?
FAMILY DISCUSSION
What is the most important thing to you? Did you know that God thinks of you as even more important than that? How does that make you feel?