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Fruit of the Spirit


peach Joypeach
The Lost Coin

by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian


envelope

           José walked to the mailbox near the street to check the mail for his mother. On his way back to the house, he looked through the letters and was surprised to discover that there was one with his name on it. Excitedly, he ran through the door shouting, “Hey, Mom! There is one for me! There is a letter with my name on it!”

           José's mother looked at the envelope and handed it back to José saying, “It is from your Aunt Marie. You may open it.”

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           José quickly tore open the envelope, revealing a cute birthday card. When he opened the card to read it, he was overjoyed to find a crisp, new ten dollar bill folded inside. How happy and excited he was! “Now I can buy that new bell for my bike, like the one Peter has!” he exclaimed.

           José took the card and the money to his room, then went outside to play with his good friend Peter. He told Peter about his good fortune and invited Peter to go shopping with him to buy the bell.

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Several days later, José's mother was ready to take the boys to the store. José went to his room to get the crisp, new ten dollar bill, but it had disappeared. It was no longer on the dresser where he had left it. He was so upset, he began to cry loudly.

           Startled by the crying, his mother came rushing into the room. “Whatever is the matter with you?” she questioned.

           “It…it's gone! The money…is GONE!” he tried to explain between sobs. “Where can it be? What am I going to do? I know I left it right here,” he cried.

           At that moment, he looked up to see that his friend Peter was also standing by the door of his room. “I'll help you look for it,” Peter said, trying to comfort his friend.

           The two boys searched the whole room. They opened the dresser drawers. They looked inside José's special box. They looked in the toy bin. It seemed that they had looked everywhere but still had not found the money. They were almost ready to give up when José's mother came to the room with a flashlight.

grapes            “Here, take this light and look under the bed one more time,” she suggested. The boys had already looked under the bed, so they didn't think it would do any good, but to please José's mother, they got on the floor and looked again.

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peach At first, they didn't see anything under the bed except a few small toys and a sock, but then Peter exclaimed, “Hey! Shine that light over here again. I think a see a piece of paper.” José got down on the floor on his belly and shone the flashlight in the direction Peter had told him. He saw it, too, but thought it was just an old scrap of paper. But Peter persisted and stretched as far as he could. Finally, he was able to reach the paper and pull it out from under the bed.

           How excited the boys were when they could see that it was the birthday card from José's Aunt Marie! José opened the card, and sure enough, the crisp, new ten dollar bill was still inside. There was so much joy in that room that day, it could hardly be contained. The boys were giggling and jumping, so happy that they had found the lost money.

           José's mother was glad to see her son happy again. “Come on boys!” José's mother exclaimed. “Let's go buy that new bicycle bell!” José carefully folded the crisp, new ten dollar bill and put it way down deep into his pocket. He certainly did not want to lose it again!

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           There is a story in the Bible that is very similar to the story of José and his lost ten dollar bill. This is the story Jesus told a very long time ago:

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woman counting her coins There was a woman who had ten silver coins. She was probably a poor woman, and those ten silver coins were very important and precious to her. One day, she decided to take those coins out of their special place. She just wanted to look at them and enjoy them for a moment; then she was going to put them back. She picked up each coin, one by one, looked at it, then turned it over to look at the other side. The coins were so pretty and shiny! She really enjoyed looking at her coins, and she was feeling so fortunate to have them, but she knew she needed to put them back in their special place and get back to her work for the day.

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           The woman counted her coins one last time, as she was putting them away.

woman searching whole house Six … Seven … Eight … Nine ….

           “Oh, no! There are only nine! Maybe I have counted them wrong,” she thought to herself. So she put them all in her hand and counted them again:

Six … Seven … Eight … Nine ….

           “Oh, NO!!!! There really are only nine. There are supposed to be TEN!” she exclaimed loudly. “Now what am I going to do?”

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Frantically, the woman searched her whole house. She looked on the floor, under the table where she had been counting the coins, but it was not there. She looked in her pockets just in case it might have fallen off the table and into her pocket, but she could not find the coin. She got her broom and started sweeping every nook and cranny, but still did not find the lost coin.

woman searching with a candle            Finally the woman lit a candle so she would have more light. She got down on her knees on the floor and searched every inch of her small house and was ready to give up in despair. But…wait! What was that? The light from the candle caused her to notice a slight gleam near the table leg. She hurried to the spot and put the candle down low so she could see better. There, glistening in the light, was the shiny silver coin.

           The woman was so excited and full of joy about finding her lost coin, she went out to get her friends and invited them to her house for a big party. All her friends were just as happy as she was about finding the missing coin. They had a long, joyous celebration.

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           After telling the story of the woman rejoicing because she found her lost coin, Jesus turned to the people and said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” That means that the angels in heaven sing and shout for joy, and have a great celebration when one person chooses to stop doing things he or she knows to be wrong, and instead chooses to follow God's way, by doing what is right.

woman rejoicing
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THINK!

1. How many coins did the woman have?
2. How many coins did the woman lose?
3. How did the woman feel when she found her lost coin?
4. What did Jesus say about the angels?
5. Which fruit of the Spirit did you learn about in this story?


REMEMBER:

The angels are joyful when one person stops doing wrong.


A VERSE TO LEARN

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

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ALTERNATE VERSE TO LEARN

“…joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” (Luke 15:7b KJV).



PRACTICAL APPLICATION

What kind of things give you joy? Receiving presents, visiting friends? What kind of things cause you to lose your joy and leave you feeling sad? Losing things, bad experiences?

The Bible teaches that you must always rejoice in the Lord and be glad in Him. Can you think of reasons to be glad in the Lord? What can cause you to lose your joy in the Lord? How can you get your joy back?

[After discussion:] Believing in Jesus, trusting Him and knowing how much He loves you gives great joy. Sin, on the other hand, always causes you to lose your joy. But if you sincerely ask Jesus for forgiveness, you can get your joy back and share in the joy Jesus and the angels have over someone who decides to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

The Bible tells us, “…in thy presence is fulness of joy…” (Psalm 16:11). As you seek the Lord, spending time in prayer, worshipping Him, you will find heavenly joy that is so rich, it is beyond any earthy joy you could ever experience. “…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The joy of the Lord will give you strength to walk in God's ways. Search your heart right now to find out what you need to do to find joy.



LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Dear Jesus, thank You for the story You told about joy.
Please forgive me for the bad things I have done and
help me not to do them anymore. Help me to have joy.
In your Name I pray. Amen.
****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?

Luke 15:8-10

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STORIES IN THIS SERIES:

The Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance

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coloring

Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy Coloring Page (online)
She searched until she found it! (online)
Bible Verse Coloring Page for The Lost Coin (online)
Lost Coin Coloring (online)
One Lost Coin, One Lost Sheep Coloring Page (online)
My Story Time Parables Coloring Book
The Parable of the Lost Coin Coloring Page (online)

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Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Page (online)
Fruit of the Spirit by Name Coloring Page (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Basket (online)
God Wants Us to Bear Good Fruit (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Tree (online)
Fruit Bowl (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Reproducible Coloring Book

Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids

God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation


Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books


stories

God's Lost and Found (online)
Bible For Children Presents: Prodigal Son, Lost Coin, Lost Sheep (online)
Favorite Parables from the Bible
Lost and Found - eBook by Mary Rice Hopkins
The Lost Coin Arch Book
The Parable of the Lost Coin (online)
Tiny Tales
Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons

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Adventures of Heart Longing:
An Allegory of the Fruit of the Spirit


Cutie Fruities: Scratch'n'Sniff and Glitter!
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Collection eBook
Fruit of the Spirit Arch Book
Fruit of the Spirit Stories For Children (online)
God Counts Series: 9 Fruits Alive
Life Is an Adventure with Ernie

Living As God's Girl: Your One-of-a-Kind
Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit


The Fruit of the Spirit (online)


Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Children's Books
Early Reader's Bible
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Pilgrim's Progress Comic
Spanish Children's Books

365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year


365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible


activities

Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Lost Coin Activities (online)
Lost Coin Maze (online)
Lost Coin activities (online)
Lost Coin/Lost Sheep Word Search (online)
Stories Jesus Told Hidden Pictures Activity Book--Ages 6 to 10

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Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Story Cards To Keep and Share (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit activities (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bingo Game (online)
Fruit Puzzle (online)
Fruits of the Spirit Dominoes
Online Word Search (online)
Word Search (online)
Memory Match (online)
Faith That Sticks: Fruit Of The Spirit Stickers
Teacher Created: Fruit Of The Spirit Stickers
The Fruit of the Spirit Spinning Top Game & Puzzle Sheet

Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles


songs

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart (online)
Jesus Loves Me (online)
The Lost Coin Song (online)
The Lost Coin [Donut Man Music Download]
The Widow's Lost Coin—Donut Man

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Fruit of the Spirit (sheet music/MP3) (online)
I Want To Be Like Jesus (sheet music/MP3) (online)
Donut Man: Fruit Of The Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit Of The Spirit [Children of Faith Split Trax Music Download]
Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1 & 2 CD (Steve Green)
Integrity Kids: Fruit of the Spirit [Music Download]
The Fruit of The Spirit Song/MP3/CHORDS (online)
Fruit of the Spirit by Maranatha Kids (online)
Fruit of the Spirit [Brentwood Music Download]
Fruit of the Spirit Cadence (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit — Donut Man (listen online)

The Fruit Of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22 & 25
[Steve Green Music Download]


Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD

100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids

Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (online)

25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music


CDs and DVDs

Adventures in Odyssey #45: Lost & Found
Bible Cartoon: The Lost Coin (online)
Character Builders: Joy (online)
Hope+ Kids: Lost and Found (online)
Lost Coin Animation (online)
Parable of Lost Coin (online)
Parable of the Lost Coin (online)
The Parable of the Lost Coin (online)

VeggieTales: Fruits of the Spirit Stories
Vol. 1: Love, Joy, Peace DVD


Wildwood Treehouse: The Parable of the Lost Coin (online)

Adventures in Odyssey: The Fruits of the Spirit -
12 Episodes to Grow On


Auto B Good Fruits of the Spirit DVD
By Their Fruit (watch online)
Camp New: Humble Pie, DVD
Character Builders, 2 Disc Set (Repackaged)
Donut Man: Barnyard Fun & On The Air, DVD
Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1 & 2 CD (Steve Green)
Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD
Music Machine (watch online)

All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share DVD Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs


crafts

Coin Bag Craft (online--see page 6)
Parable of the Lost Coin Craft (online)
Parable of the Lost Coin Craft, Song, and Activities (online)

apple

Fruit Printing (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Crafts (online)
Basket Craft (online)

Bible Crafts
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6)
Bible Craft Videos (online)
Crafting the Word of God (online)

Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]


Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts

More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes

(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)

Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)


RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

Free Bible images for this story (online)
A Lost Coin drama for kids - [PDF Download]
Parable of the Lost Coin [Download - Eikon Bible Art]
Parable of the Lost Coin and the Lost Sheep Lesson (online)
Travel Guide to the Parables

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Story Ideas
Important Notes About This Lesson and Answers to THINK Questions

All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Preschool edition)
All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Elementary edition)
Faith Case Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit Bible story and activities (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit (printable)
Free Bible images for Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit Basket Upset-Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Experience the Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin Board Set (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Characters (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Classroom Chart (online)
Fruits of the Spirit and How We Can Show Them to Others (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Bowl (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Object Lesson (online)
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit Lesson Plan (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Anagrams (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Name Tags (online)
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Puppet/Skits Scripts (online)
Apple Snacks (online)
Chocolate Covered Strawberries (online)
Fruit Kabobs (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Pizza (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Please Pass The Fruit (Game) (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Necklace (Memory Tool) (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bookmarks
Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin
The Fruit Of The Spirit, Laminated Wall Chart
How to Simply Inspire Character (online)

Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages (online)
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick
Children's Sermon (online)
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer (online)

FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide
(online)

52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos (online)
God's Servants Teach Me

God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs


Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles

Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings


Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Activities (online)
Memory Verse Resources
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
Object Talks
Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Pray & Play Bible for Young Children
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons (online)
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry


Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know

Children's resources (online)

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