The Parable of the Lost Coin

Introduction
For several weeks we have emphasized the value of the kingdom and the worth of the lost. Luke 15 presents three parables on this very theme: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Last week we considered the sheep who wandered away. Today we hear Jesus’ second story—a lost coin—teaching us about those who are lost and don’t even know it, and about our responsibility to search until they are found.

The Setting and Picture
Jesus says, “What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8–10). First-century homes often had dirt floors strewn with rushes; windows were small or absent, so even daytime searches needed lamplight. Many women wore a ten-coin headband—an heirloom akin to a wedding band—so the loss was not merely monetary; it was deeply personal. She lights the lamp, sweeps the floor, and searches carefully until the coin is found—and then she gathers friends to rejoice. Jesus adds the heavenly dimension: “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Who Is the Lost Coin?
Unlike the wandering sheep, the coin did not “decide” to be lost. It lay unaware beneath the rushes, unable to feel its condition or find its way home. This is a vivid picture of millions around us—people who do not know they are lost, who may not yet grasp sin, judgment, heaven, or hell. Don’t think first of crowds; think of one person you know. Personalize it. That soul is of greater worth than the whole world (Matthew 16:26).

What Lostness Means
Isaiah says our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1–2). While separated, people cannot serve God as His priesthood or bring Him glory in the way He desires (1 Peter 2:9–10). They may possess great potential for good, but until they are found, that potential remains unrealized—just as a lost coin has value only when recovered and put back into use.

Who Can Be Found? Everyone.
Corinth was full of lost coins—people trapped in open sin—yet listen to Paul: “Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, sanctified, justified…” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11). That is the church’s testimony: people once lost, now found. No case is hopeless while the gospel works and time remains.

Our Part: Light, Sweep, Search—Until
The woman did not sit and wait for the coin to come to her; it could not. She lit a lamp, swept the house, and searched carefully until she found it. Likewise, we shine the light of the word, clear away the debris of confusion and tradition, and keep looking until. God’s patience in delaying judgment has one aim—repentance (2 Peter 3:8–9). He uses His people and His word to awaken the unaware and bring them home. Jesus ate with sinners not to endorse sin, but to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:30–32). If angels rejoice when one is found, then seeking is worth our prayers, our time, our conversations, and our courage.

The Parable of the Lost Coin Sermon Outline

• Introduction

  • The value theme in Luke 15

  • Today: the lost coin—lost and unaware

• Text and Background (Luke 15:8–10)

  • Dirt floors, rushes, low light, heirloom coin band

  • Lamp lit, house swept, careful search, joyful celebration

  • Heaven’s joy over one sinner who repents

• Who the Coin Represents

  • Lost without awareness, unable to return unaided

  • Personalize the one soul in your life

• Lostness Defined

  • Sin separates (Isaiah 59:1–2)

  • Potential vs. purpose: value realized only when found

  • Outside Christ cannot render priestly service to God (1 Peter 2:9–10)

• Hope: “Such Were Some of You”

  • Corinth’s catalog of sins (1 Corinthians 6:9–11)

  • Washed, sanctified, justified—real change is possible

• Our Task

  • Light the word, sweep confusion, search intentionally

  • Don’t wait for coins to come to us—go to them

  • God’s patience aims at repentance (2 Peter 3:8–9)

  • Join heaven’s joy—seek the one

Call to Action
Think of the one person in your life who is lost and unaware. Light the lamp of Scripture, sweep away excuses, and lovingly search—until. Start today with a prayer, a message, a visit, an open Bible. If you yourself are that coin—unaware until now—believe the gospel, repent, and be baptized into Christ so you can be found, washed, and put to holy use (Acts 2:38). Let heaven rejoice over you today.

Key Takeaways

• The lost coin pictures souls who do not know they are lost—and cannot find the way home without help (Luke 15:8–10).

• While lost, people have only potential; when found, that potential becomes service and glory to God (Isaiah 59:1–2; 1 Peter 2:9–10).

• No one is beyond recovery: “such were some of you… but you were washed” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

• God’s patience gives us today to seek and to repent (2 Peter 3:8–9).

• Angels rejoice over one sinner who repents—so seek the one, today.

Scripture Reference List

• Luke 15:8–10 — Parable of the lost coin, heaven’s joy

• Luke 15:1–7, 11–32 — Context: lost sheep and lost son

• Isaiah 59:1–2 — Sin separates from God

• 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 — “Such were some of you… washed, sanctified, justified”

• 1 Peter 2:9–10 — Called to declare His praises

• 2 Peter 3:8–9 — God’s patience and repentance

• Luke 5:30–32 — Jesus calls sinners to repentance

• Acts 2:38 — Repent and be baptized for forgiveness

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO