The Good Shepherd

Hi-there parents! Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith while Children's Church is not meeting. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20). 

Jesus’ teaching caused division among the Jews. They argued about who He was and where He had come from. Had He really come from God? Was He crazy or demon-possessed? In John 10, Jesus taught about Himself by using a comparison that is found throughout the Old Testament: the Lord as the Shepherd of His people.

In Bible times, shepherding was a common occupation. Leaders of nations—even non-Israelite nations—would refer to themselves as shepherds of the people. A good shepherd would guide, provide for, and protect his people. Yet Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel criticized Israel’s leaders for failing to shepherd God’s people well. The Israelites were like sheep—helpless and wandering—and they longed for a truly good shepherd.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides abundant life for His sheep. A shepherd would gather his sheep at night and form a pen to keep the sheep in and to keep wild animals and thieves out. The shepherd would lay across the opening. Like a shepherd provides safety for his sheep, Jesus provides salvation and eternal life.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. A shepherd protects his sheep from wolves and other wild animals, even at risk to his own life. Jesus gave up His life on the cross to rescue sinners from sin and death.

Finally, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. Even when two or more flocks gathered in a pen, a shepherd could call for his sheep and they would respond to the sound of his voice. Jesus knows His sheep personally. 

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to do His Father’s plan: to die on the cross and rise again so that we might be saved. We can live sacrificially as we point others to the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, may I encourage you with a verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures? Chapter 6 verse 9 says, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are to young to sit for that long. Take the key points and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

  Each week we will include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take a few moments to print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready, go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!  

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives during this time at home? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest bummers? 

 Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

  Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, we love you Lord. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for protecting us, keeping us safe under your wings. Thank you for being our shelter and our strength. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

  Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! Prompt the kids to think about who protects them. Offer suggestions, such as police officers, firefighters, crossing guards, parents, and so forth.

Say • A lot of people work to protect us in different ways. Today, we will learn about a time Jesus explained how He protects His people. What do you think Jesus might have compared Himself to? What do you think He said we were like?

  Optional Session Starter Activity (Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party ) (In activity pages attached below) 

  As we get to the story, let’s take another look at the big picture question. 

What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom. He taught that all Scripture is about Him. Because of Jesus’ teachings recorded in God’s Word, we know a lot about God. Jesus’ role on earth was to live a perfect life, die as the perfect sacrifice for sin, and come back to life to defeat death. A part of His perfect life was telling people about God and His kingdom. Jesus wanted people to know God personally. His work on the cross made it possible for us to understand and obey God’s Word.

  We have learned a lot about Jesus’ teachings. Jesus taught people how to live in God’s kingdom. We know that following Jesus is not easy, but He is worth it. Jesus taught people how to pray, and Jesus taught people not to worry because God provides for our needs. Today, we will learn that Jesus taught that He is a shepherd. But not just any shepherd, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. (Note: Today we will use the Jr Church Bible Story Video for both PreK and Jr Church)

In those days, many people would have been familiar with the job of shepherd. In lots of places in the Old Testament, God’s Word uses sheep and shepherds as examples. Jacob was a shepherd, and so was Moses. David was a shepherd before he became king and even wrote a psalm saying God was his shepherd. So when Jesus spoke of sheep, the religious leaders knew he was really talking about God’s people.

Jesus’ teaching is important because it helps us understand that some people want to hurt God’s children, like the thief. Others may not want to hurt God’s children, but they won’t stay around to protect them either, like the hired hand. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His people. He laid down His life for us.

The religious leaders were very upset when Jesus said these things because they knew that Jesus was saying He is God. They did not want to believe that, but it is true. Jesus is God the Son. He came to earth to save people from sin by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. Everyone who believes becomes a sheep in Jesus’ flock. And Jesus never loses any sheep. We can trust that Jesus will care for us perfectly until the day He returns to fully start His perfect kingdom 

 Jesus is the Good Shepherd. God sent Him to rescue sinners. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep so they could have forgiveness and eternal life. When we trust in Jesus, we are His sheep who listen to, follow, and obey Him.

Bible Time! 

  Help kids find John 10. Remind kids that John was Jesus’ disciple. John wrote down many of Jesus’ teachings about 
who He is.

Ask the following questions. Lead the kids to discuss:

How will sheep know their shepherd? (by his voice, John 10:3-4)

Why does a thief come? (only to steal, kill, and destroy; John 10:10)

What does the good shepherd do? (lays down his life for the sheep, John 10:15)

Why do you think Jesus compares people to sheep? Guide kids to understand that sheep are animals that need guidance. On their own, they cannot thrive. Help them understand that using the imagery of sheep also calls back to Psalm 23 and Old Testament figures like David, Moses, and Jacob.

How can we become part of Jesus’ flock? Guide kids to see that Jesus’ flock includes all people who have faith in Jesus. We cannot earn salvation, but God gives it freely to all who believe the truth of the gospel. Remind kids that salvation comes by grace through faith.

How do you feel knowing that no one can snatch us from Jesus? Lead kids to find and read John 10:28. Guide kids to discuss their feelings. Help them see that everyone who has faith in Jesus has eternal life. Explain to them that Jesus’ promise is not based on our behavior but on His power and goodness. Share your thoughts about these promises.

Say • Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His people. Jesus said He would lay down His life for His sheep, and He died on the cross for our sins. He said He would take His life up again, and He rose from the dead on the third day. We can trust Jesus’ promises to protect and care for us.

Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a table tennis ball. Place the balls on one side of the room and invite the kids to work together to blow the table tennis balls to the other side of the room. There, they will arrange the balls to form the key passage. You may provide straws to help the kids direct their blowing. Then allow volunteers to say the passage from memory. Thank each kid for her effort. Encourage all the kids to continue memorizing the key passage.

Say • While Jesus was on earth, He taught many wonderful things. Thankfully, now that Jesus has risen from the dead and returned to be with God, the Holy Spirit lives with believers to help us remember the wonderful things Jesus taught. We never have to be alone. We can trust Jesus’ promise and know that the Holy Spirit lives with believers.

 Let's pray: Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd and we are Your sheep. When we foolishly wander away, You bring us back. You gave up Your life so that we can have eternal life. You even know us by name. When we feel lost or scared or alone, help us cry out to You. Help us to listen to, follow, and obey You. Amen.

  Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

  Thank you to Lifeway's Gospel Project for providing this material and allowing us to publish it.