Unit 3:
The Good Shepherd
Come Follow Me
Duration: approximately 30 minutes
Bible Truth Being Taught/Learning Objective:
The student(s) will learn that Jesus cares for each one of us just like a shepherd cares for his flock of sheep. He wants us to know Him as the Good Shepherd who loves us and will be there when we need Him.
References to Scripture: Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11
Supplemental Materials Needed:
For Marshmallow Sheep Craft:
Bible Truth Being Taught/Learning Objective:
The student(s) will learn that Jesus cares for each one of us just like a shepherd cares for his flock of sheep. He wants us to know Him as the Good Shepherd who loves us and will be there when we need Him.
References to Scripture: Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11
Supplemental Materials Needed:
For Marshmallow Sheep Craft:
- 1 bag of large marshmallows
- 1 bag of miniature marshmallows
- 1 box of pretzel sticks
- (If your child has a food allergy, you can substitute cotton balls for marshmallows)
- For Coloring: crayons, printed out drawing
- Access to Internet: for music
- Supplemental Visual for Bible Verse (printed from this page)
Unit 3: Lesson Overview Download | |
File Size: | 226 kb |
File Type: |
Let's say a prayer together: God, Shepherd of my heart and my life, help me to always listen to Your voice and to follow You every day of my life. Amen.
A. Background
1. Let's start by talking about sheep and shepherds.
2. Have you seen a sheep? What does it look like?
3. Here's a picture of a sheep:
A. Background
1. Let's start by talking about sheep and shepherds.
2. Have you seen a sheep? What does it look like?
3. Here's a picture of a sheep:
4. A sheep needs a shepherd to take care of it.
5. Let's think about a situation. Have you heard your parents call your name when you couldn't see them? Maybe you were closing your eyes. Maybe you were in a different room.
6. Even though you couldn't see your parents, you could hear them. You knew that they were there.
7. Let's think about another example. How you ever been playing outside by yourself or with your friends when suddenly you got hurt? What did you do? (If you need to, prompt students to think of going into their house to find their parents/caretakers for help.)
8. This is like a sheep and it's shepherd. Like you, the sheep know their shepherd is always there for them.
9. The sheep know their shepherd and the shepherd takes care of their sheep.
10. When the sheep gets sick, the shepherd takes of it. God takes care of us too.
11. Sometimes the sheep gets scared. The presence of the shepherd provides comfort.
12. Just the sheep have their sheep, when we get hurt, or sick, or scared, we have our moms and dads and most importantly, God to provide us comfort.
5. Let's think about a situation. Have you heard your parents call your name when you couldn't see them? Maybe you were closing your eyes. Maybe you were in a different room.
6. Even though you couldn't see your parents, you could hear them. You knew that they were there.
7. Let's think about another example. How you ever been playing outside by yourself or with your friends when suddenly you got hurt? What did you do? (If you need to, prompt students to think of going into their house to find their parents/caretakers for help.)
8. This is like a sheep and it's shepherd. Like you, the sheep know their shepherd is always there for them.
9. The sheep know their shepherd and the shepherd takes care of their sheep.
10. When the sheep gets sick, the shepherd takes of it. God takes care of us too.
11. Sometimes the sheep gets scared. The presence of the shepherd provides comfort.
12. Just the sheep have their sheep, when we get hurt, or sick, or scared, we have our moms and dads and most importantly, God to provide us comfort.
B. Introduce the Story
1. Let’s begin by watching the Good Shepherd video (by clicking the Good Shepherd button at the top of the page).
2. How would you describe God? (Allow time for your child’s thoughts)
3. There are many ways that Jesus is described in the Bible. We are going to learn about a man named David who was a shepherd before he became King.
4. He described Godas the Good Shepherd.
5. Let’s watch a video about David and the Good Shepherd.
6. God is called the Good Shepherd.
7. What did say about shepherds and sheep?
8. Sheep need a shepherd to take care of them. They need the shepherd to bring them to green grass to eat. A good shepherd makes sure the sheep are happy and safe. God is like the Good Shepherd that takes care of us.
9. Let's read this bible verse about God the Good Shepherd.
10. Read Isaiah 40:11 (Below is an adapted CEV version)
11 The Lord loves and cares for his nation,
just as shepherds love and care
for their flocks.
He carries the lambs
in his arms,
while gently leading
the mother sheep.
11. What will a good shepherd do for his sheep? (Love and take care of them)
12. Jesus tells us that He is our Good Shepherd. What does this mean he'll do for you? (He will always love and take care of you.)
Here is the supplemental visual for this bible verse. A link to download this document is below.
7. What did say about shepherds and sheep?
8. Sheep need a shepherd to take care of them. They need the shepherd to bring them to green grass to eat. A good shepherd makes sure the sheep are happy and safe. God is like the Good Shepherd that takes care of us.
9. Let's read this bible verse about God the Good Shepherd.
10. Read Isaiah 40:11 (Below is an adapted CEV version)
11 The Lord loves and cares for his nation,
just as shepherds love and care
for their flocks.
He carries the lambs
in his arms,
while gently leading
the mother sheep.
11. What will a good shepherd do for his sheep? (Love and take care of them)
12. Jesus tells us that He is our Good Shepherd. What does this mean he'll do for you? (He will always love and take care of you.)
Here is the supplemental visual for this bible verse. A link to download this document is below.
The Good Shepherd Supplemental Visual Download | |
File Size: | 333 kb |
File Type: |
13. Let's watch/listen to a song about God as our Good Shepherd. It's called the Baa Baa Song.
(In the video, there is reference to Jesus dying for our sins. Depending on the age and ability level of your child, you may not want to focus on this piece. Instead, you can play up to NUMBER on the song.)
(In the video, there is reference to Jesus dying for our sins. Depending on the age and ability level of your child, you may not want to focus on this piece. Instead, you can play up to NUMBER on the song.)
~~BREAK POINT~~
C. Activity
1. Let's a craft to remind us the Good Shepherd takes care of us.
2. Marshmallow Sheep Craft: Using a bag of large marshmallows, a bag of mini marshmallows and a box of pretzel sticks, have your child create a marshmallow sheep.
3. We can also color a picture to remind us of our Good Shepherd. Below are two coloring pages and links to printable versions.
Sheep Coloring Page Download | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
The Good Shepherd Coloring Page Download | |
File Size: | 482 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
D. Further Discussion
Discussion Questions:
1. What does a shepherd take care of? (Sheep.)
2. How does he take care of them?
4. In our Bible story, does the good shepherd know his sheep? (Yes.)
5. Do the sheep know the good shepherd? (Yes.)
6. How are we like sheep? (Allow for answers.)
7. Do we have a good shepherd? (Yes.)
8. Who is our Good Shepherd? (Jesus.)
9. How does our Good Shepherd take care of us?
Let’s say our prayer again:
God, Shepherd of my heart and my life, help me to always listen to Your voice and to follow You every day of my life. Thank you for protecting me. I love you. Amen.
Thank you for spending time with Jesus and learning our Good Shepherd, God.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does a shepherd take care of? (Sheep.)
2. How does he take care of them?
4. In our Bible story, does the good shepherd know his sheep? (Yes.)
5. Do the sheep know the good shepherd? (Yes.)
6. How are we like sheep? (Allow for answers.)
7. Do we have a good shepherd? (Yes.)
8. Who is our Good Shepherd? (Jesus.)
9. How does our Good Shepherd take care of us?
Let’s say our prayer again:
God, Shepherd of my heart and my life, help me to always listen to Your voice and to follow You every day of my life. Thank you for protecting me. I love you. Amen.
Thank you for spending time with Jesus and learning our Good Shepherd, God.