Good Shepherd

5-11s | Sunday 5th July 2020

Today Sybil is teaching on I AM a good shepherd. Here’s Sybil with our story…

Some verses to read, think and pray about

John 10:14,15 -  “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me,  just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep.” ICB

Luke 15:3-7 -  Then Jesus told them this story:  “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but he loses 1 of them. Then he will leave the other 99 sheep alone and go out and look for the lost sheep. The man will keep on searching for the lost sheep until he finds it.  And when he finds it, the man is very happy. He puts it on his shoulders  and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbours and says, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!’  In the same way, I tell you there is much joy in heaven when 1 sinner changes his heart. There is more joy for that 1 sinner than there is for 99 good people who don’t need to change. ICB

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd.
    I have everything I need.
 He gives me rest in green pastures.
    He leads me to calm water.
He gives me new strength.
For the good of his name,
    he leads me on paths that are right.
 Even if I walk
    through a very dark valley,
I will not be afraid
    because you are with me.
Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.

You prepare a meal for me
    in front of my enemies.
You pour oil of blessing on my head.
    You give me more than I can hold.
 Surely your goodness and love will be with me
    all my life.
And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Activities

A few weeks ago we encouraged you to make a sheep when you heard about Jesus being The Lamb of God.

If you still have it, why not get it out as a reminder for you this week that Jesus is also The Good Shepherd who looks after the sheep!

Here are a couple of video clips that you may like to watch with an adult. 

This one shows you what a real shepherd does:

and also here are some children shepherds from now in Israel, which is actually where Jesus lived!

It would be great to go for a walk into the forest with your family and see if you can find a big stick (staff) that reminds you of one a shepherd may use to guide his sheep and to protect his sheep. Here is a picture of Ali with a staff that she found! If you can find one, we would love to see a picture of you with it!

As our Good Shepherd, Jesus loves for us to hear Him talking to us. Do find some moments this week when you can be still, hold your sheep or your staff, and ask Jesus to speak to you!

Worship

To help in your worship, here are a couple of wonderful songs - 

God is my shepherd - in this song can you hear any names of sheep and can you hear a sheep bleating? (This song will remind you of a story Jesus told which you can read in your Bible in Luke 15:3-7)

And, have a listen to this one too which is by children in Africa singing that God is their shepherd:

Worksheets

Enjoy doing the activities on the worksheets Deb has created for you: click here