“Jesus” Series Lesson 3: Jesus Is Our Shepherd

“Jesus” Series

Lesson 3: Jesus Is Our Shepherd

Shepherd (Mark 14:27; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; Psalm 23)

Power Point: Jesus takes care of us.

Lesson Introduction: The Sheep and the Shepherd

Props: Vaseline, cotton balls, shepherd’s staff, club

Preparation: Have a helper dressed as a “sheep” (wearing a white or gray sweat suit).

Teacher: Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we’re going to continue our series on Jesus. Today’s lesson is about how Jesus is our Shepherd.

Helper: So, what’s my part in all of this?

Teacher: Well, to help the boys and girls understand what it means to be a shepherd, and how Jesus is our Shepherd, I’m going to play the part of a shepherd.

Helper: And….?

Teacher: And you’re going to play the part of one of my sheep.

Helper: You’re kidding.

Teacher: Nope. (Display Vaseline and cotton balls). Now if you’ll stand still, I’ll put some wool on your face.

Helper: That’s not wool! It’s Vaseline and cotton balls.

Teacher: Oh, well. Same effect.

(Teacher begins applying cotton balls. Continue script during application).

Helper: I can’t believe this.

Teacher: First of all, sheep are stupid.

Helper: Hey! Who you callin’ stupid?

Teacher: No offense. It’s just that you’re always trying to go your own way, and sometimes I have to bring you back.

Helper: So what’s the problem if I want to go my own way every now and then?

Teacher: You might get stuck in the rocky mountains somewhere and die out there.

Helper: We’re nowhere close to the Rocky Mountains!

(continued)

Teacher: No…not the Rocky Mountains, the rocky mountains…you know, mountains that are rocky. Oh…never mind! Anyway, if you wander away from me and get lost, you would die out there by yourself. You wouldn’t have me to take care of you. So every now and then I have to poke and prod you with my staff to bring you back.

Helper: I know, and it hurts!

Teacher: Better than being torn to shreds by a wild animal.

Helper: Uhh…I suppose. Those wild animals scare me to death! Lions and bears….lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! With their big teeth and their sharp claws…just the thought of those claws tearing in to my sensitive skin.

Aaaahhhh! (Really over-do the fear thing and embrace the teacher, refusing to let go).

Teacher: Get a grip, I’m right here. You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I always watch out for you.

Helper: (Regains composure). Yeah, you’re right. Like the time that lion came into the sheep pen. You raced down the hill, jumped the fence in two seconds flat, and beat that lion senseless with your club.

Teacher: Always watching out for you.

Helper: You know what, shep, you’re not too bad.

Teacher: Thanks. Just stick by me and you’ll be okay.

Today’s power point is: Jesus takes care of us. Repeat that after me. (Say the power point and have the kids repeat it after you). Just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep, Jesus takes care of us and watches out for us.

Memory Verse: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Memory Verse Activity: Team Scramble

Tape the segments of the memory verse on the backs of the team members. Have the captains arrange the members of their team in the correct order. The first team done is the winner.

Bible Lesson: David Cares for His Sheep, Jesus Cares For Us (1 Samuel 17:34-37; Psalm 23)

Synopsis: David was a shepherd boy. He loved his sheep very much and did everything he could to defend them and watch over them. Jesus watches over us in the same way.

Object Lesson 1: The Shepherd Provides (Ps. 23:1)

Props: plugs of grass (or “Easter” grass) and clear container filled with water; food and bottle of water

One of the things that shepherds do is make sure that their sheep have everything that they need. A shepherd must make sure that he is taking his sheep to places where they will have enough food and water. (Show grass and water). Sheep eat grass, and if they don’t have enough grass, they will go hungry. The shepherd takes them to places where there is plenty of grass.

Jesus is the Great Shepherd. He will always make sure that you have everything you need. (Show food and water). He takes care of us when we need food. He also takes care of everything else that we need.

Sometimes, though, a sheep may run away from the shepherd. When that happens, the sheep is away from everything the shepherd gives that it needs. Boys and girls, Jesus will always make sure that you have what you have to have, but you must stick close to Him. Don’t run away! Stay close to Jesus, and He will give you everything you need.

Object Lesson 2: The Shepherd Leads (Ps. 23:3; 1 Peter 2:25)

Props: shepherd’s staff (or cane)

Another job shepherds have is to lead their sheep. Sheep love to run away and go in the wrong direction, to places that are dangerous or bad for them. Shepherds have to make sure that they stay with them where it is safe. Sometimes a shepherd has to use a staff to bring his sheep back. (Display staff). This is a staff. It probably wouldn’t feel very good to get pulled back in line with this. But it’s better than getting lost, stuck in the rocks somewhere or killed by a wild animal.

We often like to go our own way, the opposite of where God is trying to lead us. We think we can do our own thing and still be okay. But Jesus loves us so much that He tries to bring us back. It doesn’t always feel good, but it is for our best. Jesus won’t use a staff like this to bring you back. He may give you a bad feeling on the inside when you do something wrong.

He may use your parents or teachers to let you know you’re going in the wrong direction and you need to come back. However He does it, listen closely for Him and follow wherever He leads you. Jesus takes care of us, so let Him lead you to places that are best for you.

Object Lesson 3: The Shepherd Protects (Ps. 23: 4-5; John 10:11)

Props: club (or large stick), slingshot

We’ve already learned that shepherds make sure that their sheep have what they need, and that they lead them where they will be safe. Another job that shepherds have is to protect their sheep from wild animals that try to attack them. Bears, lions and other animals may try to get in to where the sheep are to attack them. A shepherd is always watching for such animals and is always ready to fight them off. (Display weapons). He may use a club like this or a slingshot to kill or at least scare away the attacking animals.

Our Shepherd is Jesus. He is always ready to fight off our worst enemy, satan. Satan may try to attack us with sickness; Jesus brings healing. Satan may try to attack us with fighting in our home; Jesus brings peace. Satan may try to attack us by trying to get us to do something we shouldn’t; Jesus gives us the power to do what’s right. Jesus—our Great Shepherd—will always be stronger than our enemy, satan. Jesus takes care of us.