The Good Shepherd
Theme: Jesus is the good shepherd.
Scripture: John 10:11-18
Get Ready: Click here to get your complete supply list for this lesson.
The Children’s Sermon
SAY: Do you know the story of the "Three Little Pigs?" Raise your hand if you do.
(Pause.) I just love that story. I’m going to retell it, and when I do, I need the boys to
“oink” when I say “pig,” and the girls to “howl” when I say “wolf.” Everyone should
“baaa” like sheep when I mention sheep. Let me hear you practice your noises.
(Pause while kids practice). Is everybody ready?
The story begins with the mother pig (demonstrate “oink”) sending her three little
ones out into the world to make a living for themselves. The first little pig
(demonstrate “oink”) built himself a house of straw, the second little pig
(demonstrate “oink”) built a house of sticks, and the third little pig (demonstrate
“oink”) built a house of bricks.
The big, bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”) went to the first little pig's (demonstrate
“oink”) house and knocked on the door. "Little pig (demonstrate “oink”), little pig
(demonstrate “oink”), let me in," he said.
The little pig (demonstrate “oink”) answered, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin
chin."
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in," replied the wolf
(demonstrate “howl”).
The first little pig's (demonstrate “oink”) house of straw was not very strong, so the
wolf (demonstrate “howl”) easily blew it down, and the little pig (demonstrate “oink”)
ran to safety at the second little pig's (demonstrate “oink”) house.
The wolf (demonstrate “howl”) went to the second little pig's (demonstrate “oink”)
house and knocked on the door. "Little pig (demonstrate “oink”), little pig
(demonstrate “oink”), let me in."
The little pig (demonstrate “oink”) answered, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin
chin."
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in," replied the wolf
(demonstrate “howl”).
The second little pig's (demonstrate “oink”) house of sticks was not very strong, so
the wolf (demonstrate “howl”) blew it down, and the two little pigs (demonstrate
“oink”) ran to their brother's house.
The wolf (demonstrate “howl”) went to the third little pig's (demonstrate “oink”)
house and knocked on the door. "Little pig (demonstrate “oink”) , little pig
(demonstrate “oink”), let me in."
The little pig (demonstrate “oink”) answered, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin
chin."
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in," replied the wolf
(demonstrate “howl”) .
No matter how hard he tried, the wolf (demonstrate “howl”) could not blow the brick
house down! The wolf (demonstrate “howl”) decided to go down the chimney, but
the three little pigs (demonstrate “oink”) had a pot of boiling water. "Yeow!" cried
the wolf (demonstrate “howl”).
Having outsmarted the big, bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”), the three little pigs
(demonstrate “oink”) begin to sing:
“Who's afraid of the big bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”)?
Big bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”), big bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”)?
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”)?
Tra la la la la”
There have been many stories written about a big, bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”).
You have probably heard about "Little Red Riding Hood," "Peter and the Wolf
(demonstrate “howl”)," and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf (demonstrate “howl”)," but did
you know that Jesus once told a story about a big, bad wolf (demonstrate “howl”)?
In the story that Jesus told, the good shepherd is Him, and the sheep (demonstrate
“baaa”) are us. The wolf (demonstrate “howl”) in Jesus’ story is God’s enemy.
Here’s what Jesus said in the Bible:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for His sheep
(demonstrate “baaa”). A hired hand will run away when he sees a wolf (demonstrate
“howl”) coming, because the sheep (demonstrate “baaa”) don't belong to him, and he
doesn't really care about them. When the hired hand runs away, the wolf
(demonstrate “howl”) will attack and scatter the sheep (demonstrate “baaa”)."
"I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep (demonstrate “baaa”) and My sheep
(demonstrate “baaa”) know Me--just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father.
I will lay down My life for My sheep (demonstrate “baaa”)."
Jesus is the good shepherd, and we are His sheep (demonstrate “baaa”). He knows
us and He loves us. He will protect us when God’s enemy or anyone tries to hurt us.
When we trust Jesus, we can say, "Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf (demonstrate
“howl”)?"
PRAY: God, thank You for sending Your Son to be our good shepherd. He gave His
life for us. Help us to follow Him and trust Him to protect us from the evil one. In
Jesus' name, amen.
The Shepherd Is Good Video
You’ll Need:
● “The Shepherd Is Good” video lesson
● Something to play the video
Do This:
Show them the video.
ASK:
● What is a way that you can hear the good shepherd as one of His sheep?
● What is something going on in your life that you need to entrust to the good
shepherd?
Square-Shaped Sheep Snack
You’ll Need:
● The Good Shepherd How-to video
● Graham crackers - two per child
● Marshmallow cream
● Mini marshmallows
● Black candy melts (or any small candies) - two per child
● Plastic knives - one per child
● Paper plates - one per child
● Napkins - one per child
Do This:
Follow these steps to make the “Square-Shaped Sheep” snacks:
● Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, a plastic knife, a black candy melt, and
two graham crackers.
● Instruct kids to ice their graham crackers with marshmallow cream.
● Place a black candy melt in the middle of each graham cracker.
● Have kids use marshmallow cream to make two small dots on each black candy
melt for the sheep eyes.
● Next, invite kids to cover their graham crackers with mini marshmallows.
● Enjoy!
SAY: Sheep are very vulnerable animals, and the shepherds have an important job
to take great care of them. Just like a shepherd protects and cares for His sheep,
our good shepherd protects and cares for us.
Complete Supply List:
● “The Shepherd Is Good” video lesson
● Something to play the video
● Graham crackers - two per child
● Marshmallow cream
● Mini marshmallows
● Black candy melts (or any small candies) - two per child
● Plastic knives - one per child
● Paper plates - one per child
● Napkins - one per child
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