The book of John is perhaps my favorite New Testament book. As my first adult Sunday School teacher used to tell us, “John is the love book.” Almost every chapter reveals the great love that Jesus had for the disciples, the people who ministered to and to everyone who believes in him today. Teach children about the Good Shepherd and build a strong foundation of faith in them. Knowing that Jesus watches over them and the he is the good shepherd provides comfort that is so needed in today’s scary world.
You’ll need the follow supplies for this object lesson:
- A bag of cotton balls
- Black Sharpie marker with a fine tip
- Paper cut outs of a cartoon wolf, a robber wearing a mask and Jesus dressed as a Shepherd
If you have the budget, buy three costumes instead and ask volunteers to dress up as each character.
Before the class, use the marker to poke two black eyes on each cotton ball. These will be the sheep. Hide the cut outs so kids can’t see them until you are ready to use them. Read the following passage from the book of John.
John 10:11-15: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.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—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Say, “Now, I am going to give everyone a little sheep to take care of. Put your hands out.” Give each child a cotton ball sheep. “You can pet your sheep with your finger, talk nice to him and keep him close. However, don’t lose him. I want you to be like the Good Shepherd. Can you remember who that Good Shepherd was?” Jesus!
“We know that a farmer takes care of plants and that a rancher take care of cows but who takes care of the sheep?” A shepherd
“Let’s find a good shepherd to watch over our sheep. How about this guy?” Show the wolf. “What about him? No, he will eat the sheep.”
“What about this guy?” Show the robber. “No, he will rob the sheep and he might even hurt them.”
Show the picture of the Good Shepherd. “What about him, will he be okay to watch the sheep?” Yes!
Jesus says that everyone who believes in him is his sheep. Are you his sheep?
Read more from Mimi by following her blog at Tools for Kids Church.