Our good shepherd
Children's sermon
Object:
a shepherd's staff (or walking stick will do)
Another possibility: cut out staff-shaped pieces of stiff, 60
weight paper
Good morning! Today I brought with me a shepherd's staff. We
don't have many shepherds today and they keep sheep differently
than they did when Jesus lived in Israel. When Jesus lived in the
land of Israel, the shepherds had a pole they called a "staff."
The shepherd's staff was for the protection of the sheep. The
shepherd could fight off enemies of the sheep with his staff.
Many staffs had a crook on the end -- like a hook -- so that a
sheep could be rescued if it got caught on a rocky ledge or
something. Many times the shepherd's staff can be seen in
churches.
There is a reason for bringing a staff with me. There is a reason the shepherd's staff can still be seen in churches. The staff reminds us that Jesus is like our good shepherd. He loves us, protects us, and cares for us. He leads us with his staff. When I think about how Jesus guards and keeps me, I think of a prayer. I'd like to share that prayer with you now:
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray, Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
Guard me, Jesus, through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
I like that prayer because it tells me that I am safe with Jesus. My Good Shepherd guards and protects me even while I sleep. I'm so glad I can go to sleep at night knowing that Jesus is there for me. I'm so glad that during the day I can know that Jesus -- my Good Shepherd -- is protecting me and loving me all the way.
(If you choose to cut out staffs for the children, distribute them now.)
Dearest Good Shepherd: Thank you for loving us and protecting us whether awake or asleep, at play or at rest. Thank you, Jesus, for being our Good Shepherd and for making us your sheep. Amen.
There is a reason for bringing a staff with me. There is a reason the shepherd's staff can still be seen in churches. The staff reminds us that Jesus is like our good shepherd. He loves us, protects us, and cares for us. He leads us with his staff. When I think about how Jesus guards and keeps me, I think of a prayer. I'd like to share that prayer with you now:
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray, Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
Guard me, Jesus, through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
I like that prayer because it tells me that I am safe with Jesus. My Good Shepherd guards and protects me even while I sleep. I'm so glad I can go to sleep at night knowing that Jesus is there for me. I'm so glad that during the day I can know that Jesus -- my Good Shepherd -- is protecting me and loving me all the way.
(If you choose to cut out staffs for the children, distribute them now.)
Dearest Good Shepherd: Thank you for loving us and protecting us whether awake or asleep, at play or at rest. Thank you, Jesus, for being our Good Shepherd and for making us your sheep. Amen.
