Our Good Shepherd too!
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: In our urban society, most of us and
our children have little contact with the concept of sheep and
shepherding. Even those in a rural context understand sheep in a
much different way than in first century Palestine.
* If your church has a Good Shepherd stained glass window, as many do, relate that to your children.
* Memorize today's Psalm 23 (or a portion of it).
* Sing and memorize one of the many "Good Shepherd" hymns listed in the hymnal (look under "Trust, Guidance" section of your hymnal).
* Young children might enjoy making sheep by pasting cotton balls on outlines of sheep photocopied on heavier stock paper. When dry, post them on the walls.
* Older children might appreciate other comparisons. You might say something like this: "Jesus is like a good teacher ... good coach...." Explore what makes a good teacher or good coach.
* Make up a Good Shepherd stained glass window by using a large sheet of paper and transferring an outline of Jesus holding a lamb or some other Good Shepherd image. Have the class color the image or a part of the image and then put it on the wall.
* (Prior to class record on a cassette tape your voice giving directions and another voice giving directions.) Ask, "If the Lord is our shepherd, who are the sheep?" Then ask, "How can the sheep know who is their shepherd?" (By the shepherd's voice.) "How can we know Jesus?" (By his voice.) Play the cassette and see if the children can distinguish your voice from that of another.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* There are many fine hymns alluding to Jesus as the Good Shepherd ("Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us," "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," "The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want," "Have No Fear, Little Flock," and so on. Others speak of a similar theme: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," "It Is Well With My Soul," and so forth).
* Read Psalm 23 (KJV). Re-read it from a contemporary version.
* Pray for healing for those who are ill.
* If your church has a Good Shepherd stained glass window, as many do, relate that to your children.
* Memorize today's Psalm 23 (or a portion of it).
* Sing and memorize one of the many "Good Shepherd" hymns listed in the hymnal (look under "Trust, Guidance" section of your hymnal).
* Young children might enjoy making sheep by pasting cotton balls on outlines of sheep photocopied on heavier stock paper. When dry, post them on the walls.
* Older children might appreciate other comparisons. You might say something like this: "Jesus is like a good teacher ... good coach...." Explore what makes a good teacher or good coach.
* Make up a Good Shepherd stained glass window by using a large sheet of paper and transferring an outline of Jesus holding a lamb or some other Good Shepherd image. Have the class color the image or a part of the image and then put it on the wall.
* (Prior to class record on a cassette tape your voice giving directions and another voice giving directions.) Ask, "If the Lord is our shepherd, who are the sheep?" Then ask, "How can the sheep know who is their shepherd?" (By the shepherd's voice.) "How can we know Jesus?" (By his voice.) Play the cassette and see if the children can distinguish your voice from that of another.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* There are many fine hymns alluding to Jesus as the Good Shepherd ("Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us," "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," "The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want," "Have No Fear, Little Flock," and so on. Others speak of a similar theme: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," "It Is Well With My Soul," and so forth).
* Read Psalm 23 (KJV). Re-read it from a contemporary version.
* Pray for healing for those who are ill.
