The Shepherd Is Alive!
Children's sermon
The Shepherd and His Sheep
Eight Children's Sermons and Activity Pages for Lent and Easter
Object:
Activity sheets and story folder
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is alive!
Scripture: John 10:17b-18, 10, 28; Psalm 23
Background Devotions: Hebrews 13:20-21
Visual Aids: The story folder
Handouts: Activity sheets and story folder
Advance Preparations: Copy enough activity pages for each child to have one. Fold the story the long way, then the short way, so that the pages will be in order from 1 to 4. Be ready to give each child the folder when you begin the lesson.
The Lesson:
I have a story folder for you. It will help us remember the things we have been learning about sheep and shepherds and Jesus our Good Shepherd. Let's see what it says.
Page 1. Sheep hear and follow their shepherd.
He knows them all by name.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus said all who believe in him, listen to him, and follow him are his sheep. He knows every one of us, our names and all about us.
Page 2. Sheep and shepherd spend time together.
The shepherd is the gate to the flock.
Jesus wants us, his sheep, to listen to what he says in the Bible and spend time with him in prayer. Jesus said he was the gate and all who are part of his flock must enter through him. That means we are his sheep in his flock, if we believe in Jesus and love him.
Page 3. The shepherd has other sheep.
He is willing to die for them all.
Jesus died for us.
Jesus said there would be many others who would also be part of his flock. Jesus said a good shepherd would give his life to save his sheep, and Jesus our Good Shepherd did give his life for us. We know now how much God loves us all.
But Jesus was not an ordinary shepherd. He said in John 10:17b-18: "I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again." What does he mean when he says he will take up his life again? He means he will be raised back to life! And that is just what we celebrate today! Jesus didn't stay dead.
Page 4. Jesus is alive! He is still our shepherd!
And because he lives, he promised this life to us, too. We are his sheep. If we believe in him, listen to him and follow him, and try to do as he asks, we are his sheep and we will have life just as he does. That means life now and forever.
Jesus continues to be our shepherd, even though he has gone back to heaven. When he left, he sent his Holy Spirit to live with us, helping. Jesus continues to care for his people like a shepherd cares for his sheep. What does a shepherd do caring for his sheep? Psalm 23 gives us a little idea. It tells us that a shepherd leads his sheep to food and water and rest. He leads his sheep along paths that are good. When the path is dark and scary or hard, he protects his sheep. He protects them from enemies with his rod and staff and anoints each sheep with oil for healing. All of this means a good, happy life for the sheep.
We are not real sheep. We work hard for things we need, but Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promises to help and give us a good and happy life with things that money cannot buy, things like love, joy, peace, and eternal life with him.
In John 10:10, Jesus calls this abundant life -- life that is more than enough. Of course, these good things in life do not come unless we are willing to listen and follow Jesus. In John 10:28, Jesus tells us that this life Jesus gives never ends. To die is the beginning of even better life. It tells us that the life Jesus gives is secure. No one can take his sheep from him. Even when bad things happen, the sheep know that their shepherd is with them to help.
Isn't Jesus a wonderful shepherd?
*Use visual aids
Scripture: John 10:17b-18, 10, 28; Psalm 23
Background Devotions: Hebrews 13:20-21
Visual Aids: The story folder
Handouts: Activity sheets and story folder
Advance Preparations: Copy enough activity pages for each child to have one. Fold the story the long way, then the short way, so that the pages will be in order from 1 to 4. Be ready to give each child the folder when you begin the lesson.
The Lesson:
I have a story folder for you. It will help us remember the things we have been learning about sheep and shepherds and Jesus our Good Shepherd. Let's see what it says.
Page 1. Sheep hear and follow their shepherd.
He knows them all by name.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus said all who believe in him, listen to him, and follow him are his sheep. He knows every one of us, our names and all about us.
Page 2. Sheep and shepherd spend time together.
The shepherd is the gate to the flock.
Jesus wants us, his sheep, to listen to what he says in the Bible and spend time with him in prayer. Jesus said he was the gate and all who are part of his flock must enter through him. That means we are his sheep in his flock, if we believe in Jesus and love him.
Page 3. The shepherd has other sheep.
He is willing to die for them all.
Jesus died for us.
Jesus said there would be many others who would also be part of his flock. Jesus said a good shepherd would give his life to save his sheep, and Jesus our Good Shepherd did give his life for us. We know now how much God loves us all.
But Jesus was not an ordinary shepherd. He said in John 10:17b-18: "I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again." What does he mean when he says he will take up his life again? He means he will be raised back to life! And that is just what we celebrate today! Jesus didn't stay dead.
Page 4. Jesus is alive! He is still our shepherd!
And because he lives, he promised this life to us, too. We are his sheep. If we believe in him, listen to him and follow him, and try to do as he asks, we are his sheep and we will have life just as he does. That means life now and forever.
Jesus continues to be our shepherd, even though he has gone back to heaven. When he left, he sent his Holy Spirit to live with us, helping. Jesus continues to care for his people like a shepherd cares for his sheep. What does a shepherd do caring for his sheep? Psalm 23 gives us a little idea. It tells us that a shepherd leads his sheep to food and water and rest. He leads his sheep along paths that are good. When the path is dark and scary or hard, he protects his sheep. He protects them from enemies with his rod and staff and anoints each sheep with oil for healing. All of this means a good, happy life for the sheep.
We are not real sheep. We work hard for things we need, but Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promises to help and give us a good and happy life with things that money cannot buy, things like love, joy, peace, and eternal life with him.
In John 10:10, Jesus calls this abundant life -- life that is more than enough. Of course, these good things in life do not come unless we are willing to listen and follow Jesus. In John 10:28, Jesus tells us that this life Jesus gives never ends. To die is the beginning of even better life. It tells us that the life Jesus gives is secure. No one can take his sheep from him. Even when bad things happen, the sheep know that their shepherd is with them to help.
Isn't Jesus a wonderful shepherd?
*Use visual aids
