Teaching

Our SuperVerse, John 10:27, says:

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

Hold up a toy lamb or point to the sheep pictures on the wall.

Of all the animals in the world, why do you think God calls us sheep?

How do you think people are like sheep? 

We may not look or sound like sheep, but we need food, water and protection—and sometimes we wander away and get into trouble.

Have children look up Psalm 23 in their Bibles for the following discussion.

David wrote Psalm 23 about how God was his shepherd. Many of his words are signposts pointing to the day when Jesus would be OUR Good Shepherd! Let’s look at three of these signposts today.

Let’s go to SHEEP #1. Have a child lift the flap and read the question aloud.Who is our Shepherd?

Have a child read Psalm 23:1 out loud.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Who does David say is his Shepherd? The Lord.

This is a signpost to Jesus being our Shepherd. In John 10:11 and 14, Jesus proclaims,

“I am the Good Shepherd.”

David, the shepherd boy, eventually became the king of Israel. In the Old Testament, the book of Ezekiel was written many years after David died, but also many years before Jesus was born. It has this great promise from God. Read Ezekiel 34:23 cev:

After that, I will give you a shepherd from the family of My servant King David. All of you, both strong and weak, will have the same shepherd, and He will take good care of you.

This prophecy pointed to Jesus coming into the world to be our Shepherd! The verse also prophesied that Jesus would be a descendant of David! That was fulfilled, too. Let me read the very first verse of the New Testament. Read Matthew 1:1:

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David.

Now let’s go to SHEEP #2. Have a different child go to the second sheep, lift the flap, and read the question. What does a Shepherd provide?

Have three children each read one verse of Psalm 23:1–3:

¹The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.²He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
³He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.

What does a shepherd supply? All I need, green meadows, food, rest, streams, guidance.

This is another signpost pointing to Jesus as our Shepherd.

David writes that his shepherd leads him along the right path to find rest, food and strength in green meadows and beside peaceful streams. Hold up water and grass. In John 10:9, Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, promises that His sheep will find good pastures. He will also give us spiritual water. Read John 4:14:

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Aren’t these wonderful promises? When we follow Jesus as our Good Shepherd, we have all we need—here on Earth and forever in heaven!

Let’s go to SHEEP #3. Have another child go to the last sheep, lift the flap, and read the question aloud. How much does a Shepherd love the sheep?

Have a child read Psalm 23:4:

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

A shepherd is willing to risk his life for the flock. David felt safe and protected in times of danger. In 1 Samuel 17:34–36, David told King Saul how he protected his flock from bears and lions. Sheep are comforted knowing they are watched over and protected.

This is a signpost to Jesus. Read John 10:11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.”

Jesus died on the cross to save us from the penalty of death for our sin! How wonderful to know that our Good Shepherd loves us so much that He died for us, and He watches over us all the days of our lives. Psalm 23 is one of the most famous chapters in the entire Bible. Whenever you hear the words, remember how Jesus is our Good Shepherd!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

A shepherd protects his sheep from danger. One of the ways our Good Shepherd protects us is by giving us spiritual armor found in Ephesians 6. How many of you have been working on your Invisible Armor challenge?

Have extra copies of the Invisible Armor Booklet available for those who were absent.

Can anyone name all the pieces of the Armor of God? Allow children to try to name them.

God wants us to put on this armor and use it every day!