Game

If the condensed version of the video was not shown in Large Group, omit this question:

First, let’s answer the bonus question from the video. After Peter denied knowing Jesus and he remembered Jesus’ words about the rooster, what did Peter do? Went outside and wept.

Raise your hand if you have ever lost something that was very valuable to you. If you got it back again, how did you feel when you found it?

Our SuperVerse today talks about how each sheep is valuable. If a shepherd has 100 sheep and loses one, will he say, “Oh well, 99 sheep are enough”?

No, he will go out and search for the lost sheep. Our SuperVerse is Luke 15:4:

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”

After Jesus restored Peter, the first task Jesus gave him was to feed and care for His lambs and sheep. Who are Jesus’ lambs and sheep?

Can you say “Baaaaa”?

We are His lambs and sheep! What’s the difference between a lamb and a sheep?

Lambs are young, and sheep are full-grown. Jesus cares for all of us, and He especially mentioned His young lambs—that’s all of you! He doesn’t want to lose any of His flock!

We are going to be shepherds today and each look for one lost sheep. The sheep you look for and bring back to the flock will be YOU!   

Divide the children into teams or “flocks” of 4–8 children. Number the teams from 1 to 4. Have the teams stand in the four corners of the room. Give a pencil and a Sheep Card to each child. On the blank side of the cards, have them write their names and draw themselves. Gather the cards for Teams 1 and 2, then add eight additional cards that children have not drawn on. Shuffle all the cards together, then place the pile between Teams 1 and 2, with the sheep pictures facing up. Repeat this for Teams 3 and 4. See illustration.  

Game play: The object of the game is for each child to find the card with his/her name and picture on it. This represents being so valuable that when you are lost, the shepherd looks for you and doesn’t return until you are found. Start the game. All teams play at the same time. The first players—shepherds—for each team will walk quickly to their piles and search until they find their own sheep cards, then walk quickly back to their flocks again. The next players become the shepherds and repeat the procedure to find their cards. Between turns, a Sixth Grade helper or leader should make sure all cards have the sheep pictures facing up. The extra sheep cards remain in the piles for the entire game to increase the challenge. The first team to find and return all of their lost sheep wins. If time permits, have Teams 1 and 3 and Teams 2 and 4 play each other. You may also have all four teams play using the same pile of cards.    

Conclusion: You did a great job searching for the lost sheep. The Good Shepherd calls out to His lost sheep and finds them. Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “Jesus calls out to me when I fail.”

Let’s find out more about how Jesus restored Peter.