Jesus-The Good Shepherd

Memory Passage

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23

Day 1-God Told the Prophets That He Would Send a Shepherd

  • Pray.
  • Practice Psalm 23.
  • Through all of David’s blessings and through all of the mistakes and hard times he had, when he came to the end of his life, we find that David was still holding to the understanding that the Lord was his shepherd. Just before he died, as he was encouraging Solomon, who was the next king, he gave Solomon instructions to walk in the ways of the Lord and to keep His commands so that may succeed in all he did and wherever he went. (1 Kings 2:1-4)
  • We see throughout the books of 1 and 2 Kings that David’s descendants did not remain faithful to the Lord and did not regard him as shepherd. Because of this, God eventually gave them over to other nations around them. They were taken from their land and scattered among other countries.
  • But God had not forgotten His people. He reminded them that He was their Shepherd and He would deliver them, care for them, and lead them to rest.
  • Read Jeremiah 31:10-11.
  • Read Ezekiel 34:11-16, 31.
    • What do these verses say about the Shepherd?
    • What does it say about the sheep?
    • What will you remember about what we read today?

Day 2-God With Us=Jesus Our Shepherd

  • Pray.
  • Do you remember the promise (AKA covenant) that God made to David (2 Samuel 7:16)?
  • Read Ezekiel 34:23-24.
    • We read yesterday that God reminded His people (in exile at the time) that He was their Shepherd.
    • And now we just read that God had not forgotten His covenant with David-that his throne/dynasty would last forever through the Shepherd King that would come.
  • Read Micah 5:2, 4a.
    • From where would this King be born?
  • About 700 years later, these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus.
  • Read Matthew 1:20-23. This is what the angel, Gabriel, told Joseph about Jesus.
    • Jesus is Immanuel-God with us. The Shepherd (Ezekiel 34) was coming to earth to dwell with His people.
  • Read Luke 1:31-33. This is what the angel told Mary about Jesus.
    • Jesus would be a descendant of David through Mary’s line; this fulfilled God’s covenant with David.
  • Read about the night Jesus was born in Luke 2:1-20.
    • What is something cool or interesting that you learned today?
      • Isn’t it neat that God chose shepherds to be the first to hear about The Good Shepherd being born?
  • Recite Psalm 23 together.

Day 3-Sheep Without A Shepherd

  • Pray.
  • Recite Psalm 23.
  • When Jesus was about 30 years old, he began his ministry (Luke 3:23). He began teaching about the Kingdom of God. He healed people and did many miracles. Jesus also chose 12 men whom He would send out to preach. These men are called _________________ (apostles). (Mark 3:13-19)
  • Read Mark 6:12, 30-34.
    • The disciples had just returned from traveling around preaching and even casting out demons and healing people through the authority that Jesus had given them (Mark 6:13). They were tired and needed some rest and privacy after their journeys.
    • Jesus led them to a quiet place so they could rest. But then the crowds came.
    • What did Jesus feel when He saw the crowds? (verse 34)
    • Why did He feel this way? What did He compare the crowds to?
      • He saw the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd”. What do you think that means? What would sheep without a shepherd be like?
      • He saw that they were helpless. They were lost. Not literally lost, like they didn’t know where they were, but they were spiritually lost.
    • What did He do to show His compassionate heart?
      • “He began to teach them many things.” Jesus was their Shepherd, and He led them to the Truth they needed to hear.
  • Read Mark 6:33-44.
    • Jesus provided for what His sheep needed; He not only provided for their spiritual need for the Truth that could save them for eternity, but He also provided for their physical need for food.
    • What can you say about Jesus after what we read today? Jesus is _______________. Jesus ____________.
  • Song
    • “The Lord is My Shepherd” by Keith and Kristyn Getty
  • Activity Idea
    • Make fish and bread for dinner and eat it outside on a picnic blanket.

Day 4-“I am the Good Shepherd”

  • Pray.
  • Video your kids reciting Psalm 23.
  • Read John 10:11-15, 17-18, 27-30.
    • Who is speaking these words?
    • What does He call Himself?
    • Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd? (verse 11, 17-18)
    • Who are His sheep?
    • What do these verses say about how the sheep respond to the Good Shepherd? (verse 27)
    • What words come to mind when you read that “no one will snatch them out of my hand” and “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”? (verses 28-29)
  • Activity Idea
    • Draw a picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. If you did a Psalm 23 book, you could add this as a page in the book.
  • Song
    • “Psalm 23-Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy” by Shane and Shane

Day 5-The Shepherd Who Laid Down His life For His Sheep

  • Pray.
  • Remind your children that all summer we have been learning about how the Lord is our Shepherd, and that in Him we have all that we need. We looked at Jacob’s life and David’s life and saw how they came to understand this truth. We have read that Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. In 1 Peter 5:4, Jesus is called the Chief Shepherd. Today we are going to see why Jesus is the Good Shepherd and why we, His sheep, need to hear HIs voice and follow Him. (John 10:27-28)
  • Read John 10:11.
    • Jesus calls Himself “The Good Shepherd”. He says that the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.
    • What does it mean that He lays down His life for His sheep? Let’s read about this.
  • Read Isaiah 53:5-6.
    • According to verse 6, what are like?
    • How are we like sheep?
      • We have all gone astray. We have all sinned. (Romans 3:23) Remember sin is really just what this verse says-turning to our own way instead of going God’s way.
      • What are some examples of sin?
    • What does the Bible say is the consequence for sin?
  • Read Romans 6:23.
    • Because of our sin (going our own way), we deserve death/eternal separation from God. But there is good news! God offers us a gift! Through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, He made a way for a to have eternal life with Him.
  • Read John 14:6.
    • Jesus explained to His disciples that He was the way to eternal life with God.
    • How did Jesus make a way for His lost sheep to get back to the Father?
  • Read 1 Peter 2:24-25.
    • Jesus took our sins on Himself and suffered the punishment we deserve when He died on the cross. We are offered God’s gift of eternal life because Jesus rose from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
    • There is nothing we can do to earn this gift. It’s a gift. We do have to choose to accept God’s gift or not.
    • Remember what Isaiah said at the beginning today? We all like sheep have gone astray. We have turned to our own way.
  • Read or say Acts 3:19 in your own words.
    • To receive God’s gift, we must repent and return to God.
    • Repent means to turn from going your own way and go God’s way.
  • Say Psalm 23. As you say it. think of Jesus. He is your Good Shepherd.
  • Parents, here are a couple good resources for how to lead your child to Christ.