📖

The Good Shepherd

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Day 166of 180
Week 34of 36
15Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that Jesus loves and cares for people like a shepherd cares for sheep

2

Recognize Jesus as the Good Shepherd who protects His people

3

Feel safe and loved by Jesus

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 (WEB)

Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd to explain His love and protection

📦 Materials Needed

  • Shepherd's staff (or stick)
  • Stuffed lamb
  • Green paper (representing pasture)
  • Cotton balls

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse lesson! Let's remember how God keeps His promises, just like yesterday's lesson about the rainbow.

💭 Review Question: Can you tell me what special promise God made with the rainbow?
2Teaching (5 min)

Jesus told a special story about being a good shepherd. A shepherd takes care of sheep and loves them very much!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Shepherds protect their sheep
  • Shepherds know each sheep by name
  • Jesus loves us just like a good shepherd
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think a shepherd does?
  • How does Jesus take care of us?
3Activity: Shepherd and Sheep Game (6 min)
storytelling

Create a pasture with green paper, use cotton balls as 'sheep', and practice shepherding

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread green paper on floor
  2. Scatter cotton ball 'sheep'
  3. Parent demonstrates shepherding
  4. Child tries being the shepherd
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent guides child's hand while shepherding

Challenge: Child leads multiple 'sheep' to safety

4Closing (3 min)

Review what we learned about Jesus being our Good Shepherd

📝 Review Questions:
  • Who takes care of us like a shepherd?
  • Does Jesus know your name?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us like a good shepherd. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how Jesus knows each of us!

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep.

John 10:14 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Sheep Follow the Shepherd: Parent walks around room saying verse, child follows like a sheep, repeating words

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

The shepherd metaphor was familiar in biblical times, representing care, protection, and personal relationship

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, engaging tone
  • Allow child to interact and ask questions
  • Demonstrate concepts physically
🤔 Common Struggles:

Keeping attention focused, understanding abstract concept of spiritual protection

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's engagement, attempts to repeat memory verse, understanding of protection concept

Extension Activities

  • BibleMouse Printables Library: Good Shepherd coloring page
  • Sing 'Jesus Loves Me' from BibleMouse Song Collection
  • Read a shepherd-themed book from BibleMouse Read-Aloud Library

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 167Back to Bible