Theme Discussion
Have you ever met a shepherd before? Have you ever been to a farm that has sheep? These days it’s not as common a profession as it was in the region Jesus grew up and did his teaching.
Watch the video A Shepherd’s Life to get an idea of what shepherding in a remote area is like. (Turn on subtitles. Hover over the video timebar to choose from the different sections if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.)
Was there anything that surprised you?
What sort of things does a shepherd do for their sheep?
How do they take care of them?
Is it an easy job? Why do you think they continue to do it?
Now check out today’s scripture from The Message - John 10:11-18:
Jesus said:
11-13 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.
14-18 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.”
But wait a minute - before he started his ministry, Jesus was supposed to be a carpenter. So why is he calling himself a shepherd in this bible passage? How does Jesus act like a shepherd?
There are other places in the Bible where Jesus is described as a shepherd - can you think of any other passages?
How would you feel knowing you had a ‘good shepherd’ to take care of you?
We have friends and family around us who care for us in the same way as a good shepherd, don’t we? Take a moment now to name them and share something you’re grateful that they do for or with you.
Response Activities
Maze
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Crayon Resist Shepherd Scene
Materials: crayons or oil pastels, watercolours, brushes, water cups, paper
Using crayons and/or oil pastels draw a simple outline of hills, clouds, sun, etc. that you imagine when you think about a place where a good shepherd may take their sheep . Don’t forget to add in some simple sheep shapes with the crayons and/or oil pastels. Finish by painting with watercolours to fill all the outlined areas.
I am a Good Shepherd, too!
Print out the worksheet. Fill in the sheep, writing words or phrases that describe how one could act as a good shepherd to others. (e.g. Offering a hand when someone falls down, Standing up to a bully, Calling to check in on a grandparent, etc.) Draw and colour a field or hillside for the sheep!
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Colouring Page
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