Who will always find you and bless you as you follow Him?
John 10:3-4 Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
“He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Find the Little Lost Lamb picture puzzle
OBJECTIVE: Children can search this puzzle for a sheep wearing a tennis shoe, a necktie, a baseball hat, a bell, a bow tie, and more. Instructions say, “Color the lost lambs as soon as ‘ewe’ find them.” Tell children, “Just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd searches for the lost lamb, He will search for you if you get lost.
TO MAKE Print or copy the picture poster for each child. Have crayons or markers for children to color the lost lambs.
ACTIVITY:
ACTIVITY: Find the Lost Lamb Hidden Picture Puzzle. Tell children about Jesus as the good shepherd who found the lost lamb. Have children pretend to be a good shepherd and find the lost lamb . . . wearing tennis shoes, a necktie, baseball hat, bell, bow tie, and more. Tell children, “Color the lost lambs as soon as you ‘ewe’ find them.”
THOUGHT TREAT Lambs in the Corral. Make a corral or fence out of graham cracker sections, gluing the corral/fence together with frosting. The corral holds in the little lambs that may run away and get lost. Enclose lambs (miniature white marshmallows) inside the graham cracker corral.
DISCUSSION POINTS (Jesus The Good Shepherd, Lost Sheep)
• Anciently (and today in some parts of the world) shepherds carefully watched over their sheep. The sheep knew the shepherd’s voice. They followed him to green pastures or to water as he beckoned them.
• The shepherd knew that wild animals were out at night; so he would bed his sheep down in a safe place called a sheepfold. He would guard the entrance to protect his sheep. Each night the shepherd counted his sheep to be sure they were all there. If one sheep was missing he would go and search, sometimes for days, until he found it.
• Activity Idea: Hide a puzzle piece somewhere in the room. Ask the children to put the puzzle together. They will discover there is one piece missing. Tell them to look for it until they find it. Ask the children how they felt when they found the missing piece.
• Jesus feels great joy when one of His lost sheep is found. How can you help find His lost sheep? Luke 15:5-7
• A story: A little Navajo girl was new to her neighborhood and school. She didn’t know anyone. She was shy. She felt alone. One day while she was walking home from school, another little girl caught up with her and asked her what her name was. She said, “Rachel.” The little friend said, “My name is Susan.” They became good friends. How was Susan like a shepherd?
• Jesus taught us about shepherds because He wants us to know and feel how important we are to Him. He wants us to be safe and happy. He knows us, and we can know Him by learning His words and keeping His commandments. John 10:14
• Are there any missing friends in your class today? Suggest those present could be shepherds. Ask what they would like to do for those who are not there.
The Lamb by William Blake:
Little Lamb, who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee;
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
BIBLE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERLINE:
• 1 Peter 5
“Feed the flock of God which is among you.”
• John 10:3-4; 14-15 Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
“He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” . . . “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
• Luke 15:4
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”
• Luke 15: 5-7
“And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
• Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd … “