CrossKids Devo | Good Shepard
Activity – How R U Doing?
Draw a line on a sheet of paper. Place a 1 on the left end of the line, a 10 on the right, and a 5 in the middle. As kids arrive, ask them to pencil in their initials on the line.
Parents Say: If your day was so awful you wish you'd slept through it, place your initials by the 1. If it was a great day and you wish you could repeat, put your initials by the 10. Place your initials anywhere on the line that shows how you feel today.
Bible Time – The Good Shepard – John 10:11-15
When's the last time you saw a shepherd leading a flock of sheep around the countryside? Ever?
In Jesus' day, it was a common sight--so common that when Jesus painted a word picture of his relationship with his followers, he chose the image of a shepherd and sheep. And not just any shepherd--Jesus claimed the role of a shepherd who owns the flock, who'll risk anything to protect his sheep . . . including his life.That kind of commitment is rare. Think about who in your life is literally willing to die for you. For most of us, it's a short list. As you share this story with your kids, you'll help them discover just how deep Jesus' love is for his followers--for us--and that we can trust Jesus too!
(Have your child choose one of the following act out: shepherd, hired hand, wolf, and sheep. You play the wolf. Age-Alert Tips: Young children will especially enjoy impersonating sheep, so allow time for them to get in character and move around a bit before proceeding.)
Parents Say: One day Jesus told a story that involved sheep and a shepherd. Jesus was trying to make a point to his listeners. These were Jewish leaders who said they were leading people closer to God . . . but they really weren't. Let's experience the story and see if we can discover a lesson for us. Ask them to get in character by delivering a few baaaas.
Parents Say: I'm going to read aloud the story Jesus told his listeners. As I read, do what's described and what you think a wolf and sheep would do. Ready?
Age-Alert Tips: If you have older child (4th, 5th, and 6th graders), modify the lesson in these ways:
Alert #1: Ask for a volunteer to read the passage aloud.
Alert #2: Add this as a last debriefing question: In what ways have you trusted Jesus and found him worthy of your trust? In what ways have you felt disappointed?
Read John 10:11-15, pausing when there's action called for. Applaud your actors and ask kids to sit in a circle. John 10:11-15
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Discuss the Following Questions
-Two kinds of people were guarding the sheep: hired hands and shepherds. Why did they behave differently?
-Jesus describes himself as one of those two kinds of guards. Which one? And why?
-In what ways is Jesus a shepherd to us all? to you?
-How do you feel knowing that Jesus is watching out for you?
-In what ways does Jesus earn your trust?
Parents Say: We don't have many people in our lives who'd die for us. But that's exactly what Jesus did... and he's alive again and watching out for us. That makes it easy to love him and trust him!
Pray