The good shepherd
Children's sermon
Object:
a woolen article of clothing (or raw wool)
Good morning. Today's reading says something very unusual.
Jesus tells his disciples that he is the "good shepherd." Now
Jesus was raised by Joseph as a carpenter. Yet here he says he
is a shepherd. Not just a shepherd, but a "good" shepherd!
What does a shepherd do? (Let them answer.) A shepherd tends sheep. What are sheep good for? (Let them answer.) Their wool gives us nice, warm things to wear like this (here hold out the article of clothing made of wool) and cover ourselves to protect against the cold. But sheep also provide meat. Sometimes people eat sheep.
Do you think a good shepherd would allow his sheep to be eaten? (Let them answer.) I don't think so. A good shepherd loves his sheep so much that he will even lay down his life protecting his sheep from harm and danger. Wow! That's the kind of shepherd Jesus said he was.
But Jesus wasn't talking about sheep. What was he really talking about? (Let them answer.) He was talking about us. He was talking about those who follow him. We may be like sheep and Jesus is like a good shepherd who will do anything to protect his own sheep.
Even if a wolf should come to attack the sheep, the good shepherd protects them. Would a hired shepherd protect the sheep? (Let them answer.) I don't think so. They would be so afraid of the wolf; they might run away.
There's something else about sheep. The good shepherd has all his sheep named. A bad shepherd wouldn't care enough about the sheep to give them names. But the good shepherd cares a lot and knows every one of them by name.
So Jesus knows our names. He knows our names and protects us from every harm. I'm so glad that Jesus knows me and loves me and knows you and loves you as well!
Dearest Shepherd: Thank you for knowing and loving us. Amen.
What does a shepherd do? (Let them answer.) A shepherd tends sheep. What are sheep good for? (Let them answer.) Their wool gives us nice, warm things to wear like this (here hold out the article of clothing made of wool) and cover ourselves to protect against the cold. But sheep also provide meat. Sometimes people eat sheep.
Do you think a good shepherd would allow his sheep to be eaten? (Let them answer.) I don't think so. A good shepherd loves his sheep so much that he will even lay down his life protecting his sheep from harm and danger. Wow! That's the kind of shepherd Jesus said he was.
But Jesus wasn't talking about sheep. What was he really talking about? (Let them answer.) He was talking about us. He was talking about those who follow him. We may be like sheep and Jesus is like a good shepherd who will do anything to protect his own sheep.
Even if a wolf should come to attack the sheep, the good shepherd protects them. Would a hired shepherd protect the sheep? (Let them answer.) I don't think so. They would be so afraid of the wolf; they might run away.
There's something else about sheep. The good shepherd has all his sheep named. A bad shepherd wouldn't care enough about the sheep to give them names. But the good shepherd cares a lot and knows every one of them by name.
So Jesus knows our names. He knows our names and protects us from every harm. I'm so glad that Jesus knows me and loves me and knows you and loves you as well!
Dearest Shepherd: Thank you for knowing and loving us. Amen.
