Our Good Shepherd too!
Children's sermon
Object:
something made of wool (preferably a strip of sheep's wool)
Good morning! I don't know how much you know about sheep.
I really don't know too much except this: sheep need shepherds
or fences. Without either a shepherd or fences, sheep eat the
grass and never know just where they are. They can wander away
and become lost. Or something worse can happen to them. They
can wander apart and be attacked by wild dogs or wolves or
coyotes or some other dangerous animal. They can also fall into
water and drown. Sheep without a shepherd or fence will find
danger.
Today most sheep are in pastures with fences to protect them from wild animals and from getting lost. But when Jesus lived in Israel long ago, there were few fences and almost all sheep had shepherds who loved them and protected them. The shepherds grew very close to their sheep so that they were almost like part of the shepherd's family. Often the shepherd would give each of the sheep a name and the sheep all knew the shepherd and trusted the shepherd to protect and love them.
We get wool from sheep. I brought a wool sweater with me this morning. I wouldn't want to wear this today, but in the wintertime, I love the warmth of wool sweaters or coats. Sheep help keep us warm even today.
One day Jesus saw a large crowd of people. They reminded him of sheep without a shepherd. They seemed lost and confused and in danger. He loved them and wanted so much to be their shepherd. He healed many of them of illness and became their loving shepherd.
Jesus is our loving shepherd as well. He cares for us and knows each of us by name. He knows all about us. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. He knows our wants and needs, our hungers and thirsts. And we know that we can trust Jesus and know him -- even though we cannot see him. Jesus is here with us in church this morning. Jesus is with us when we go home. During the day or the darkest night, Jesus is there with us. Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
Dearest Good Shepherd: Thank you for loving us and protecting us. Amen.
Today most sheep are in pastures with fences to protect them from wild animals and from getting lost. But when Jesus lived in Israel long ago, there were few fences and almost all sheep had shepherds who loved them and protected them. The shepherds grew very close to their sheep so that they were almost like part of the shepherd's family. Often the shepherd would give each of the sheep a name and the sheep all knew the shepherd and trusted the shepherd to protect and love them.
We get wool from sheep. I brought a wool sweater with me this morning. I wouldn't want to wear this today, but in the wintertime, I love the warmth of wool sweaters or coats. Sheep help keep us warm even today.
One day Jesus saw a large crowd of people. They reminded him of sheep without a shepherd. They seemed lost and confused and in danger. He loved them and wanted so much to be their shepherd. He healed many of them of illness and became their loving shepherd.
Jesus is our loving shepherd as well. He cares for us and knows each of us by name. He knows all about us. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. He knows our wants and needs, our hungers and thirsts. And we know that we can trust Jesus and know him -- even though we cannot see him. Jesus is here with us in church this morning. Jesus is with us when we go home. During the day or the darkest night, Jesus is there with us. Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
Dearest Good Shepherd: Thank you for loving us and protecting us. Amen.
