First Thoughts: As we are about to embark on a new year we are faced with this sobering passage, the judgment between the sheep and the goats. If we look at it on its surface this passage seems to be a separation between good and bad people -- those who practiced kindness and those who failed to do so. But if we consider it on a deeper, more personal level, we can see that this isn't necessarily a way to discriminate between people but to examine the behavior in our own lives. Doesn't it make sense that God is looking into our own lives, weighing in our daily choices, helping us figure out which decisions need to be preserved and strengthened and which ones need to be "exiled"? And wouldn't that be a great way to start this new year -- inviting God to help us make that critical discernment? Spend time in prayer and reflection as you prepare to work with the children and carry your intention with you in your lesson.
Teaching On Your Own: (holds Bible) Hey, everyone. Happy New Year! But you know what? I don't exactly feel happy right now, just confused. See, I'm reading the lesson for today and I'm trying to figure out whether I am a sheep or a goat. Here Jesus teaches that those who are kind and helpful to others, those who show compassion, are God's sheep. But those who aren't kind, those who overlook people in need and only take care of themselves, they are the goats, and they don't belong to God at all. Sometimes I think I do a pretty good job being kind, and I think I'm a sheep. But other times I'm definitely more of a goat. So which one do you think I am? You know what? Maybe Jesus is teaching the lesson to show us that we all have a bit of sheep and a bit of goat in us. But God wants to help us strengthen our sheep natures more and more. So God gives us some ideas of how we can be more like God by taking care of those who are hungry or thirsty, those who need a place to rest, and those who are sad and need friendship. It's like God's giving us a checklist of what to look for. But even more important -- Jesus tells us that when we do these things for others, we're really doing it for him. God lives in the world in everyone we meet. So if we care for others we're really caring for God! Maybe that's why Jesus tells us we're part of God's flock, because we're caring for God and God is caring for us. Hey, that's going to be my New Year's resolution -- to be a better sheep in God's flock and to be less of a goat!
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 looking deep in thought, reading Bible)
Leader 1: Hey (name)! Happy New Year! (no response) Um, (name) -- are you listening?
Leader 2: Oh, sure. Yeah, Happy New Year to you too.
Leader 1: You seem to be deep in thought about something.
Leader 2: Yeah, I'm trying to figure out whether I am a sheep or a goat.
Leader 1: Sheep or goat? I don't follow.
Leader 2: I was looking at our lesson today and in it Jesus teaches that those who are kind and helpful to others, those who show compassion, are God's sheep. But those who aren't kind, those who overlook people in need or only take care of themselves, they are the goats, and they don't belong to God at all.
Leader 1: Yeah, that sounds like our passage today.
Leader 2: But see, sometimes I think I do a pretty good job of being kind, and I think I'm a sheep. But other times I'm definitely more of a goat. So which one am I really?
Leader 1: You know what? Maybe Jesus is teaching the lesson to show us that we all have a bit of sheep and a bit of goat in us. But God wants to help us strengthen our sheep natures more and more. So God gives us some ideas of how we can be more like God by taking care of those who are hungry or thirsty, those who need a place to rest, and those who are sad and need friendship.
Leader 2: Yeah, it's like God's giving us a checklist of who to look for and what to do.
Leader 1: But even more important -- Jesus tells us that when we do these things for others, we're really doing it for him. God lives in the world and in everyone we meet.
Leader 2: Wait, so if we care for others we're really caring for God?
Leader 1: Right and maybe that's why Jesus tells us we're part of God's flock, because we're caring for God just as God is caring for us.
Leader 2: That's going to be my New Year's resolution -- to be a better sheep in God's flock and to be less of a goat!
Leader 1: That's a resolution I'm sure God will help with!
Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us to understand a little better each day how we can be the sheep of your pasture, how we can be loving and kind. In this new year, help us to let go of our fear and selfishness and be more like you. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this lesson in a home or classroom setting, ask the children to reflect a bit on "sheep" behavior and "goat" behavior. Encourage them to look at things from their own lives. You might even make a list on a large piece of poster board divided down the middle. Now invite the children to identify a few "goat" behaviors that they think God wants to change in them in the year ahead. The children should also identify some "sheep" behaviors. Summarize the scripture passage, particularly the judgment for the goats: these will be set aside forever, sent away. God has promised to remove these behaviors from us, to liberate us to be sheep, and we can trust God to keep that promise.
For a craft idea, give each child an index card, cotton, and glue. First invite the children to write a prayer on the index card for the new year about how they invite God to increase their "sheep" natures. Another option is to write the words: "I just wanna be a sheep" (and maybe even sing the song!). Next have the children fold the index card in half and then cut out a sheep body profile with legs. (The bend of the card is the sheep's back.) Next take some of the leftover card and cut out two heads to glue onto the body. Have the children draw a face on the heads and glue the cotton balls on the sheep's body. Close your time in prayer for the new year.
