THE STORY A shepherd looked after a flock of perhaps 100 sheep. The sheep depended of their shepherd completely for food, water and protection. In this psalm, God is the shepherd who cares for me, his sheep. He supplies me with all I need to live a quiet and peaceful life. He restores life and strength to me in forgiveness of sin through his Word and the sacraments. His Word keeps me on the path to heaven. He is as his name; he is the Good Shepherd. As my shepherd, he is with me in times of threatening danger and trouble. Like a shepherd with his rod and staff, he protects and guides me throughout my life. At God’s table, I feast safely and in peace from my enemies. He honours me, a forgiven sinner. His generosity is unending. God’s care and fellowship is with me always until I live with him in heaven forever. PSALM 23 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. FAITH AND FAMILY TIME • Talk about the story picture, and the children’s activities. Read 23 in your Bible or in a Bible story book. • Talk about dangerous or needy times when Jesus protected and cared for a member of the family. • Make a list of people in need of help, for whom the family can pray. Pray for them and make plans to help them. • Recall your family history and how, over the years, you and your ancestors were led to places, occupations, etc. Talk about how God has led and cared for your family. • Read/sing “I am Jesus Little Lamb” (LH 602). PRAYER Dear Lord Jesus, my kind and loving Shepherd, thank you for loving and caring for me. Please help me always to love you, to listen to you and to follow you closely. Guide and protect me today and in the future as you have always done. In your name we pray. Amen.
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THE STORY
A shepherd looked after a flock of perhaps 100 sheep. The sheep depended of their shepherd completely for food, water and protection.
In this psalm, God is the shepherd who cares for me, his sheep. He supplies me with all I need to live a quiet and peaceful life. He restores life and strength to me in forgiveness of sin through his Word and the sacraments. His Word keeps me on the path to heaven. He is as his name; he is the Good Shepherd. As my shepherd, he is with me in times of threatening danger and trouble. Like a shepherd with his rod and staff, he protects and guides me throughout my life.
At God’s table, I feast safely and in peace from my enemies. He honours me, a forgiven sinner. His generosity is unending. God’s care and fellowship is with me always until I live with him in heaven forever.
PSALM 23 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
FAITH AND FAMILY TIME • Talk about the story picture, and the children’s activities. Read 23 in your Bible or in
a Bible story book. • Talk about dangerous or needy times when Jesus protected and cared for a
member of the family. • Make a list of people in need of help, for whom the family can pray. Pray for them
and make plans to help them. • Recall your family history and how, over the years, you and your ancestors were
led to places, occupations, etc. Talk about how God has led and cared for your family.
• Read/sing “I am Jesus Little Lamb” (LH 602).
PRAYER Dear Lord Jesus, my kind and loving Shepherd, thank you for loving and caring for me. Please help me always to love you, to listen to you and to follow you closely. Guide and protect me today and in the future as you have always done. In your name we pray. Amen.
What do you see in this picture of
Jesus the Good Shepherd?
____ a good shepherd
____ lots of sheep
____ the path
____ fresh water
____ green grass
____ the shepherd’s staff
____ dangers
____ the shepherd loves his
sheep and takes care of
them
Colour the picture.
Bible Verse
The Lord is my Shepherd.
Psalm 23:1
Baptism means new life Just like the shepherd leads his sheep
to quiet water and restores them (gives them new life), baptism also “restores the soul”, or makes us new people who are ready to live with God.
Each day our baptism gives us strength to live as God’s people.
↑ Write your name on
this lamb.
We can trust God to take care of us like a shepherd looks after his sheep.
Baptism means new life Just like the shepherd leads his sheep to quiet
water and restores them (gives them new life), baptism also “restores the soul”, or makes us new people who are ready to live with God.
Because we belong to Jesus, we get to be sorry every day for going away from him on our own way (sinning), and get to begin again to follow him as our Good Shepherd.
Each day our baptism gives us strength to live as God’s people.
We can trust God to take care
of us like a shepherd looks after his sheep.
Join the dots to see the
Good Shepherd.
Bible Verse
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want.
Psalm 23:1
Good Shepherd Sunday
This Sunday is known as Good Shepherd Sunday.
We remember the ongoing love and
protection He gives us daily. Jesus is sometimes
called the Good Shepherd; we trust and
follow Him.
The word ‘pastor’ used to mean ‘shepherd’. How is your pastor like a shepherd? Or like an assistant shepherd?
Pastors are Shepherds too All Christians know that Jesus is
their Good Shepherd. But they sometimes think of other
people as assistant shepherds. The word “pastor” used to mean “shepherd”. This reminds us that pastors in our churches are like shepherds, who look after the “sheep” that belong to Jesus.
Wherever there are Christian churches, there are people who care for and look after other people. Pastors do this in a special way. When they preach or teach about Jesus, that is like a shepherd “feeding” the sheep. When they tell people that God has forgiven them, that is like rescuing a sheep that was lost.
Some things to think about and discuss The Bible often says that people are like sheep.
In what ways do you think that people are like sheep? When do you feel most like a sheep? What are some things that shepherds do for their sheep that God does for you? (Read Psalm 23:1-4)
Explain in your own words what it means to you that God is your Shepherd.
Jesus leads us like a Shepherd. He
leads us along the paths of life.
We are safe if we follow him.
What would it be like if we had an untrustworthy leader?
Bible Verse
The Lord is
my Shepherd;
I shall not be
in want. Psalm 23:1
Baptism means new life Just like the shepherd leads his sheep to quiet water and restores them (gives them new life), baptism also “restores the soul”, or makes us new people who are ready to live with God.
Because we belong to Jesus, we get to be sorry every day for going away from him on our own way (sinning), and get to begin again to follow him as our Good Shepherd.
Each day our baptism gives us strength to live as God’s people.
We can trust God to take care of us like a shepherd looks after his sheep.
Cross out all the letters found in the following words. Unscramble the remaining letters to find a word-picture describing Jesus.
G G G S P O S E
O A A A E W D U
T I D H H E S D
F D H E T E R O
O E R U P P O E
R H E E E L V T
FOOD GATE HE
LOVE GUIDE WATER
PASTURE SHEEP
JESUS IS OUR _________________________
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