Ask students what they might know about sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. We are the little roaming sheep, but if we listen to the Good Shepherd, He will lead us to good pasture. Review jobs of a prophet, and share that Ezekiel had special messages to inform the people. I the Lord have spoken. Sheep are mentioned in the Bible more than 500 times, more than any other animal. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. Ezekiel is trying to warn them that this will happen. Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

Whatever his age, the shepherd’s job was to protect his flock and guide them to good pastures with plenty of food and slow-moving, easily accessible water. Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? The “sheep” really had to listen for the voice of who they knew would lead them. Sheep are not very smart. *If time allows, you may wish to visit other “sheepy” passages, including the parable of … Remember the obstacle course at the beginning of the lesson? “Sheep” and “flocks” are mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible, using twelve different Hebrew words and four Greek words. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. Please use our childrens ministry curriculum and Sunday School material for any purpose that brings honor to Jesus. –Ezekiel 34:11-16.

Who are these “rams and goats” that will be judged, and what have they done wrong? –John 10:1-6, In ancient times, the shepherds were willing to fight off wolves and lions, brave bad weather, and endure rough terrain in order to guard their wooly charges. Materials Needed: Pictures of shepherds, cotton balls, yarn, dark paper cut-outs, clothespins, markers, scissors, marshmallows, Bibles. But Jesus provides the contrast of being THE Good Shepherd. But he also arranges the world in a way that bad sheep have an opportunity to … Lesson focus: As humans, we easily stray from what is right, but God promises that He loves us and cares for us if we will follow His instruction. They are the most prominent animal mentioned in … Answer: A shepherd during the time of the Old Testament was often, but not always, a child. That’s why we never charge for our curriculum or even ask for donations. Ministry-To-Children.com helps you tell kids about Jesus by providing age-appropriate Bible study material and Sunday School curriculum – all 100% free online. Sheep are utterly dependent upon their shepherd to lead them to pastures (they eat grasses), provide them with water, and protect them from danger.

A shepherd cares for His sheep and takes care of them. We believe that children and parents benefit from a  strong Christian education program in the church. Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Bring students back to this comforting passage from John, in fact. Why does the Bible often use sheep as an analogy?

They spy greener grass in the other direction or fail to notice when the flock … So what do we have going on here? Question: "What was a shepherd in the Bible?"

Bible Lesson:

When Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, saying “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a … God sends his Son to die to atone for the sins of the bad sheep in this world, even when they didn’t deserve it.

And it was the same for the people of Israel in Ezekiel’s time. The same applied for Jesus’ time, and the same goes for us, too! God is promising that, while He will care for and love the good sheep, He will also judge and condemn those who are doing wrong. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, the other person (or rest of group) will try to distract the “lost sheep” from getting across the room. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. They also like to wander away and are easy targets for predators, without a watchful shepherd to guide and guard them.

Set up a small obstacle course of sorts and explain that the blindfolded child must make his/her way across the room, listening to the sound of the guiding “shepherd’s voice. But Jesus provides the contrast of being THE Good Shepherd. If fed grass of poor quality, the sheep would be malnourished. The prominence of sheep in the Bible grows out of two realities. Target Audience: Pre-k through sixth grade (adaptable) But there are other characteristics of sheep in general that the Bible uses to compare the animals to us. When it comes down to it, so are we. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd.
Students might be aware that their wool is used to make clothes, or that they like to eat grass, or live in flocks.

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Throughout the Bible, we are given images of God as the “good shepherd…” and there are great reasons for this. Either way, bring students together and explain that we will be talking today about sheep and shepherds. They claimed to be “shepherds” of Israel but they did not operate with care or true consideration. The church leaders and priests of His time were trying to tell people things that were not true and lead them astray. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. Lesson Opening: Which shepherd? 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. In fact, they were leading them astray and working only for themselves. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep.

Sheep on a string: wrap white yard around a sheep-shaped paper (decorate with color and/or mouth, eyes, etc. Additionally, or instead of this activity, you may opt for the classic “hide and go sheep” game wherein cotton balls are scattered throughout the room for students to find. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. Again, explain to students that there were some leaders in the land at the time who were misleading the people. Start out with an activity in trust and listening…choose one child to be a blindfolded “sheep,” and select two other children to be a “shepherd” and a distraction. –Ezekiel 34:17-24. The shepherd is often called upon to aid the dogs in defending the sheep (Genesis 31:39; 1 Samuel 17:34,35; Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 5:6; Amos 3:12).
Then invite students to find the Old Testament book in their Bibles, and turn to chapter 34…take turns reading starting in verse 11 and ending in 24…, “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

Figurative: The frequent use of the word "shepherd" to indicate a spiritual overseer is familiar to Bible readers ( Psalms 23:1 ; 80:1 ; Ecclesiastes 12:11 ; Isaiah 40:4 ; 63:14 ; Jeremiah 31:10 ; Ezekiel 34:23 ; 37:24 ; John 21:15-17 ; Ephesians 4:11 ; 1 Peter …