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Show & Share - Jesus is the good shepherd

Today I learned about Christ, the good shepherd, and friend…

[Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (ESV)

…Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” John 21:16

As a continuation of our Youth Ministry teaching series, Knowing your Lord, we looked at Jesus as the good shepherd, the chief Shepherd, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls, and friend. We reviewed what Miss Patti had taught last week about what it means to be a good shepherd and how Jesus is THE good shepherd. We also read a slight adaptation of the book The Friend Who Forgives: A True Story About How Peter Failed and Jesus Forgave and learned that Jesus forgave Peter, just as God forgives us because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. Jesus laid down his life for us just as a good shepherd would do for his sheep, and we are his sheep just as Peter was.

We learned that a good shepherd seeks his lost sheep, rejoices when he finds them, tends to their wounds, and carries them back to the rest of the flock. And this is exactly what Christ does when we make bad choices.

We also learned that Jesus called Peter to be a shepherd to his flock and that people are still called to be shepherds today, including pastors, elders, youth ministry teachers, parents, etc.) but also anyone who is willing to care for others. We talked about how sometimes we’re the sheep and sometimes the shepherd. We discussed ways that we could shepherd others: loving them, helping them, speaking kind and encouraging words, sharing God’s word, praying for/with them, etc.

For our activity, we made love notes, cards, and pictures for a friend of Lacey and Maddie who recently lost her mother.

Family Activity: Discuss how Jesus is your family’s shepherd.