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10“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁷So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

OPTIONAL PROP(S): Stuffed sheep and/or shepherds crook

This week's Bible readings have a special theme. They talk about what it means to be a shepherd.

Do you know anything about shepherding that you could share? What types of work does a shepherd do? (Solicit children's comments.)

Wow, you sure know a lot about shepherding - which is kind of funny, because we don't see too many shepherds around these days, do we? They were very common when Jesus was alive though, and the Bible is full of shepherd stories - not to teach us about the real work of shepherds back then, but to help us understand something very important about Jesus.

Jesus is a special kind of shepherd. He doesn't have a flock of sheep - he has a flock of people - and we're them. We are Jesus' sheep!

That's kind of a funny thought, isn't it? We aren't really sheep of course, but the Bible helps us to understand that Jesus does the same things for us, that an actual shepherd does for his sheep.

You see, shepherds have three important jobs: herding, tending and protecting.

When we say that shepherds "herd," we mean that one of their jobs is to gather their sheep into groups. Where do we gather together because of Jesus? That's right! We come to church to learn about God and to celebrate being a part of his family. So that's one way, isn't it?

Shepherds are also responsible for "tending" their sheep. This means they take care of them. They feed them and clean them and take care of them when they're sick. (Hey, your parents are kind of like shepherds too!) Jesus doesn't come and feed us lunch or dinner, but he feeds our minds and he fills our hearts with love - so in that way he tends to us too.

Finally, shepherds have the important job of "protecting" their flocks. Just like a real shepherd would try to keep his sheep from danger, Jesus watches over us and protects us from harm.

Do you see why the Bible says that "The Lord is my shepherd?" I want you to listen carefully as we share today's readings and see how many times you hear about shepherds and sheep. I think you'll be surprised!

Will you pray with me?

Dear God,

Thank you for being our shepherd. We are so lucky to have you herd, tend and protect us.

Amen.

Copyright 2008 - The Children's Sermon.Com

Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Psalm 23
¹The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
²He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
³he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

1 Peter 2:19-25
For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁷So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.