The Parable of the Good Shepherd
There was once someone who said such amazing things and did such wonderful things that people followed him. They couldn’t help it. They wanted to know who he was, so they just had to ask him.
So begins the beloved Parable of the Good Shepherd in the Godly Play repertoire. As we approach Good Shepherd Sunday, this story invites the children to come closer. Children are invited to lean into the circle as the lid comes off the golden parable box, so they can wonder and learn about the parable inside.
A parable is a story that Jesus told to explain a concept. It may reveal multiple lessons to you over your lifetime. The different stages of our life help put a spot light on the different outlook that is possible from parables.
In the story of the Good Shepherd, the storyteller explains about the cool clear waters of life that nurture growth, dark moments shadowed by rocks and how the Good Shepherd is with us in both of those times. Often when the storyteller asks the children about this story, a child will say, “I wonder if I’m the sheep who was lost in the dangerous place. And the good shepherd is God, coming to help me.”
This week’s Sunday School lesson about the Good Shepherd includes Cheerios and Oreo sheep treats, puppet crafts and dot-to-dot sheep pages. Good news is that the Good Shepherd includes everyone at the table of the great banquet! No one is left out and all are invited into His grace!
This parable is found in both Godly Play and Young Children and Worship books. It's meaning is also found in the 23rd Psalm.
So begins the beloved Parable of the Good Shepherd in the Godly Play repertoire. As we approach Good Shepherd Sunday, this story invites the children to come closer. Children are invited to lean into the circle as the lid comes off the golden parable box, so they can wonder and learn about the parable inside.
A parable is a story that Jesus told to explain a concept. It may reveal multiple lessons to you over your lifetime. The different stages of our life help put a spot light on the different outlook that is possible from parables.
In the story of the Good Shepherd, the storyteller explains about the cool clear waters of life that nurture growth, dark moments shadowed by rocks and how the Good Shepherd is with us in both of those times. Often when the storyteller asks the children about this story, a child will say, “I wonder if I’m the sheep who was lost in the dangerous place. And the good shepherd is God, coming to help me.”
This week’s Sunday School lesson about the Good Shepherd includes Cheerios and Oreo sheep treats, puppet crafts and dot-to-dot sheep pages. Good news is that the Good Shepherd includes everyone at the table of the great banquet! No one is left out and all are invited into His grace!
This parable is found in both Godly Play and Young Children and Worship books. It's meaning is also found in the 23rd Psalm.
Storytelling Video
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Watch the story to get a better feel at how to present it. It is a parable about a shepherd that lost one of His sheep and leaves all of the other sheep to find the missing one. We are so grateful that the Good Shepherd values each of us in the same way.
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Volume 3- Lesson 9, The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Revised and Expanded
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Journal writing
Minecraft of the Good Shepherd
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Children recreating this parable.
Miss Olivia shared with the children about the Good Shepherd and the ordinary shepherd. The children decided that the Good Shepherd was Jesus and all of us might be the sheep. We started learning the first part of Psalm 23 and constructed a picture to help us remember it.
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