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EASTER 4 - (25/04/10)
Sheep
Bible Reading
John 10.27
Preparation
You need at least one toy animal, preferably a lamb. A variety of such toys would be helpful. (Real pets would be even better!)
Introduction
Show your toy animal(s). Discuss with the assembly the kind of things you would have to do to look after the animal if it was actually real - alternatively, discuss looking after pets. Work the conversation round to looking after sheep...
Message
Farmers have kept sheep for thousands years. There are a lot of stories about sheep and shepherds in the Bible, one of the best known is a story Jesus told about a sheep which got lost. (Luke chapter 15 verses 3-7) : This shepherd had just one hundred sheep. He didn't use dogs to control the sheep, he knew all their names, and when he called them they would come and follow him, because they trusted and loved him. The shepherd stayed with his sheep all day, he led them around to find the best grass for them to eat, and took them to the streams so they could drink. At the end of the day he would shut them up safe in a big sheepfold, and he would sleep in the doorway of the fold, so that wild animals could not get in and attack the sheep, or thieves break in and steal them.
But one day was different, as the shepherd counted his sheep into the sheepfold he realised that there was one missing. He left his friends to look after the other ninety nine sheep, and retraced his steps to find the one sheep he had lost. You may think sheep all look the same, but, because the shepherd knew his sheep so well, he knew exactly which sheep was missing and where he had last remembered seeing her. He kept looking in the ditches and in the thorn bushes, over the cliff edges and in the streams, until at last he found his sheep. He was delighted to have her back, and I expect the sheep was pretty pleased too in its own sheep way!
Jesus told this story to help people understand what God was like; he explained how God was like the shepherd, because He loved all His people and did not want to lose any one of them, just as the shepherd did not want to lose any of his sheep.
Jesus is called the Good Shepherd too (John chapter 10 verse 11) because of the love he has for his people. He told his friends that he loved his people so much that he would die for them, just like a shepherd would risk his life by fighting wild animals to protect his sheep. Soon after Jesus told his friends this he was arrested and crucified, and we heard the story about what happened to him then as we prepared for Easter. Since his death and resurrection, millions of Christians have followed the voice of Jesus and become his sheep. They know and trust him as their leader, and know he loves them in return.
Prayer
Father we thank you that you have sent us Jesus to be our Good Shepherd; to protect us, and to lead us.