LESSON 33: GOD LEAVES THE 99
THEME: Matthew 18:12-14
VOCABULARY: shepherd, sheep, food, water, wolf, noticed, wander
STORY: One day there were many sheep in a field. There were many of them. The thing about these sheep is that they are not very smart. Sheep in general are not very smart. On this day, the sheep were with their shepherd. It is important that these sheep have a shepherd because without their shepherd they would be very lost. Sheep only listen to their shepherd; they do not listen to anyone else. The sheep follow the shepherd’s voice and the shepherd takes them to food and water. He also keeps them safe. A good shepherd will even give his life to protect his sheep. One day the shepherd was watching his sheep when a wolf came. The shepherd did not run away. He stayed with his sheep. Another person might have run away, but a shepherd is always there to protect his sheep. Just like the shepherd protects his sheep, God protects us. The enemy tries to hurt us, just like the wolf wanted to hurt the sheep, but God protects us. We are God’s sheep and we can listen to His voice and follow Him. It is important that we listen to and follow our one true shepherd just like the sheep only follow the voice of their shepherd. That way, when the enemy tries to hurt us, God will keep us safe.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: One day there were many sheep in a field. (What is in the field? Were there a few or a lot?) There were many of them. The thing about these sheep is that they are not very smart. (Are they smart or not very smart?) Sheep in general are not very smart. (Are sheep smart or not very smart?) On this day, the sheep were with their shepherd. (Who were the sheep with?) It is important that these sheep have a shepherd because without their shepherd they would be very lost. (What would happen to the sheep without their shepherd?) Sheep only listen to their shepherd; they do not listen to anyone else. (Do the sheep listen to their shepherd or to everyone?) The sheep follow the shepherd’s voice and the shepherd takes them to food and water. (Where does the shepherd take them? How do they know it is their shepherd?) He also keeps them safe. A good shepherd will even give his life to protect his sheep. (Who protects the sheep?) One day the shepherd was watching his sheep when a wolf came. (What animal came?) The shepherd did not run away. (Did the shepherd run away or stay?) He stayed with his sheep. Another person might have run away, but a shepherd is always there to protect his sheep. (Why did the shepherd stay?) Just like the shepherd protects his sheep, God protects us. (Who protects us?) The enemy tries to hurt us, just like the wolf wanted to hurt the sheep, but God protects us. (Who wants to hurt us?) We are God’s sheep and we can listen to His voice and follow Him. (Whose voice do we need to listen to?) It is important that we listen to and follow our one true shepherd just like the sheep only follow the voice of their shepherd. (Who is our shepherd?) That way, when the enemy tries to hurt us, God will keep us safe.
ACTIVITIES:
- Review the vocabulary words. Listen to the Vocabulary File for pronunciation. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know.
- Listen to Audio 1 as you read through the story.
- Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read through the story and answer the questions.
- Discuss these main points:
- Who do the sheep listen to? (the shepherd)
- Why do they listen to the shepherd? (because the shepherd protects them)
- Does the shepherd leave the sheep behind? (No)
- Who is our Shepherd? (God)
- Who should we listen to? (God)
- Why is it important to listen to God? (allow for answers)
- Emphasize that just like the shepherd, God will always come looking for the one that has wandered away from him, even if it means leaving the others. He wants to bring all His children back to the group.
- Listen to the song Reckless Love about how God leaves the 99 to search the one who is lost.
- Play a game of “Sheep, Sheep, Wolf” (same as Duck, Duck, Goose)
- Have a student pray in English.