For this blog, I want to do something a little different. I want to tell the kid’s story as the main part of the blog.
Lanny was a playful little lamb. He belonged to the good shepherd’s flock. One day when the good shepherd took all his sheep out to the green pasture, Lanny saw a nice patch of green grass on the other side of the pasture. That green grass looked so good. Lanny skipped over to the grass and started to nibble. It tasted so good and sweet. Then Lanny saw another patch of green grass, just beyond the field where all of the other sheep were grazing. He knew that the good shepherd said he should stay with the flock, but it wasn’t that far away. “Maybe I can skip over there quickly and just have a little nibble of the sweet green grass.“ he thought. So he did. Then he saw another little patch of grass and a pathway leading up a little hill. It would be so much fun to explore that path. He could still hear the rest of the sheep baaing. He wasn’t that far from the pasture.
He kept going and going until it began to get dark. “I better get back to the good shepherd.” He thought, but as he turned around, he couldn’t see the path. He didn’t know which way to go. He started running down the hill, then he slipped and went tumbling faster and faster right into the thorny bramble bushes on the side of the path. The brambles stuck in his wool. He pulled and pulled, but he couldn’t get loose. He was really stuck and he was all alone. Oh! If only he had only listened to the good shepherd. He cried out, “Baa! Baa!” Maybe the good shepherd would hear him and come rescue him. He listened for the good shepherd’s voice. He only heard the wind and the howl of enemy wolf. The wolf sounded very close.
He listened again. Enemy wolf seemed to be saying,“Aha! I got you now little sheep. You wandered away. Now you’re stuck. You can’t get away from me, little sheep. What makes you think the good shepherd can hear you? You’re just a little, skinny sheep anyway. He doesn’t want you. Awoo! Awoo!”
Lanny was very, very scared. He was so hoping that the Good Shepherd would come rescue him, but what if He didn’t? What if the wolf was right? What if the good shepherd couldn’t hear him? What if the good shepherd didn’t love him or want him? These thoughts were lies that enemy wolf wanted Lanny to believe. Then suddenly Lanny remembered, “Wait a minute. I know my good shepherd loves me. I know He’ll forgive me. It says so in the Great Book that the shepherd reads from. I know He’ll rescue me.” So Lanny called out again, “Baa! Baa! Good Shepherd, I’m over here. I’m sorry Good Shepherd for running away. Please, come rescue me. Baa! Baa!”
He listened again, he thought he heard something. Could it be the Good Shepherd? Yes, it was the Good Shepherd’s voice! “Lanny, Lanny, where are you little one? I’m coming for you.”
Lanny was so happy. It really was the good shepherd. The good shepherd was coming for him! “Baa! Baa! Thank you! Thank you good shepherd. Thank you for coming to rescue me.”
The good shepherd gently freed Lanny from the brambles even though the thorns stuck in his own hands as he was pulling Lanny free. The good shepherd loved Lanny. He had been searching everywhere for His little lost sheep. He was so happy that He had found him. Then the Good Shepherd picked Lanny up and carried him home. The Good Shepherd rescued Lanny from the brambles and from enemy wolf even though Lanny had made wrong choices and wandered away.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He came to earth to rescue us, just like the shepherd in our story. Jesus is true. We can count on Him. We know that what He says and does is right. When we are lost or confused or not sure what is right, Jesus will help us. He rescues us, forgives us and helps us to live to honor God.
We can put on the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness/right living because Jesus is with us. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is the only one who ever lived who never did anything wrong. He rescued us from sin/lying – all our wrong choices, by dying on the cross and He gives us the strength to live for God.
The belt of truth says we don’t lie or believe the lies that our enemy, the devil tries to tell us. The enemy would like us to believe that we are alone, guilty and not who God says we are. he would like us to believe that God doesn’t love or care for us, but God says, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made, loved beyond measure and worth rescuing.” God says, “He has a special plan for us and that we are His children.” We can put on the Belt of Truth because Jesus rescued us. He is the only one who ever lived who never told a lie or did anything wrong. He was without sin – that means He never, ever did anything wrong and yet He rescued us by dying for us.
We are also learning about the Breastplate of Righteousness or right living – that means that we live to honor God. We can’t do that on our own. We need our rescuer, Jesus to help us.
Jesus, our good shepherd, came to earth to rescue us, just like the shepherd in our story today. Jesus is true. We can count on Him. We know that what He says and does is right. When we are lost or confused or not sure what is right, Jesus will help us. He forgives us and helps us live to honor God. We can put on the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness/right living because Jesus is with us. He is our Good Shepherd, our forever friend and He gives us the strength to live for God.
CHILD’S PRAYER:
Dear Jesus,Thank you for loving and rescuing me just like the Good Shepherd loved his little sheep. Help me to remember that I can always talk to you, when I am not sure what is right or true. I know you will help me to know what to do. Please forgive me when I forget to listen and when I make bad choices. I want to always tell the truth and live to honor you. I love you Jesus. I want you to be my friend forever. Amen
MEMORIZE: Phil. 4:13 ERV – (Hold hands open as though holding a book.) Christ – (Point up.)
Is the one – (Show one finger.)
Who give me the strength – (Show muscles.)
To do whatever – (Tap fists together.)
I must do – (Point to self.)
EXTRA VERSE TO MEMORIZE: Eph. 6:14 – (Hold hands open as though holding a book.)
Stand strong – (Stand up.)
With the belt of truth – (Hands on waist.)
Tied around your waist – (Pretend to tie.)
And on your chest – (Pat chest.)
Wear the protection of right living – (Clap hands.)
PARENT OR GRANDPARENT PRAYER:
Jesus, Thank you for rescuing me. You loved me enough to leave heaven to come to earth and give your life for me. You paid my debt. You freed me when I was lost and alone. How can I say thank you? I can never say thank you enough, but I can live in your truth and righteousness as you give me the strength. You give me the wisdom and grace to know what is true and right. Your Spirit lives within and changes me from the inside out. I don’t have to believe the enemy’s lies any more because I choose to live in your truth. Thank you Jesus for what you did for me. Show me each day how I can follow you and honor you. Help my kids to understand who you are and what you did for them. Amen
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH KIDS
* Tell the story about what Jesus did simply.
The simple facts are:
1 Jesus died for us because He loved us.
2 We all have done wrong things. We all have disobeyed but Jesus forgives us.
Forgive means God doesn’t punish us for the wrong things we have done.
3 Jesus came to rescue us and help us live for God.
4 Jesus did rescue us by dying for us.
5 Jesus is alive and wants to be our forever friend.
* Avoid confusing words – try to use terms that are concrete not abstract with preschoolers. Start with God made me and God loves me.
* Be sure of your own relationship with God. PRAY! Ask God how to share with your kids.
THE MAIN IDEA
KNOW: Jesus rescues me. He gives me the strength to put on God’s armor.
TALK ABOUT: Truth & Righteousness – Living to honor God.
ASK: What helps you be strong? God’s armor Who helps us be strong? Jesus
AND DO: Ask Jesus to be my forever friend and help me put on God’s armor.
