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Please choose from the following children's sermons:

• My God Will Take Care of Me, Psalm 23    (see below)
  Rev. Frank Schaefer
   
• My Sheep Hear My Voice, John 20:22-30, Psalm 23     (see below)
  Rev. Frank Schaefer

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My God Will Take Care of Me
a children's sermon based on Psalm 23
Rev. Frank Schaefer

no props needed

Share the basic concepts of Psalm 23 with the children, by segments:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters (23:1-2)

The writer of this Psalm says that God looks out for him;  God provides for his basic needs.  What are basic needs, do you think?  What does every person need every day?  (Food, drink, and rest) That's what the writer of Psalm 23 is saying, that God takes care of his basic needs.

Question: Do you think that God takes care of you too?  Do you think that God gives you what you need every day? 

Ok, I think, we can find out whether God loves you and cares for you like he did for the writer of Psalm 23 by asking this question: Was there ever a time when you went hungry and did not have anything to eat for more than a day?  No?  You see, God is looking out for you, because God loves you too, and God is taking care of you too.

Now listen to this:

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.

Here the writer is saying that no matter what we go through in life--even if we go through something very sad, or painful, or terrible; he says: God will be walking with us.  Even through the dark valleys.  Has any of you ever been afraid in the dark, when you lie in bed perhaps and you hear some creaky noises?  Yes?

Well, according to Psalm 23, we don't have to be afraid--not even in the dark.  Because God is with us all the time, and especially when we're sad, or scared.  Just as God  makes sure we have enough to eat and drink, God will protect us when we need protection.

God will always take care of us, just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.

Let's pray: "We give you  thanks, o God, for being our good Shepherd, for making sure we always have enough to eat and drink and thank you also for being with us and protecting us when we are sad or confused or scared.  Amen."

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My Sheep Hear My Voice
based on John 20:22-30 & Psalm 23
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

 

Good morning boys and girls. Today, I didn't bring anything to show you because you can all help me with this children's sermon. I need you to pretend to be sheep.  Can you all go: baaaaaaa....?

Now that we know what sheep sound like, what else do we know about sheep? What do they do? What do they eat? Are they by themselves or in a group with other sheep? Who makes sure that all the sheep stay together? (the shepherd).

How does a Shepherd take care of his sheep?  Do they lead them to where green grass grows?  Do they lead them to fresh water?  Do they take care of them when they are sick?  Do they protect them from wild animals?  Do they go looking for a sheep that got lost?

In today's Bible reading Jesus says that God's people hear his voice like sheep know their shepherd's voice.

Now, do you suppose it is true that sheep know the shepherd's voice?  That's amazing, isn't it? And maybe not that amazing, because our pets probably know our voice too, don't they?  Who of you have a cat or a dog?  Do they recognize your voice?   Do they come when you call them?  That's the same with sheep.

Do you think we are a little like sheep? Do we need help? Do we need a Shepherd to help us? Who is our Shepherd? That's right it's Jesus/God. And God has promised us to take care of us, to keep us going on the right path and to teach us what we need to know. He is the Good Shepherd.  But we must listen to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  We have His words in the bible, and sometimes he speaks to our hearts, too.

What do you think, should we ask God to help us listen to Jesus words?  O.K. let's ask God right now.  In invite you to bow your heads with me for prayer:

"Dear God, our Good Shepherd, help us listen to your voice.  We need you to lead us and guide us.  We want to be good sheep and follow you with glad hearts.  Amen."