Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading

Transcription

1 Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading LESSON 15: IMAGE OF GOD AS SHEPHERD Objective Students will look up and compare scriptures about God as Shepherd. They will learn about God s leading, looking at the fifteen I am messages found in John. Key Concepts The Lord is our protector and provider. Text: Psalm 23; Luke 15:1-7; Ezekiel 34:1-16; John 10:1-18 Estimated Lesson Time: 50 minutes Materials Image of a shepherd (p. 177) Student Bibles The Good Shepherd overhead (p. 178) Good Shepherd Summary Page (p. 179) For Extend the Lesson: I Am handout (p. 181) Teacher Preparation 1. Cut out and color the image of the shepherd. 2. Make copies of the handout(s), one per student. 3. Prepare the overhead transparency for Lesson Step 1. INTRODUCING THE LESSON 1. Show the picture of the shepherd. Remind the students that you are in the third and final section of the Images of God study, titled Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading. Place the shepherd image under section three on the last poster. Discuss why the picture of the shepherd might belong in this category. 2. Give background about shepherds of long ago. Unlike modern-day shepherds, who use dogs to drive their flocks, Palestinian shepherds walked ahead, calling the sheep to follow. Only a familiar voice would make them come. In the Old Testament, God was called the Shepherd of Israel. God s appointed leaders were often referred to as shepherds. LESSON STEPS 1. Using the Good Shepherd overhead, point out several passages about God as the Good Shepherd. Students will look at four passages in depth. They are: a. Psalm 23 and Luke 15:1-7 b. Ezekiel 34:1-16 c. John 10:1-18 Note that the passages from Psalms and Luke count as one, because they are 175

2 shorter. Students in the group with these passages will be responsible for two short passages. Divide students into three groups. The groups will be responsible only for the passage(s) assigned to them. Assign one group to the two short passages: Psalm 23 and Luke 15:1-7. Assign the second group to the Ezekiel 34:1-16 passage. Assign the third group to the John 10:1-18 passage. 2. The Good Shepherd summary page. Distribute this handout to the groups. They are to do three things: a. Skim over the passage rather quickly, but carefully enough to be able to write a summary about the passage. b. Write the scripture reference(s) they will be summarzing on their papers. Beside the reference, write a short summary paragraph about their passage(s). c. The group will be required to present the passage(s) to the rest of the class. They need to work together to find an interesting way to do this. How many students are in the group? How many verses are there? Should each student read one verse? What might make it more interesting? Could several verses have two or three voices joined together? Would it make sense for some of the verses to have all voices in the group speak as one? What if some verses were repeated by different voices? Give time for students to work on their presentation. Be sure to explain to students exactly what they are to do. They may hand in their group s summary at the end of class for a grade. (Explain ahead of time that this work will be handed in.) Give students time to skim the passage, write their summaries, and work on their presentations. 3. Oral presentations. When all groups are ready, have them present their passages to the class. 4. Complete the handout. After each group has given a presentation, work together as a class to answer the question at the bottom of the handout. EXTEND THE LESSON (These activities will extend the lesson to longer than 50 minutes.) Complete the handout I Am. Have students use their Bibles to find the fifteen I am statements found in the gospel of John. What Old Testament character was referred to as a shepherd? Who was God talking to when he mentioned shepherds? What is the role of a leader? Research shepherding. Assign a 1-2 page research paper on shepherding today. What countries have shepherds? Share an article about a present-day shepherd. Personal reflection. Have students look at Psalm 23 a second time. They should read over it and write about what this psalm means to them. 176

3 god as shepherd 177

4 The Good Shepherd Group 1: Psalm 23 Luke 15:1-7 Group 2: Ezekiel 34:1-16 Group 3: John 10:1-18 Answer this question together as a class after listening to all the presentations. What do all of these scriptures have in common? 178

5 The Good Shepherd Summary Page Directions: 1. Skim over the passage rather quickly, but carefully enough to be able to write a summary about the passage. 2. Write the scripture reference(s) on your paper. Beside the reference, write a short summary paragraph of your passage(s). 3. Your group will be required to present the passage(s) to the rest of the class. You will need to work together to find an interesting way to do this. How many students are in the group? How many verses are there? Should each student read one verse? What might make it more interesting? Could several verses have two or three voices joined together? Would it make sense for some of the verses to have all voices in the group speak as one? What if some verses were repeated by different voices? Make the reading as interesting as you can. Scripture Reference(s): Summary: Answer the question at the bottom of the overhead sheet together as a class, after listening to all the presentations. What do all of these scriptures have in common? 179

6 ANSWER KEY The Good Shepherd Summary Page Directions: 1. Skim over the passage rather quickly, but carefully enough to be able to write a summary about the passage. 2. Write the scripture reference(s) on your paper. Beside the reference, write a short summary paragraph of your passage(s). 3. Your group will be required to present the passage(s) to the rest of the class. You will need to work together to find an interesting way to do this. How many students are in the group? How many verses are there? Should each student read one verse? What might make it more interesting? Could several verses have two or three voices joined together? Would it make sense for some of the verses to have all voices in the group speak as one? What if some verses were repeated by different voices? Make the reading as interesting as you can. Summary: Psalm 23 The shepherd comforts the sheep. The shepherd leads the sheep to quiet waters and green pastures, where their souls are restored. The sheep do not need to fear, the shepherd will protect them. The sheep will dwell in the house of the Lord their whole life long. Luke 15:1-7 If even one sheep out of 99 strays away and is lost, the shepherd will go and find that lost sheep. The shepherd will rejoice when the sheep is found. Ezekiel 34:1-16 False shepherds do not care for the sheep. They are more interested in feeding themselves. The sheep are not protected. They stray away and are lost and become food for wild animals. But God is the Good Shepherd. God will search for the sheep. God will feed them with good pasture, beside the water, and let them lie down. John 10:1-18 Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The sheep know Jesus name and follow his voice. Jesus goes ahead of his sheep. The sheep will not follow a stranger. The false shepherd or hired hand does not care about the sheep. The hired hand will run away if there is danger. But the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus will look for the sheep that do not yet belong to the flock so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. What do all of these scriptures have in common? They all speak of God as the good shepherd. They describe how the Good Shepherd will take care of the sheep. Some describe what a false shepherd is like. The passage in John reminds us of how Jesus gives his life for the sheep. 180

7 Name: I am Find the following I am messages in John. Look up each verse and draw a line to the correct I am statement on the right. 1. John 14:6 2. John 4:26 3. John 6:35 4. John 13:19 5. John 8:18 6. John 9:37 7. John 8:12; 9:5; and 12:46 8. John 10: John 8: John 11: John 6: John 8: John 15:1 14. John 10:11, 14 a. I testify on my own behalf. b. I am the good shepherd. c. The one speaking with you is he. d. I am the bread of life. e. I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower. f.... before Abraham was, I am. g. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. h. I am he, the one who is speaking to you. i. I am the light of the world. j. I am the gate for the sheep. k.... I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. l.... you may believe that I am he. m. I am the resurrection and the life. n. It is I; do not be afraid. 181

8 ANSWER KEY I am Find the following I am messages in John. Look up each verse and draw a line to the correct I am statement on the right. 1. John 14:6 g 2. John 4:26 h 3. John 6:35 d 4. John 13:19 l 5. John 8:18 a 6. John 9:37 c 7. John 8:12; 9:5; and 12:46 i 8. John 10:7-9 j 9. John 8:58 f 10. John 11:25-27 m 11. John 6:20 n 12. John 8:23 k 13. John 15:1 e 14. John 10:11, 14 b a. I testify on my own behalf. b. I am the good shepherd. c. The one speaking with you is he. d. I am the bread of life. e. I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower. f.... before Abraham was, I am. g. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. h. I am he, the one who is speaking to you. i. I am the light of the world. j. I am the gate for the sheep. k.... I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. l.... you may believe that I am he. m. I am the resurrection and the life. n. It is I; do not be afraid. 182