Free Bible lesson for kids · On the Way to Jerusalem
The Good Shepherd
Jesus said He is the Good Shepherd. His sheep know His voice and follow Him, and He gives His life for the sheep.
- Bible passage
- John 10:1–18
- Big idea
- Jesus knows us and takes care of us.
- Memory verse
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Jesus told a story about sheep. The shepherd comes in by the door, but a thief climbs in some other way (John 10:1–2). The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. The sheep follow him, for they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger (John 10:3–5). Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9).
The thief comes to steal and destroy, but Jesus came so we might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). A hired helper runs from the wolf, but Jesus knows His sheep, and they know Him (John 10:12–14). He said He would lay down His life and take it again (John 10:17–18).
Read it in the Bible: John 10:1–18 (KJV)
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Questions to ask
What does a good shepherd do for his sheep?
He gives his life for the sheep.
How do the sheep know their shepherd?
They know his voice.
Who are the sheep in this story?
People who follow Jesus.
What this story teaches
- Jesus knows each of His sheep by name (John 10:3, 14).
- Jesus’ sheep listen to His voice and follow Him (John 10:27).
- Jesus is the door; whoever enters by Him is saved (John 10:9).
- Jesus came to give us full, abundant life (John 10:10).
- Jesus chose to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:15, 18).
Jesus Is the Great Shepherd
The Good Shepherd gave His life for His sheep on the cross. Then God brought Him back from the dead, our great Shepherd.
Hebrews 13:20
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus for being our Good Shepherd. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus knows us and takes care of us.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say John 10:11 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Whose Voice?
You need: A chair
- One child, the shepherd, sits on the chair with their back to the group.
- The leader points to a “sheep”, who says, “Baa! Here I am!” in a disguised voice.
- The shepherd guesses who it is. If right, the sheep becomes the shepherd.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Shepherd’s Call
You need: Blindfolds, a taped “pen” on the floor
- Teams pick a shepherd and agree on a secret sound, like a whistle or a click. The rest are blindfolded sheep.
- All the shepherds call at once, using only their sounds. Sheep must follow their own shepherd into the pen.
- The first team with all its sheep in the pen wins.
With so many voices around us, Jesus’ sheep learn to know His voice and follow Him.
Pray
Thank Jesus for being our Good Shepherd.