The Lord Is My Shepherd
Alex gets a part in a local TV commercial, and Skip isn't sheepish about leading him down the wrong path. Can Dr. Herman and Hannah help guide him back to the true shepherd?
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Large Group Full Program
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This content is provided free of charge by The Ark Church.
Large Group Full Program Instructions
Countdown / Rules
⦁ Question of the Day: Who in your family never gets lost? Who always gets lost?
WelcomeMaterials: Lab Coat (2), Lava Table Runner, Stepping Stones
Host and Co-host enter. This Welcome uses foam stepping stones of different colors to create a pattern on stage that the kids must follow. Prior to service, place the stones in a pattern on top of the lava-themed table runner. It’s also an option to substitute colored pieces of posterboard for the stepping stones. Decide on the exact pattern the kids must follow to make it across the lava safely.
Host
I think we should begin today with a fun game. Have you ever played “The Floor is Lava” at home?
Co-Host
I have. We’d use the couch cushions and pretend the carpet was lava. The one thing we know about this game is that you don’t want to fall into the lava.
The Co-Host or Host will walk from stone to stone following the predetermined color pattern. Allow the kids to observe.
Choose four to six kids to play the game.
Host
Instead of couch cushions, we have colored stepping stones spread over this bed of lava. Here’s the challenge: not all the stones are secure. If you step on the wrong one, it won’t “hold” you, and you will fall into the lava.
Co-Host
Never fear! I am here to guide you on the right path. I will show you the exact pattern to follow to make it successfully across the lava. Watch closely.
Host
Now it’s your turn to follow the guide and avoid the lava. Let’s see who can survive and make it safely across.
Optional, play suspenseful music. Play the game. Use suspenseful music as the kids cross. If a kid missteps, emphasize dramatically how they fell into the lava, and have them return to the start and try again.
Co-Host
Great job to you for making it across safely. It’s easier to succeed when you have someone showing you the way.
Host
It would have been so much harder to win the game if you had to guess the right path. Today, we’ll learn about the guide who helps us find the right way.
Co-Host
It’s going to be great, but now it’s time to check in on our friends at the lab. As we do, tell someone nearby if you’ve ever been the line leader at school.
Engage 1Materials: Lab Coat (2), White Balloons, Cones, Shepherd Staff (4)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Does anyone think that Skip’s advice is going to be helpful?
Co-Host
Nope, I certainly don’t. Skip makes a lot of unwise choices. I doubt he’s going to point someone in the right direction.
Host
But we do have someone who can do that for us. Let’s check out our Big Point and see who that is.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
After we count down from three, we need you to read the Big Point. Then we can read it together.
Co-Host
Let’s all say it together, The Lord Is My Shepherd! We learn that truth in a famous song, Psalm 23.
Host
The Book of Psalms is like a songbook used to worship God. Psalm 23 tells us about many ways God helps us.
Co-Host
We may not be as familiar with shepherds as they were when this Psalm was first written, so let’s talk about some ways that shepherds helped.
Host
I have an idea. Let’s show them with a game. Shepherds were responsible for getting their sheep to safety. Many times it meant guiding them back to their sheep pen at night. In this game, these four “shepherds” will use their staffs to guide as many white balloons, representing our sheep, into their pen (Point to the cones) as they can. You can’t use your hands or feet, just the staff. Ready? Go!
Optional, play game music. Choose four kids to be in the game. Play the game. At the end, count the number of balloons in each pen.
Co-Host
We have a winner! Well done. You have won the official title of “Chief Shepherd.” Congratulations! Shepherds were guides for their flock of sheep. That meant they had to lead them to good things and lead them away from danger.
Host
That’s exactly what Jesus does for us. He guides us to helpful things and warns us to stay far away from the stuff that will hurt us. It’s always wise to listen to Jesus. Let’s see if we can steer everyone away from Skip.
Engage 2Materials: Lab Coat (2), Button, Foam Hand
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Let’s repeat the Big Point,
Co-Host
The Lord Is My Shepherd!
Host
You’d be a lot more ready to follow a person who is wise and honest, right? I wouldn’t use either of those words to describe Skip McDougall. Thankfully, those are the exact right word to describe Jesus.
Co-Host
When we listen to and obey Jesus, we can be sure He will guide us in the right direction. Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse. It comes from Psalm 23.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Host
After we count down from three, you can read the verse.
Co-Host
Psalm 23:1 (NIrV), “The Lord is my Shepherd…He guides me in the right paths.” Just like a shepherd guides the sheep anywhere they need to go, God guides us. He will never lead us to the wrong places.
Host
God never gets lost. Even when we don’t understand why something is happening, we can still trust God. Here’s a helpful way to remember that God leads us. Hold up five fingers. Just for fun, give someone nearby a high-five.
The Host and Co-Host use the large foam hands to give each other high-fives. It’s not necessary to use a giant foam hand, but it can be helpful in a large auditorium.
Co-Host
Each finger represents a different word. Hold up your thumb. That stands for “The.” “The” reminds us that we’re talking about the one and only God. No one else can do what He does.
Host
Your pointer finger stands for “Lord.” Hold up your one pointer finger. Jesus should always be number one in your life. You show this by following Him.
Co-Host
Your middle finger represents “is.” Jesus is your Shepherd, not was or used to be. Jesus is alive and helping us.
Host
Your ring finger stands for “my.” Jesus is your personal friend and leader.
Co-Host
Your pinkie reminds us that He is your “Shepherd.” Jesus is our Leader who guides us toward what is right.
Host
Let’s point to each finger as we say it. The Lord is my Shepherd. Let’s take a moment to worship God.
Big Story
Optional play soft instrumental music.
The Bible tells us that hiding God’s Word in our hearts can help us. We do that by memorizing Bible verses so that we always have them in our hearts and minds. Psalm 23 is a great chapter to memorize. It’s only six verses, and it’s full of incredible, helpful truth. I’d like to challenge you all to memorize Psalm 23 this month. Before you start thinking that’s too hard, we’re all going to work on it together.
Let’s start right now. We will say this verse a few times, and before you know it, you’ll have it memorized. Let’s all close our eyes so we can focus. Repeat after me, “The Lord is my Shepherd. (The Lord is my Shepherd) He guides me in the right paths. (He guides me in the right paths),” Psalm 23:1,3 (NIrV). Repeat both phrases. Great! Now let’s put it together, “The Lord is my Shepherd. He guides me in the right paths,” Psalm 23:1,3 (NIrV). Repeat one or two more times. Great job! You can keep your eyes closed while I pray for you.
Engage 3Materials: Lab Coat (2), Soundiculous
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
The Israelites followed God’s lead. Even though it seemed like following God to the edge of the sea was a disaster in the making, that’s not how it turned out.
Co-Host
The Red Sea became their big victory over the most powerful army in the world. Listening to our Big Point was a good idea for them and for us,
Co-Host
The Lord Is My Shepherd!
Host
Let’s check out this week’s Big Do to learn how to talk with our family about the Big Point!
Co-Host
Today’s Big Do is to make an obstacle course in your living room or backyard. Blindfold a family member and guide them through the obstacle course using your voice.
Host
When the Bible talks about Jesus being our Shepherd, it says that Jesus’ sheep know His voice. That’s how we know we’re not following the wrong guide.
Co-Host
Let’s play a game to see how well you can listen and guess just by someone’s voice. This game is called Soundiculous. These two adult volunteers will take turns making sounds, and you have to guess what they are trying to sound like.
Optional, play game music. Play the game. You can split the room in two or do boys versus girls. If you don’t have the card game, you can look up ideas online.
Host
Great job listening. Let’s gather in our Small Groups and discuss today’s lesson.
Small Group
Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following.
Why is Skip not a good leader to follow?
How does a shepherd help the sheep? Leads them away from danger, helps them find food, protects them from wild animals.
How does God act like a Shepherd to us? He guides us away from bad things. He leads us toward things that will help us. He warns us of danger. He is our leader.
What is this week’s Big Do? Make an obstacle course. Blindfold a family member and guide them through the obstacle course using your voice.
Big Review
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
Our Big Point says, The Lord Is My ______!
Shepherd
Sheep
Which Psalm in the Bible did we learn about today?
Psalm 23
Psalm 14
From which country did God rescue the Israelites from slavery?
Greece
Egypt
Psalm 23:1 (NIrV), “The Lord is my Shepherd. He guides me in the _____ paths.”
Right
Wrong
What happened when the Israelites reached the edge of the Red Sea?
Pharaoh’s army sped through the sea and captured Moses.
True
False
Name a way that Jesus helps us like a shepherd.
Who was a poor leader at the lab today?
Herman
Skip
Why should we follow and obey Jesus?
What is this week’s Big Do?
Make an obstacle course. Blindfold a family member and guide them through the obstacle course using your voice