Main Idea: Jesus is the Gate for the Sheep
Suggested Schedule: (90 mins)
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Welly Throw Game (5mins)
- Review Big Verse (5 mins)
- Set the Scene: Bible story/skit and review questions (10-15 mins)
- Object Lesson 1 talk (5mins)
- Milk the Glove Game (5 mins)
- Object Lesson 2 talk (5 mins)
- Sheep Quiz Game (5 mins)
- Object Lesson 3 game and talk (10 mins)
- Living For God Game (5 mins)
- Sense How You Feel activity (10 – 25 mins)
- Seek God Prayer (5 mins)
Supplies:
- wellies (boots)
- latex gloves, pin, bowls
- PowerPoint games and a way to show them
- Bible and/or skit
- Image of the sheep gate.
- Picture (supplied) or video of a cute dog (even better if you had a dog!)
- Can of Pepsi Max/ad (commercial)
- Lollipop sticks
- glue
- paper
- Playdough or clay
- Lego or construction toys
- Cross
- Sign “I am the gate”
SONG and BIBLE STORY VIDEO IDEAS available via our dedicated Pinterest Board.
GAME IDEAS:
WELLY THROW – 5 mins
Description:
Supplies: wellies (boots),
Details: Welly Throw. (regular) Have everyone split into two teams and number them. 2 chairs go on either side with a welly. An empty bottle is put in the centre. Numbers are called and the players run to their allocated seat and throw the welly whilst sat on the chair. The first one to hit the bottle is the winner.
MILK THE GLOVE – 5 MINS
Description: One-on-one game
Supplies: latex gloves, pin, bowls
Details: Milk the Glove. (regular) Put a pinhole on the end of two latex gloves. Have a bowl for each contestant. They must milk the glove until the leader says stop.
SHEEP QUIZ – 5 MINS
Description: PowerPoint game
Supplies: PowerPoint game and a way to show it
Details: Sheep Quiz. (Keynote/PowerPoint) (multiple choice) See How many fun facts about sheep the children can get right.
BIG VERSE: Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
(regular/widescreen/social media image) Download the Bible cards here.
SET THE SCENE: 10-15 MINS
Description: Story Time
Supplies: Bible and/or skit
Details: Read or act out John 10:7-10. Then ask a few of the review questions below:
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Who does Jesus say he is? (v7)
2. Who haven’t the sheep listened to? (v8)
3. How are people saved? (v9)
4. Why had Jesus come into the world? (v10)
SPOT THE SIMPLE MEANING:
1) JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY IN – 5 MINS
Description: Object Lesson 1
Supplies: Image of the sheep gate.
Details:
Say: Jesus says that He is the gate or the door for the sheep. In Bible times the sheep pen would not have a door or gate because the shepherd would sit where the door should go. Everything that came in or went out of the pen had to pass through the shepherd. That means that, just like the shepherd became the only way in or out, Jesus is the only way to knowing God and living with Him forever! We can try other doors, like doing good things or making lots of money, but none of those things get us into Heaven. Why? Because Jesus says He is the only way in! When we do things wrong the Bible says that that separates us from a perfect God, who has done nothing wrong. The Bible says the punishment for doing wrong is death. So we needed someone perfect to take our place and die so that we don’t have to die forever. Jesus died and rose again so that we could ask forgiveness and start afresh with God!
2)JESUS IS THE ONE WHO PROVIDES OUR NEEDS – 5 MINS
Description: Object Lesson 2
Supplies: Picture or video of a cute dog (even better if you had a dog!)
Details:
Say: Do any of you have a dog? I have one – his name is _______. [Show a picture or video of your dog – or you could have him in the flesh!). I love my dog but I have to spend time looking after him. I have to feed him, take him for walks and give him lots of attention! One of the first things I had to do was train him! Now puppies are really cute but they can be a bit excitable – when we first got him he would run off and it would take ages to bring him back to us. Sometimes it could be dangerous! So we had to train him, but eventually he learnt to come back with my call.
Jesus as the gate doesn’t keep his sheep locked in the pen but the bible says that “They will come in and go out and find pasture”. Jesus will continue to protect and provide for them, and they will be able to find everything that they need like food and shelter, as long as they enter through Him.
Just like those sheep, we need to trust that Jesus will provide for and protect us!
3) JESUS GIVES US LIFE TO THE FULL – 10 MINS
Description: Object Lesson 3
Supplies: Can of Pepsi Max and optionally video advert (see Pinterest), someone to share testimony about the difference Jesus has made in their lives.
Details:
Say: Who likes Pepsi? Now Pepsi Max used to have a slogan called “Live life to the Max”.
[You could play ad here] The ad said that by drinking Pepsi Max we will have a full life. Do we think that’s true? Well let’s try it… [get helper to open can and drink some, pouring it all into a glass]. Do you feel like you are living life to the full by drinking the can?
We can try and fill our lives with lots of exciting activities (like the advert) but do they really make us happy? Maybe for a short time but in the end, they are like this empty can [Show empty can of Pepsi].
Only Jesus gives us life to the full. And how does Jesus help us do that? He gives us peace and joy, He is our helper and our guide. We can’t do it on our own – when we ask Jesus into our hearts our life will definitely not be boring! [Invite volunteer to share their testimony.]
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES:
BIBLE MATCH UP -5 MINS
Description: PowerPoint game
Supplies: Pens & Paper. Powerpoint slide.
Details: (Keynote) The bible is full of people who led amazing lives for Jesus. Show power point and children need to match the name with the amazing life they led.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Do we always listen to what God says? What happens when we don’t?
- I wonder why Jesus said that he was like a gate?
- What do gates do?
- How can Jesus help you live life to the full?
SENSE HOW YOU FEEL – 10 MINS EACH OR IN TANDEM/ROTATION
Encourage the children to think about the questions above as they do one of the activities:
Description: Gate Craft.
Supplies: Lollipop sticks, glue and paper
Details: Place 8 sticks vertically on the table. Take another stick and cover one side with clue and place that clue side down horizontally on the bottom of the row of sticks. Take another stick and do the same but place it at the top of sticks. These should hold the 8 sticks together and look like a gate.
Write the words “I am the gate for the sheep” on some paper and clue that to the front of the sticks.
Description: Moulding activity.
Supplies: Playdough or clay.
Details: Mould your favorite bible hero.
Description: Building activity.
Supplies: Lego or construction toys.
Details: Build a sheep pen.
Description: Sensory activity.
Supplies: Water, jugs, bicarbonate of soda
Details: Create your own water fountain by mixing bicarbonate of soda to the water. Watch as the water overflows, a reminder of the fullness of life God gives us.
Description: Activity Booklets.
Supplies: 5-7s and 8-11s booklets (included in download), markers.
Details: Fill in or color the 5-7s (PDF) and 8-11s (PDF) booklets.
SEEK GOD: 10 MINS
Description: Prayer activity
Supplies: Cross, Sign “I am the gate”
Details: Have some ministry music playing in the background. Ask the children to close their eyes while you re-read John 10 7-10. Give the children opportunity to reflect on the passage. Imagine that Jesus is standing in front of you with his arms wide. Maybe you are here and you don’t really know Jesus. If that’s you and you would like to then you can say this prayer:
Dear Jesus – I am sorry that I’ve done wrong things and I need you. Please forgive me for my sins. I believe that you died and rose again for the things I’ve done wrong. I declare that you are my Lord and savior. Thank you for saving me. I choose to follow you for the rest of my life. AMEN.
(If the children have said that for the first time then you could give them a certificate).
Add the “I am the Gate” sign onto the cross and finish with a closing prayer.
Thank you God that you give us a full life. That our lives are not boring when we know you!
ZOOM FRIENDLY LESSON:
SPOT THE SHEEP (Keynote/PowerPoint)
FARM FRENZY (Keynote/PowerPoint)
