Jesus Loves His Church Family
Children's church (3-6) · member guide · Anchor: Matthew 18:12-14· preview
From the sermon Ecclesiastical Authority
Story Time: The Shepherd Who Loves His Sheep
What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14)
Jesus told a story about a shepherd who had 100 sheep. One little sheep wandered away and got lost. The shepherd loved that sheep so much that he went looking for it. When he found the lost sheep, he was so happy! Jesus says that's how much God loves us. When we wander away, He wants to bring us back home.
Let's Move Like Sheep!
Let's pretend we are sheep! Get down on your hands and knees. Now say 'Baa! Baa!' like a sheep. Can you hop around like a little lamb? Now let's all come back together in a circle — just like the shepherd bringing his sheep back home!
A Question for You
Does Jesus love you when you make mistakes?
(The answer is YES! Jesus always loves us and wants us close to Him.)
Draw a Picture
Draw a picture of a shepherd holding a little sheep. Remember, Jesus is like that shepherd — He loves you and will never let you go!