Bible Texts:
Psalm 23; John 10:1-10
Children's Bible Story sources:
"Like a Shepherd Lead Me," Psalm Book: Prayers and Poems for Kids (Spark Story Bible Series), p.76
"The Lord Is My Shepherd," Spark Story Bible, p.160
"Jesus, the Good Shepher," DK Children's Everyday Bible, p.277
"Psalm 23," The Lion Bible for Children, p.148
Children's Story Resource
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc
A lion rescues an injured bird. They spend the winter together as the bird heals. When the spring comes, the bird returns to its flock and the lion is left alone. Or is he?
How these stories are connected: Psalm 23 is a prayer of thanksgiving to God for comfort, protection and provision. Invite children to consider how the lion resembles God and to think about the ways the people in our lives reflect God’s gifts to us all.
Questions about The Lion and the Bird:
Why did the lion rescue the bird?
What things did the lion give to the bird?
Why did the bird leave in the spring?
Why did the bird come back?
How do you think the lion felt about all of that?
Questions about the Bible story:
David, who was a shepherd, wrote this psalm. His own work as a shepherd taught him a lot about how God cares for people.
How does God care for people?
What kinds of things does God give us?
Why does God do that?
Questions about our lives:
What things in your life remind you of God’s goodness?
How do you think God wants us to respond to those gifts?
How can we thank God?
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for our homes and families, for the food on our tables, and the safety and warmth of our beds. Protect us from harmful things, help us be grateful to you, and to care for people who need the same things you have given us. Amen.
Psalm Twenty-Three Illustrated by Tim Ladwig
Children in a questionable neighborhood are taught, protected, and led by caring people in the community.
How these stories are connected: The 23 rd psalm is a prayer of thanksgiving to God for comfort, protection and provision. Invite children to consider how the people in the illustrated psalm resemble God and to think about the ways the people in our lives reflect God’s gifts to us all. Unlike other Word for Children stories, the biblical psalm here is written as a prayer. Suggestion: read the children's story, engage in the questions, and pray the 23rd Psalm as written in the Psalm Book.
Questions about Psalm Twenty-Three:
Why do you think the place where the children live is not safe?
How do people in that place protect and help the children?
Why do you think they do that?
How are they like God?
Questions about our lives:
What things in your life remind you of God’s goodness?
How do you think God wants us to respond to those gifts?
How can we thank God?
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for our homes and families, for the food on our tables, and the safety and warmth of our beds. Protect us from harmful things, help us be grateful to you, and to care for people who need the same things you have given us. Amen.
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