In this lesson, children learn that God is a good shepherd who looks for His sheep, takes care of them, and never leaves them alone. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is our good Shepherd. He takes care of His people, looks for anyone who gets lost, and makes sure they are safe and fed.
Memory Verse
Ezekiel 34:11
“‘For thus says the Lord the LORD: “Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
(WEB)
Have the children stand up and hold both arms out wide, like a shepherd looking across a big field. Then slowly sweep their arms from left to right as they say the verse together. Repeat it three times, sweeping a little slower each time.
The Story: Ezekiel 34 for Kids
Long ago, God spoke to a man named Ezekiel. God had a message for the leaders of Israel, the men who were supposed to care for God’s people like shepherds care for their sheep. Ezekiel was told to speak to these leaders and to tell them what God had seen.
The shepherds had not done their job. They ate the good food and wore the warm wool, but they did not feed the sheep. When sheep were sick, the shepherds did not help them. When sheep were hurt, the shepherds did not bind up their wounds. When sheep wandered away, nobody went looking for them. The sheep were scattered all over the mountains, and no one came to bring them home.
God was not happy about this. He said, “I am against these shepherds. I will take my sheep back from them.” God did not want His flock to suffer any longer, so He made a promise to care for them Himself.
God said, “I myself will search for my sheep. I will find the ones that are lost and bring back the ones that have wandered away.” God promised to gather His people from all the places where they had been scattered and bring them home to their own land. He would give them good grass to eat and cool water to drink, and He would let them rest safely.
God also promised to send a new shepherd, a good one, named David. This shepherd would take care of God’s people and feed them well. God said, “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God wanted His people to know that He would never forget them.
At the end of the story, God told His flock that they would be safe and that they would know He is the Lord. He would break the heavy yokes that held them down, and no one would make them afraid again.
Read It Together
Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep. I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
(WEB)
Point out the words “as a shepherd seeks out his flock.” Ask the children what a shepherd does when one sheep is missing, and explain that God says He will look for His people in the same way, even on a dark and cloudy day.
Ezekiel 34:14-15
14 I will feed them with good pasture; and their fold will be on the mountains of the height of Israel. There they will lie down in a good fold. They will feed on fat pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down,” says the Lord the LORD.
(WEB)
Show the children how God promises good grass and a safe place to lie down. Explain that God Himself takes care of His sheep, so they can rest without worrying about tomorrow.
Ezekiel 34:23-24
23 I will set up one shepherd over them, and he will feed them, even my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be their shepherd. 24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken it.
(WEB)
Tell the children that God promised to send a shepherd named David to care for His people. Point out that God says, “I will be their God,” and explain that this shows how much God wants to be close to us.
Talk About It
- What did the bad shepherds in the story do wrong, and how do you think the sheep felt?
- Why do you think God said He would search for His sheep himself instead of waiting for them to come back?
- What does a shepherd do to keep his sheep safe, and how is God like that for us?
- Can you think of a time when you felt lost or scared, and how did you feel knowing someone was looking out for you?
- What is one way you can help take care of someone who feels lost or left out this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Sheep Craft
You will need paper plates, cotton balls, glue, black construction paper, and markers. Have each child glue cotton balls onto a paper plate for the sheep’s wool, then cut out a small black head and feet from the construction paper and glue them on. While the glue dries, talk about how God takes care of each sheep by name. Let the children write the name of someone they love on the back of their sheep.
Hide and Seek Shepherd Game
You will need a few small toys or stuffed animals to act as lost sheep, and a space where children can safely hide them. Let one child be the shepherd while the others close their eyes. Hide the toys around the room, then have the shepherd search and bring each one back to the group. Explain that God looks for His people just like this shepherd looks for the lost sheep.
Take-Home Shepherd Card
You will need index cards, a pen or crayons, and a small piece of yarn for each child. Have each child draw a simple shepherd on one side of the card and write the words “God is my good shepherd” on the other. Punch a hole in the corner and tie the yarn through it so they can hang it on a bedroom doorknob or backpack. Encourage them to read it aloud before bed each night this week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a strong picture of God’s care for His people. The leaders of Israel had a duty to care for those in their charge, and they failed. God responds by taking up the role of Shepherd Himself and promising to seek out, heal, and restore His flock. The promise of a future shepherd from David’s line also points forward to Jesus, who later described Himself as the good shepherd.
With children, avoid making the story only about bad behavior and punishment. The most important part of the chapter is God’s promise to search, rescue, and rest His people. Keep the focus on God’s faithful love rather than on frightening the children about the shepherds’ failures.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for being our good Shepherd. Thank You for looking for us when we feel lost, for giving us good things to eat and safe places to rest, and for never forgetting us. Help us trust You every day, and help us care for others the way You care for us. Amen.
