This lesson teaches children that God is like a good shepherd who takes care of us every day. It is made for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, including the story, the memory verse, and the activity.
Big Idea
God takes care of me like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. He keeps me safe, feeds me, and walks with me even when things are scary.
Memory Verse
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, palms up, like you are holding a little lamb. Then rock your arms gently from side to side as you say the verse together. Ask the children to show you how a shepherd would hold a lamb.
The Story: Psalm 23 for Kids
A long time ago, a young shepherd named David watched over his father’s sheep in the hills of Israel. Every day he walked with them, looking for green grass and cool water. He knew each sheep by name, and he never let one get lost. David learned that a good shepherd takes care of his flock all day and all night.
One day, David wrote a song to God. He wrote about what it is like to be a sheep with a good shepherd. In his song, David said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” He knew that God was caring for him the same way he cared for his sheep.
David sang about walking through dark valleys, where it was scary and shadows were everywhere. But he was not afraid, because he remembered what his shepherd carried. The shepherd had a long stick called a rod and a staff with a curved end. Those tools kept the sheep safe and helped guide them back to the flock. David said, “You are with me, so I am not afraid.”
David also sang about a big table full of food and a cup that was filled to the top. He thought about how God gives good things to his people, even when enemies are near. God’s goodness and kindness follow us every day, and David said he would live in God’s house forever.
When you think about this song, you can remember that God is always with you. He is like a shepherd who knows your name, keeps you safe, and gives you everything you need. David learned this, and so can you.
Read It Together
Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
(WEB)
Point out how the shepherd makes the sheep rest in green grass and leads them to quiet water. Ask the children what they like to do when they feel calm and safe. Explain that God gives us rest and peace the same way a shepherd cares for sheep.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(WEB)
Show the children that this verse talks about a dark valley, which is a scary place. Point out the words “you are with me” and explain that God is near even when we are afraid. Let the children tell you about a time they felt brave because someone was with them.
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
(WEB)
Talk about the table full of food and the cup that overflows. Explain that God provides more than we need and shows his love in many ways. Ask the children to name something good God has given them this week.
Talk About It
- What did David do as a shepherd to take care of his sheep?
- How does it feel to know someone is always with you, like the shepherd was with the sheep?
- What is one scary place you have been, and how could God help you feel brave there?
- What good things has God given you that you could thank him for today?
- How can you be a good helper to someone who needs care this week?
Activity Ideas
Cotton Ball Sheep Craft
You will need paper plates, cotton balls, glue, black markers, and safety scissors. Have each child glue cotton balls onto the plate to make a fluffy sheep, then draw a face and four legs with the marker. As they work, remind them that Jesus and David both describe God as a shepherd who loves his sheep. Let the children take their sheep home as a reminder of God’s care.
Follow the Shepherd Game
Choose one child to be the shepherd and the rest to be sheep. The shepherd leads the sheep around the room, slowly, past chairs that act as green pastures and across a blanket that acts as a still water. Remind the children to stay close to the shepherd, just as we stay close to God. Switch shepherds so every child has a turn.
Shepherd Bookmark at Home
You will need a strip of cardstock, crayons, a hole punch, and a piece of yarn. Have each child draw a small sheep or a shepherd’s staff on the card and write or trace the words “The Lord is my shepherd.” Punch a hole at the top, tie on the yarn, and encourage the child to use the bookmark while reading or praying at home this week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 23 is a song of deep trust in God’s care in every season of life, including seasons of danger, loss, and grief. David wrote from experience as a shepherd, which gives the image real weight. Adults can see that the psalm moves from green pastures to dark valleys and then to a feast, showing that God’s care does not depend on our circumstances.
Be careful not to make the lesson sound like a promise that children will never feel fear or sadness. Psalm 23 says God is with us in the valley, not that the valley will never come. Let children know that it is normal to feel scared, and that God’s presence is the comfort, not the absence of hard things.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for being our shepherd. Help us to rest in you, to trust you when we feel scared, and to remember that you are always with us. Thank you for every good thing you give us each day. Amen.
