Animals of the Bible · Ground · Domestic
The Sheep
The Lord’s flock and the protecting guidance of the Good Shepherd
Discovered in your collection
- Key verse
- Psalm 23:1
- Where it lived
- The hills of Judea, the pastures of Hebron and the lands of Galilee
- What it reminds us of
- Dependence on God, obedience to the Word and complete trust in the Shepherd
Stories from Scripture
The Sheep in the stories of the Bible
David
“The LORD is my shepherd”
David, who had been a shepherd himself on the hills, wrote the best-loved psalm in Scripture: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
Psalm 23:1-4Jesus Christ
The parable of the lost sheep
Jesus told about a loving shepherd who had a hundred sheep. When one wandered off among the rocks, he left the ninety and nine in safety and looked for the lost one until he found it, putting it on his shoulders with great joy.
Luke 15:3-7Jesus Christ
“My sheep hear my voice”
Jesus assures us that He knows each of us by name: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life…”
John 10:14-28
Wonders of Creation
Did you know?
Sheep have an amazing memory for faces and can recognize other sheep, and their shepherd by his voice, even after years.
Their field of vision is almost 300 degrees, so they can see almost everything moving behind them without turning their heads.
They are social creatures that become restless if they are separated from the flock, finding complete calm only in the presence of the shepherd.
What the sheep teaches us
We are completely safe in the arms of the Good Shepherd
The Bible compares us to sheep because we need guidance and protection every day. Jesus is the Shepherd who loves us, looks for us when we go wrong and carries us on His loving shoulders.
How we can live this out today
Listen to your parents’ guidance and to the good teaching of the Bible. When you listen to the voice of Jesus, you are always protected.
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about the sheep?
What did the shepherd in Jesus’ parable do when he lost one sheep out of a hundred?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
Why do we need Jesus’ guidance every day? What does it mean for our family that “The LORD is my shepherd”?
“Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You for knowing me by name and keeping me from every harm. Help me always to listen to Your loving voice! Amen.”