“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
—John 10:11
Use this lesson plan to help students understand and reflect on Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. The shepherd metaphor is used often in both the Old and the New Testaments. Jesus even calls himself the Good Shepherd and uses parables to describe his relationship with us as a shepherd. He saw the crowds of people as “sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). There are also many more subtle connections to Old Testament shepherd imagery throughout the gospels. In this lesson plan, focus on the two main shepherd parables in John 10 and Luke 15 to help your students identify Jesus as their own personal shepherd. (You might also be interested in The Parable of the Lost Sheep Lesson Plan.)
Good Shepherd Lesson Objectives
- Students will be able to explain the meaning of Good Shepherd.
- Students will be able to summarize the main parables of Jesus as a shepherd.
- Students will feel grateful for Jesus’s guidance and protection as the Good Shepherd.
Good Shepherd Lesson Activities
Hook: Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is one of the most powerful and popular psalms in the Bible. Through these words we take on the identity of a sheep and look to God as our shepherd. It has become a great comfort for people for many centuries.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1–4
Psalm 23 Discussion Questions
After reading the psalm, ask the students:
- What are some dark valleys people your age experience?
- What are the green pastures and places that give you peace and comfort?
- How can you turn to God during difficult times?
- What would be a good time to recommend this psalm for someone to read?
- What would be a good time for you to pick it up and read again?
Present: Jesus is the Good Shepherd
First, read the Good Shepherd Sunday reading (Fourth Sunday of Easter): John 10:1–10. Or share the longer version John 10:1–21, which features the full metaphor or a shepherd vs. a hired man.
Then share this video explanation of Jesus as the Good Shepherd vs. the hired man from the parable in John 10:
Members of The Religion Teacher have access to graphic organizer worksheets for this and all videos, but you can download a worksheet for this video here by entering your email:
You will receive a collection of Good Shepherd Worksheets to use for this lesson plan or to supplement your own good shepherd lessons.
Present: The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Next, read the popular parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:3–7.
Share this video summary and explanation of the meaning of the parable:
Practice: Good Shepherd Job Posting & Interview
Review the Scripture passages about Jesus as the Good Shepherd that you have read so far: Psalm 23, John 10, and Luke 15. Show students an example of job posting from Indeed or LinkedIn and have them write a job description for the Good Shepherd.
The job description should quote passages from these or other Bible stories.
You could even take it a step further and have students act out a job interview. Break students into groups of 4-5. One student would play Jesus. The others would be a team of people interviewing Jesus for a job as the Good Shepherd. What are some questions they would ask Jesus in the interview? What are some reasons Jesus would give to be hired for the job?
Good Shepherd Prayer & Meditation
Lead your students in the following meditation.
First re-read Psalm 23 emphasizing this verse: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through a dark valley. You are all alone and lost. There is no one around. You should feel very afraid. You should be afraid of getting lost. You should feel afraid of something attacking you. Think about the fears you might have.
But now imagine yourself in that valley and you have no fear. You have no fear because you know your shepherd is coming to find you. You walk through that dark valley because he is with you. He is there to comfort you through the darkness.
Now think of a time in your life when you felt afraid or alone. Or, think of a time in your future that would be very difficult to get through alone. Maybe it is in school or sports. Maybe it is among friends. Now, imagine going through that fear with Jesus by your side. He is there to comfort and guide you through the darkness.
Now close with the opening words of Psalm 23. Repeat after me:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.”
Proof Assessment: Good Shepherd Trading Card Assessment
Create a trading card in the style of sports or Pokemon using an index card.
Draw a picture of the Jesus the Good Shepherd with a description either below or on the back of the card. Make sure the description shows what it means to be a shepherd for us.
Download a Collection of Good Shepherd Worksheets
Download a collection of worksheets about Jesus the Good Shepherd to use for this or other lesson plans:
You will receive SIX worksheets in this downloadable packet:
- Jesus the Good Shepherd Video Graphic Organizer Worksheet
- The Good Shepherd Worksheet
- Jesus’s Sheep Worksheet
- Sheep without a Shepherd Worksheet
- The Meaning of the Parable of the Lost Sheep Video Graphic Organizer Worksheet
- The Parable of the Lost Sheep Worksheet
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