Supplies Needed:

Bibles (or printed copies of John 10:1-10)
Paper
Writing Utensils
Coloring Supplies

Optional:

Blindfold/scarf
Hymnals

Note to the Teacher

Students have been hearing for years how important it is to listen, as though listening is a simple task. Sometimes, listening isn’t so easy. This week, we will practice listening and learning which voices to pay attention to.

Icebreaker: The Voice (10 min.)

One student should be selected to be The Ear. The Ear should leave the meeting space (be mindful of your church’s safety policies for this game). The student doesn’t have to go far. This activity will also work if the student selected as The Ear closes their eyes or puts on a blindfold. The remaining students quietly select a student to be The Voice. When the student who was selected to The Ear returns, that person stands with their back to the group. The Voice will say a simple phrase (for example, “Good Morning”). The Ear can ask The Voice to repeat the phrase up to two more times before guessing who was selected as The Voice.

If you want to make this icebreaker more challenging, invite other students to say other simple phrases while The Voice says the selected phrase. Be sure The Ear knows which sentence is the one to listen for.

Read Scripture (5 min.)

Supplies:

Bibles (or printed copies of John 10:1-10)

We often hear Jesus referred to as the shepherd. The shepherd guides us, the sheep. As a shepherd, Jesus keeps us safe and helps us be safe. In this week’s passage, instead of a human keeping the livestock safe, a physical barrier, the “sheepfold (similar to a corral) protects the sheep. Let’s dive in to see what Jesus tells us about coming into and going out of the enclosure.

Read John 10:1-10.

Discussion (10 min.)

What “voices” try to tell you who you are most often? Which of those voices are external and which are internal?
What distractions steal your attention the fastest? Which distractions keep your attention and become habits?
What helps you know that you can trust what you hear?
What are some dangers of never “coming in” (rest/worship) or of never “going out” (service/action)?
What practices can you do to make sure that you can hear the voice of God above everything else?

Activity: A Shepherd’s Soundtrack (30 min.)

Supplies:

Paper
Writing utensils
Coloring supplies

Optional:

Hymnals

Divide students into groups of three or four and ask them to create a playlist for the shepherd. First, they create a name for the playlist related to today’s passage. For example, “Known by Name,” “The Gate,” or “The Shepherd.” Encourage students to be creative! Their playlists should include six to eight songs that represent themes from today’s passage. The songs may be songs students know, songs found in the hymnal, or made-up song titles that fit. If there is time, ask students to create the album cover art for their playlists.

Closing: To close today’s lesson, invite students to share their playlists and describe why they chose the songs they included. Send students off with a blessing: “May you hear the Shepherd call you by name, feel the Shepherd keep you close, and may you follow the Shepherd with every step.”