Psalm 23: My Good Shepherd provides me everything

1. Lesson (based on Psalm 23:1-2)

• Last week, we started looking at Psalm 23. Who can remember the first verse? The Lord is my Shepherd.
• Why do you think sheep need a shepherd? <get kids to answer> 
• People say sheep are a bit dumb. Left on their own, they’ll just walk and eat and walk and eat until they get lost. Even if they are near good food, they’ll just eat whatever is in front of them, even lousy grass.
• David tells us that when the Lord is our shepherd, He provides everything for us.

• Psalm 23:1-2 (NIV)
• The Lord is my shepherd,
  I lack nothing.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures,
  he leads me beside quiet waters, 

•  When the Lord is our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing
• Nothing means nothing.
• Other versions say “I shall not want”. Means we will never have a need for anything else.
• Our Lord is our supply. When we have Jesus, we have everything.
• Many people are chasing money, position, power in life, because they think all that can fill their lives and make it meaningful. But they often end up sad, disappointed and empty.
• We don’t need to look here and there; we just need to look to Jesus for all we need and all we want.
• The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing.

• The Good Shepherd provides us with the best and rest: He makes me lie down in green pastures
• What do sheep eat? Grass
• Sheep need grass for survival. And the Good Shepherd brings his sheep to the green pastures —with the very best grass.
• The sheep don’t just walk past and nibble a bit at the grass. The Good Shepherd lets them lie down in the green pastures. They not only get to eat, but they also get to rest.
• For sheep to rest in the pastures, they must be assured that it is a safe place. The Good Shepherd is there to keep watch and protect the sheep from wolves and bears.
• When the Lord is our Good Shepherd, we don’t have to worry about anything. He provides us with the best. He makes us rest.
• He makes me lie down in green pastures.

• The Good Shepherd leads us and fills us: He leads me beside quiet waters 
• Sheep need water. But they cannot drink from fast-moving streams as they might fall in and drown (their wool will soak up a lot of water like a sponge). They need quiet waters to sip from.
• The beautiful picture in this psalm is of the Good Shepherd leading us, His sheep. He knows where the best grass is. He knows where the quiet waters are. All the sheep needs to do is to follow His leading.
• The Bible tells us that Jesus is the source of Living Water. Jesus invites us who are thirsty to come to Him and drink, and His spirit will come and fill us up (John 7:37-39). Whoever drinks this water will never be thirsty again (John 4:13); they don’t have to go look for something/someone else to fill them.
• He leads me beside quiet waters.

• So today, we learn that:
• Our Good Shepherd provides us everything. 
• He gives us the best, and He makes us rest.
• He leads us, and He fills us.
• Whatever we’re going through at home or in school, if we’re tired or in lack, look to Jesus —the source and supply of ALL we need.

2. Suggested Activities:

• Memory Verse with actions:
•  Psalm 23:1-2
  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,