Memory verse
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1
Roman Urdu Khudawand mera charwaha hai, mujhe kami na hogi.
Teaching the lesson
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What a shepherd does
Most children in Pakistan have seen a shepherd, and many have seen sheep and goats on the road. Ask them what the shepherd does all day. He finds food. He finds water. He counts them. He chases off dogs. He carries the little ones.
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Sheep are not clever
Sheep get lost easily and cannot defend themselves. That is why they need a shepherd. Let the children laugh about how silly sheep are, and then say gently that we are like that too, and God does not mind.
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Green grass and still water
Say the first verses together with actions u2014 lying down in the grass, drinking from quiet water. Keep the actions simple and repeat them every week for a month until the children know the psalm.
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He is with me
Even in the dark valley, the shepherd is there. For the very young, do not explain the valley. Just say: even when it is dark, and even when I am afraid, my Shepherd is with me. Say it together three times.
Activity
Follow the shepherd. One child is the shepherd and walks around the room; the rest follow in a line. When the shepherd stops, everyone stops. Then let a "sheep" hide, and the shepherd must find them and bring them back. Every child gets a turn at being found.
Craft
Cotton wool sheep glued onto card, with a shepherd figure and the words "The Lord is my shepherd." Cotton wool is cheap and the texture matters to small children.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Jesus, that You are my Shepherd. Thank You for looking after me every day. When I am afraid, please hold my hand. Amen.
This lesson is free to use
Print it, photocopy it, retype it or translate it into Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashto for your own class. You do not need permission and you do not need to tell us. The only thing asked in return is that it is never sold to a teacher who cannot afford it.
