Type: Active Hide-and-Seek Game
Time: 10 minutes
Group Size: 5+
Materials:
- None.
Purpose
To playfully demonstrate how a shepherd actively searches for lost sheep, and to reinforce the joy of being “found.”
Setup
Choose one child to be the “Shepherd.” The rest of the children are the “Sheep.”
Exact Instructions
- Tell the Shepherd to close their eyes and count to 20.
- While the Shepherd is counting, all the Sheep must go find a hiding spot in the room (or designated area).
- When the Shepherd finishes counting, they must announce: “I am the Good Shepherd, and I am looking for my sheep!”
- The Shepherd begins searching.
- The Twist: The Sheep cannot stay perfectly silent. Every 10 seconds, all the hiding Sheep must make a soft “Baa” noise to give the Shepherd a clue.
- When the Shepherd finds a Sheep, they gently tap them on the shoulder and say, “I found you!” That Sheep then joins the Shepherd to help look for the rest of the flock.
- Play continues until every single Sheep has been found.
Discussion
Ask: “Shepherds have to work really hard to find their sheep. Have you ever lost something important to you? How hard did you look for it?” “How did it feel when the Shepherd finally found you in your hiding spot?”
Connection Back to the Bible Story
Explain: “In our game, you gave the Shepherd a clue by making a noise. But in real life, when we wander away from God, we usually can’t save ourselves. Jesus doesn’t wait for us to find our own way back. He is the Good Shepherd, and He comes searching for us because He loves us too much to leave us lost.”