My Sheep Know My Voice

Have one of the more mature children stand up and walk about 15 feet away from the front of the church. Explain what you are doing as you put the towel over his head so he cannot see. Ask the remaining children to stand up. Position them all over the place between the blindfolded child and you. There should be about 15 feet between you and the blindfolded child. Say to the blindfolded child: "________ (blindfolded child’s name), can you recognized my voice? In front of you are all of the other children. They are positioned where you cannot walk straight to me. You must listen to my directions only. If you listen to my directions you will make it to where I am. Do you understand?"

Say to the other children: "Children, you are not allowed to move your feet. You cannot reach out and touch _________ (blindfolded child’s name). You can make noise or even tell __________ the wrong directions to try to confuse him/her. Your job is to keep _________ from making it to me. Do you understand?" At this time you start giving the blindfolded child directions to you. Do not give him the most direct route, but make him rely totally on listening to your voice. The children at this time should be trying to confuse him. When he reaches you pull the towel off his head and congratulate him/her on a job well done. Have the children sit back down. In the Bible, Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd and he called Christians His sheep. Jesus said that His sheep, His followers, would recognize His voice and follow Him wherever He led. Today, _________ had to listen for my voice and carefully obey my directions. Because __________ listened to me he was able to make it where I was. The rest of you represented the world and how everyone is always telling you what to do and what not to do. Sometimes they are telling you the truth. Sometimes they are lying. To be sure of doing what is right, you need to listen for Jesus’ voice and then follow Him. Remember you can always trust Jesus to help you do the right thing. Prayer: Lord Jesus, train our hearts and feet to follow you. Help us not to get confused and fall into sin. Amen.