THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Knowing and Trusting the Good Shepherd
Message from Promise Bradley
OVERVIEW
This week, we learned that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
A shepherd loves, protects, guides, and takes care of his sheep. In Psalm 23, David didn’t just know about God. He knew God as his Shepherd. Jesus wants us to know Him that way too!
Sometimes Jesus leads us on easy paths, and sometimes He leads us through hard times. Even when we don’t understand where He is leading, we can trust Him because He always knows what is best.
We also learned that Jesus still speaks to His people through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. As we spend time with Him, we learn to recognize His voice.
Instead of trying to control everything ourselves, God wants us to trust Him and grow in self-control through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and we can follow Him wherever He leads!
HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE
Read About It → Talk About It → Think About It
Open your Bible and read the verses together.
Look for the answers in the Bible before talking about the questions. God’s Word has the answers!
As you work through this guide, ask Jesus to help you know Him better, trust Him more, and follow Him wherever He leads.
You can use this study guide on your own with Jesus, with your family, or with friends.
📖 MEMORY VERSE
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
— Psalm 23:1
BIG WORDS
- Shepherd = someone who cares for, protects, and leads sheep.
- Trust = believing someone will do what is right.
- Righteousness = living God’s way.
- Self-control = letting the Holy Spirit help us choose what is right.
- Good Shepherd = Jesus, who loves and cares for His people.
SECTION 1 — JESUS IS MY GOOD SHEPHERD
BIG IDEA
Jesus knows me, loves me, and takes care of me like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
READ ABOUT IT
Psalm 23:1–6, John 10:11–18, John 10:27–30
TALK ABOUT IT
- According to John 10, who is the Good Shepherd?
- According to Psalm 23, what are some ways the Shepherd takes care of His sheep?
- According to John 10, what promises does Jesus make to His sheep?
- Why is it better to know Jesus than just know about Him?
- What does Psalm 23 teach us about trusting the Shepherd?
THINK ABOUT IT
- Do I know Jesus as my Shepherd?
- What is one way Jesus has taken care of me?
- How can I spend more time getting to know Him?
Further Scripture Reading
Isaiah 40:11, 1 Peter 5:4
SECTION 2 — TRUSTING THE SHEPHERD’S LEADING
BIG IDEA
Jesus always leads me the right way, even when the path is hard.
READ ABOUT IT
Psalm 23:3–4, Matthew 7:13–14, Hebrews 12:1–3
TALK ABOUT IT
- According to Psalm 23:3–4, where does the Shepherd lead His sheep?
- According to Matthew 7:13–14, did Jesus say following Him would always be easy?
- According to Hebrews 12:2, what helped Jesus keep going?
- Why can we trust Jesus even when following Him is hard?
- How can trusting Jesus help us obey Him this week?
THINK ABOUT IT
- Is God asking me to obey Him in something this week?
- When is it hard to obey?
- How can I trust Jesus even when something is difficult?
Further Scripture Reading
Romans 8:18, Philippians 3:14
SECTION 3 — HEARING THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE
BIG IDEA
Jesus still speaks, and we can learn to hear His voice.
READ ABOUT IT
John 10:1–5, John 10:27, James 1:5, Psalm 119:105
TALK ABOUT IT
- According to John 10:3–5, how do the sheep know their shepherd’s voice?
- According to John 10:27, what do Jesus’ sheep do?
- According to James 1:5, what should we ask God for?
- According to Psalm 119:105, what does God’s Word help us do?
- How can we spend time listening to Jesus every day?
THINK ABOUT IT
- Do I spend time reading my Bible?
- When is it easiest for me to listen to God?
- What can I do this week to hear Jesus better?
Further Scripture Reading
Jeremiah 29:13, Romans 10:17
SECTION 4 — TRUST THE SHEPHERD EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
BIG IDEA
We can trust Jesus even when we don’t understand where He is leading.
READ ABOUT IT
Genesis 22:1–14, Luke 15:25–32, Proverbs 3:5–6
TALK ABOUT IT
- According to Genesis 22, what did Abraham trust God with?
- According to Luke 15:25–32, why was the older brother upset?
- According to Proverbs 3:5–6, who should we trust instead of ourselves?
- Why can we trust Jesus with our lives?
- What can we do when we don’t understand what God is doing?
THINK ABOUT IT
- Is there something I need to trust God with?
- Am I trying to do everything my own way?
- How can I remember that Jesus always knows the best path?
Further Scripture Reading
Romans 8:28, Psalm 37:5
SECTION 5 — THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS ME HAVE SELF-CONTROL
BIG IDEA
The Holy Spirit helps me have self-control and follow Jesus.
READ ABOUT IT
Galatians 5:22–23, John 21:15–19
TALK ABOUT IT
- According to Galatians 5:22–23, who helps us grow in self-control?
- According to Galatians 5:22–23, is self-control part of the fruit of the Spirit?
- According to John 21:15–19, what did Jesus ask Peter to do after He forgave him?
- Why is it better to ask Jesus to help us control ourselves than to try to control other people?
- What is one way you can show self-control this week?
THINK ABOUT IT
- When is it hard for me to have self-control?
- How can I ask the Holy Spirit to help me?
- What is one good choice I can make this week?
Further Scripture Reading
Romans 8:5–6, Titus 2:11–12
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who loves you, knows you, and will never leave you. You can trust Him because He always leads His sheep with love.
The Christian life is learning to know the Good Shepherd so deeply that we trust Him enough to follow wherever He leads.
This week, ask Jesus:
- “Help me know You better.”
- “Help me trust You.”
- “Help me follow You wherever You lead.”
Remember, the Good Shepherd always knows the way!
✏️ ACTIVITY — FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Draw a picture of yourself as one of Jesus’ sheep. Draw Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leading you on a path. Then write or draw one way you can trust Jesus this week.