Bible Exploration - Workshop:        Temple          

 

Month:       May        Bible Story:     The Lord is My Shepherd                

 

Year (B):      1          Scripture:         Psalm 23                                           

 

Bible Memory Verse:        All of Psalm 23                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Workshop

Concept

Teacher

1.      Temple

 

God is the Good Shepherd.

 

2.      Video

 

God is our shepherd even when someone dies.

 

3.      Computer

 

God is our shepherd today.

 

4.      Music

 

Psalm 23 expresses our love & trust of God in song.

 

5.       

 

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  The explorers will understand the images in Psalm 23.

 

MATERIALS:

·         Materials to make a diorama of Psalm 23

·         Big box, scene materials, shepherd, “dangers” (like wild animals, etc).

·         Materials to make a sheep (to represent the explorer).

 

PLAN:

·         Opening – Find Psalm 23 in Bible and recite it together

o           Discuss Psalms – What are they?  How were they used?

o           Discuss images used in psalms.  Shepherds, sheep, valleys, etc.

§         Shepherds, etc., were familiar and common.  What did they do?

§         The psalmist used images that people understood to help them understand who God is and how God loves us.

·         Make diorama. 

o           Explore the meaning of each part of the story.

o           See attached sheet for more information.

·         Close in prayer.  Pray for help in facing dangers.

 

ADAPTATIONS:

Children

Youth

·         Be concrete.  Avoid the word “image.” Talk about how a shepherd’s love reminded people of God’s love.

·         Explore images, metaphors and there many meanings.  How did they help people understand who God is?

 

 

 

 

Psalm 23 Diorama

 

The purpose of the diorama is similar for children and for youth.  Children will explore how the different characters and parts of the story remind us of God and God’s love for us.  The youth will explore the meaning of the images and why people used theses images to sing to God.  Both the children and the youth will explore the psalm in depth as they put the diorama together and add themselves (as a sheep) to the picture.

 

  1. Begin with a large open box in which to build the diorama.  Prepare most of the parts of the diorama before hand.  The explorers will make and add a sheep to the display after the diorama is set up.
  2. Read and discuss each part of the psalm.  Then, add the appropriate character or other material to the diorama.  Decide as a group or give individuals more say in where each part of the display will go and why.
  3. For Children, compare the translation of the Psalm 23 with a paraphrase from a children’s bible (Such as The Family Story Bible, by Ralph Milton, Westminster John Knox Press.  Louisville, KY, 1996, pg. 132.)

 

    1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

                                                              i.      What is a shepherd?  What does this person do?  Is it dangerous?  What makes for a good shepherd?

                                                            ii.      What the psalmist mean, “I shall not want?”

                                                          iii.      Put the shepherd in the diorama (he may be moved later)

 

    1. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;  he restores my soul.

                                                              i.      What do green pastures and still waters mean to sheep?  Food and drink!  The shepherd would dam a stream – work!

                                                            ii.      God provides good food and drink to his sheep.  These things refresh the sheep.  What are some things that God gives us to refresh us?  What “restores our soul?”  Discuss.

                                                          iii.      Put the green pastures and still water props in the diorama.  Decide where they should go.

 

    1. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

                                                              i.      Right paths lead to the green pastures and still waters.  The good shepherd leads the sheep along this path.

                                                            ii.      Do the sheep, do we, always follow? 

                                                          iii.      Name some paths that some people follow that do not refresh the spirit.  Where do some of these paths lead?

1.      For example.  Other paths for children might include, lying, cheating, stealing, etc.  For Youth, these might include drugs, sex, drinking, etc.

2.      Where do these paths lead?

                                                           iv.      Put some paths in the diorama that lead to dangers for the sheep.  They may lead to a cliff or a dead end, etc.

    1. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.

                                                              i.      Sometimes, the way to reach the green pastures and quiet waters is a dangerous path.

                                                            ii.      What kinds of dangers to a dark valley bring to mind?

                                                          iii.      What are a shepherd’s rod and staff?  How did a shepherd use them?

                                                           iv.      What kind of power does God have?  Does it comfort you?  Why or why not?

                                                             v.      Put a rod and staff on the shepherd.  Add materials for the dark valley or the elements of danger on the set.

 

    1. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows.

                                                              i.      A shepherd would prepare a flat piece of land called a table of dangers so the sheep could graze.  The shepherd would watch for dangers (rod and staff in hand!) while the sheep quietly and confidently ate. 

                                                            ii.      The psalmist makes a play on the world table.  The table the shepherd prepares for sheep reminds the psalmist of the table God prepares for us.  What table does God prepare for us now?  How about the Lord’s table – Communion! Discuss

                                                          iii.      Favored guest were some times anointed with oil.  A cup that overflowed reminded the psalmist that God gives us more than we need or deserve.  What does God give us so abundantly?

                                                           iv.      Put God’s “abundance” in the diorama.  Maybe clear a spot in the dark valley, push the dangers to the side, and put the shepherd there with extra food and water for the sheep.

 

    1. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long

                                                              i.      The psalmist sings in confidence that God is like the shepherd describe in the psalm (song). 

                                                            ii.      Sometimes, though, it is hard to feel like God is our shepherd.  When are such times?  Discuss.

                                                          iii.      Each explorer now makes a sheep to represent themselves.  Have them put their sheep in the diorama where they feel best represents “where they are.”  They can place their sheep on the table that has been prepared for them, on another path, in another part of the dark valley, etc.  Do one yourself and add it to the diorama, too.  If time allows, let the explorers who are willing explain why they put their sheep where they did.

                                                           iv.      Recite the psalm once more after everyone has placed their sheep in the scene.  Close in prayer.  Pray for help in facing dangers.