Helping children discover what the Bible teaches about following Jesus, listening to His voice, and trusting Him as the Good Shepherd.
Have you ever played Follow the Leader with children? It’s such a simple game. One person leads, and everyone else tries to follow along.
Sometimes the leader walks slowly. Sometimes they jump, spin, or head in an unexpected direction. And if you’re not paying attention, you might find yourself going the wrong way!
But when Jesus invited people to follow Him, He wasn’t asking them to play a game. He was inviting them into something that would change their lives.
So what does it really mean to follow Jesus?
Let’s open our Bibles and explore!
One of the first things I noticed when reading about Peter is how often Jesus invited him to trust and follow Him.
In Matthew 4:18–20, Jesus sees Peter and Andrew casting their nets into the sea.
He says:
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
And what happens next?
They leave their nets and follow Him. That’s quite a response! But here’s something worth noticing.
Peter didn’t know everything that following Jesus would involve.
He would witness miracles, hear Jesus teach, ask questions, make mistakes, and discover more about who Jesus was.
In Matthew 14:22–33, Peter even steps out of a boat to walk toward Jesus on the water. But when he notices the wind, he becomes afraid and begins to sink.
What does Peter do?
He cries out, “Lord, save me.”
And Jesus reaches out His hand.
Peter’s story reminds us that following Jesus doesn’t mean we never struggle or make mistakes.
Now let’s look at another passage.
In John 10:27, Jesus says:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (KJV)
Did you notice those words?
HEAR. KNOW. FOLLOW.
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11. And just as sheep recognize and follow their shepherd, Jesus describes His followers as those who hear His voice and follow Him.
Peter’s experiences help us see what following Jesus looked like in the life of one of His disciples.
And the picture of the Good Shepherd helps us understand something important about the One we’re following.
Following Jesus isn’t just about knowing where to go. It’s about knowing whom we’re following.
Here’s a simple way to explore this together.
Read Matthew 4:18–20.
Ask:
What were Peter and Andrew doing when Jesus called them?
What did Jesus invite them to do?
How did they respond?
What do you think they would discover as they followed Him?
Now read John 10:11 and John 10:27.
Ask:
What does Jesus call Himself?
What does He say about His sheep?
Why is it important to know who our Shepherd is?
Help your children connect the invitation to follow Jesus with what Scripture teaches us about His character.
Gather a piece of paper and some crayons or markers.
Draw a simple path across the page.
Along the path, add a few obstacles, such as rocks, a river, or a steep hill.
At the beginning, draw a sheep. At the end, draw a shepherd.
Now read John 10:27 together.
Talk about how sheep need to recognize and follow their shepherd.
Ask your children:
What might happen if a sheep followed a stranger instead?
How can we learn what Jesus teaches us?
Then write the words:
“My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me.” — John 10:27
You might keep the drawing somewhere your children can see it as a reminder of the Good Shepherd.
What can Peter’s experiences teach us about following Jesus?
And what does Jesus mean when He calls Himself the Good Shepherd?
After watching, invite your children to share something they noticed about Jesus or Peter.
Each month we create a themed Bible verse calendar and include printables, coloring pages, activities and Art lessons! Use these for daily Bible reading, study or Scripture memorization. By signing up, you will also receive access to our Freebie Library with a few more free Bible resource goodies!
What if children could explore what it means to follow Jesus through the experiences of Peter?
Our Following the Shepherd Bible Adventure Collection invites children to investigate Scripture, discover meaningful connections, and respond through creative activities.
Through four connected Bible Adventures, children explore Peter’s experiences with Jesus and discover what Scripture teaches about trusting and following the Good Shepherd.
Rather than simply telling children to follow Jesus, these Adventures encourage them to investigate the One who calls us to follow Him.
Each collection includes four guided Adventures, a Parent Guide, and Scripture reading resources.
Together, families can:
Notice • Explore • Create • Remember
Art gives children another opportunity to investigate Scripture and think about what they’ve discovered.
Following the Shepherd Bible Art lesson
[Add art lesson image, Scripture connection, and product link.]
As children create, talk about how the artwork can remind them of Jesus’ invitation to follow Him.
Continue exploring Scripture with creative Bible verse activities about following Jesus, listening to His teaching, and trusting Him.
The Bible gives us many opportunities to discover what following Jesus looks like.
From His invitation to the first disciples to His teaching about the Good Shepherd, Scripture helps us understand who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.
Explore additional passages and explanations about following Jesus.
Sometimes one activity is just the beginning!
If your family enjoys exploring God’s Word through art, hands-on activities, and creative Bible studies, you might enjoy becoming a ReMEMBERer.
Our ReMEMBERers Creativity Library brings together Bible art lessons, monthly printables, Bible Adventures, and other creative ways to keep God’s Word close to your heart.
Explore the ReMEMBERers Creativity Library
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Our desire is sharing God’s Word and love through creative resources for all learning styles.
