Community Connection ~ May 4, 2025: The Parable of the Good Shepherd

Last week, we read the Parable of the Good Shepherd in Sunday School, and this week it was part of the scripture reading and sermon. A coincidence like this bears emphasizing, which we’d like to do using the lens of storytelling we introduced during last week’s Community Connection.

We tell the parable in Sunday School using Godly Play curriculum materials, which tell the story with wooden figures moving through a felt environment. It’s engaging, tactile, and best of all, responsive to the listeners - it includes a back-and-forth about what the different felt pieces could be and ends with a series of questions that invite children to deepen their thinking and make personal connections to the story.

If you’d like to watch an “official” Godly Play storyteller sharing the Parable of the Good Shepherd, check out this video.

Pay close attention to the wondering questions at the end, which are accessible to kids but still meaningful to adults. They include “I wonder if you have ever been lost?” “I wonder if you have ever been found?” and “I wonder if the Good Shepherd has ever called your name?”

Think about your answers in the context of storytelling. If a story comes to mind, write it down or tell it to someone. You can do this with other parables as well - watch or read the story, reflect on the “I wonder” questions, and share your story. And as always, if you need someone to tell your story to, you know where to find us: on Facebook or Instagram!