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Courage > Kick-off craft

Kick-off craft

For this kick-off craft, you’ll help your children each make a shepherd’s rod and discuss how a shepherd uses his rod to care for his sheep. If you prefer not to use a sapling or length of dowel for each child, you could instead unscrew a broom handle and decorate it with temporary decorations.

Shepherd’s rod

Directions

You will need the following supplies:

a stick (a freshly-cut sapling or a length of dowel 50-60 cm [20-24″] long and 1.5-2 cm [½-¾”] in diameter)
an old kitchen knife or dull blade
a small handsaw
sandpaper
felt-tipped markers
ribbon or leather cording.

  • If you are using lengths of dowel, help your children sand each end o their rod until smooth and free of splinters. If you are using saplings, remove the bark by scraping it off with a dull blade. Try not to mar the clean, white surface underneath.
  • Allow each peeled stick to dry overnight before sanding it or decorating it.
  • Once each “rod” is dry, help your children sand the rough sections. Write your preferred Bible memory verse on each rod, and decorate them with felt-tipped markers or paint.
  • Cut a notch near one end of each rod using a saw. Wrap the end with ribbon or leather cording, winding it through the notch to help keep it in place. Leaving some trailing ends to make a tassel. Use a low-temperature glue gun to secure the ribbon in place, if you wish.

While each child is decorating their rod, tell them how a real shepherd used their rod and staff in Bible times. Here’s some suggested dialogue to help start your discussion:

When shepherds took their sheep out to graze, it was like being on a very long hike. The shepherds did not want to carry a heavy load, so they took only what they needed. One of the most important items they carried was a rod or a staff. The shepherds used the rod to protect their sheep from harm. If a fierce wild animal came to drag a sheep away, the shepherd could use the rod to protect their sheep. In Bible times, there were no fences to keep the sheep in one place; the shepherd and his sheep ranged all over the countryside. The shepherds used their staff to discipline sheep that were wandering away from the flock.

Have each child use their rod to care for and “herd” their stuffed animals. Choose one stuffed animal to be a bear or wolf that is preying on the other animals. Let your children “protect” their sheep by gently using their rod. Whenever a child plays with their rod, use the opportunity to review the “inscribed” memory verse with them.

Relevant Scripture

Psalm 23:4b “I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 91:14 “ ‘Because he loves Me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.’ ”

Isaiah 40:11 “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”

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