On a bright Sunday morning in Berea, a small yet spirited town known for its historic buildings and vibrant arts scene, a group of eager children gathered for their weekly Sunday School meeting. The town’s blend of youthful energy, thanks to the well-regarded Berea College and its sizable student population, infused the gathering with a sense of excitement. Though Berea’s arts and crafts festivals were known to attract large crowds throughout the year, today, the focus was on nurturing the spiritual lives of its youngest residents.

The leader of the session, Jade, had a warm and approachable demeanor. She had lived in Berea for many years and was deeply connected to the community. Her love for teaching children about faith and God was palpable, and her engaging style made the Sunday School meetings something the children looked forward to each week. As the students sat cross-legged on the brightly colored rugs in the Sunday School room, the soft hum of the arts and crafts scene outside seemed a distant murmur. Today, however, the focus was on a different kind of craft — the craft of spiritual growth.

Jade began by asking the children a question that got their minds working: “Who remembers what we talked about last week? What does it mean to trust in God?”

A few shy hands raised, and a little girl with a bright smile responded, “It means knowing that God is always there to help us.”

Jade nodded and smiled. “That’s right! Trusting in God means we believe in His love and His plans for us, even when we can’t see the whole picture.” She then opened the Bible to a passage she had prepared for the day.

“Today,” Jade said, “we’re going to learn about the story of the Good Shepherd. Does anyone know who the Good Shepherd is?”

The children responded eagerly, with one boy excitedly exclaiming, “Jesus!”

“Exactly,” Jade said, her eyes twinkling with joy. “Jesus is the Good Shepherd who takes care of His flock, and that includes all of us. He leads us, protects us, and loves us deeply.”

She read the passage aloud, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

The children listened attentively, some of them envisioning the peaceful scenes of pastures and gentle flocks of sheep that often appeared in illustrations of biblical stories.

Jade paused for a moment to let the words sink in. “Now, what do you think it means that the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep?”

A boy named Luke raised his hand, his brow furrowed in thought. “Does that mean Jesus was willing to die for us?”

“Yes!” Jade said, her voice filled with warmth. “Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His life so that we could live with Him forever. That’s how much He cares for us.”

She then invited the children to reflect on how this made them feel. “It’s pretty amazing, right?” she asked. “When we know that Jesus loves us like that, it makes us want to live for Him and trust Him even more.”

The children nodded, many of them feeling the weight of the profound truth they had just discussed. But Jade wasn’t done yet. She knew that children, with their boundless energy and curious hearts, needed more than just a lesson to digest; they needed something they could hold on to and remember.

“So,” Jade continued, “how can we be like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in our lives? How can we show love and care for others, just like He does for us?”

The room was filled with a buzz of voices as the children thought about how they could imitate Jesus in their own lives. One girl, a bit older than the others, raised her hand and said, “We can help people who need us, like when we see someone sitting alone or sad.”

“That’s a great idea!” Jade replied. “Showing kindness is one way we can be like Jesus. Even small acts of love and care for others are important.”

Another child, this time a boy named Caleb, piped up, “We can share our toys and be nice to each other.”

Jade smiled and nodded. “Yes, sharing and being kind to others are simple ways to love them, just like Jesus loves us. And it’s important to remember that Jesus didn’t just love those who were easy to love. He loved everyone — even people who were different from Him or who didn’t like Him.”

The children absorbed this teaching, recognizing that the love Jesus showed was not just for those who were easy to love but extended to everyone.

Jade felt a sense of fulfillment as she watched the children begin to grasp the depth of Jesus’ love for them and how it could transform their relationships with others. The conversations during the meeting grew richer as the children shared more ideas, and Jade was delighted to see them understand how they could live out their faith in everyday ways.

As the Sunday School meeting came to a close, Jade stood before the children and said, “Remember, you are never alone. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is always with you, guiding you and loving you. And just like He laid down His life for us, we can lay down our selfish desires and care for others.”

Before the children left, Jade encouraged them to carry this lesson with them throughout the week. She handed out small cards with a picture of a shepherd and the words “The Lord is my Shepherd” written on them. “Take these with you,” she said, “and remember that Jesus is always watching over you, no matter where you go.”

As the children filed out of the room, many of them clutching their cards, Jade felt a sense of peace. Berea may be known for its historic buildings and vibrant arts scene, but it was moments like these — moments where she had the opportunity to shape young hearts with the truth of the Gospel — that reminded her of the true meaning of this lively, youthful town.

The meeting was a reminder to everyone that the life of faith is not just for adults or for those who go off to the larger cities of Richmond or Lexington, but for all people, in every season of life, and especially for the young hearts growing in Berea.