Jeffry The Lost Sheep
(Parable Of The Lost Sheep)
(God’s Love)
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent. Luke 15:4-7
The Basic Bible Truth
God is love. He is extreme, perfect love. He could have told us that all day long and we would not completely understand it. But He went a step further and demonstrated His love for us by laying aside His Heavenly prerogatives and going to a cross to die a humiliating death. What wondrous love is this.
The Object
A Play Called Jeffry The Lost Sheep
Brown Paper Grocery Bags
Magic Markers
(Parable Of The Lost Sheep)
(God’s Love)
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent. Luke 15:4-7
The Basic Bible Truth
God is love. He is extreme, perfect love. He could have told us that all day long and we would not completely understand it. But He went a step further and demonstrated His love for us by laying aside His Heavenly prerogatives and going to a cross to die a humiliating death. What wondrous love is this.
The Object
A Play Called Jeffry The Lost Sheep
Brown Paper Grocery Bags
Magic Markers
This is a short skit in which I use audience members as actors. Their roles are non-speaking. They simply wear the appropriate paper bag character face, and are positioned as “scenes” from the skit.
The Lesson
Jeffry
Once upon a time…dontcha just love stories that start out that way?!...Anyway, where was I…oh, Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away, there lived a kind man who raised and cared for sheep. Oh my, he had so many sheep! There were big ones, and little ones, small ones and tall ones. There were fuzzy ones, and even some not-so-fuzzy ones. And there was one in particular who was…well…a real problem! His name was Jeffry, and this is his story.
Now there are some who would say that sheep are by nature, not too bright, not very intelligent or just plain dumb. But in Jeffry’s case, he just didn’t know any better. You see, Jeffry was still young and hadn’t learned all that he needed to learn. What’s more, he didn’t obey very well either. Now for a sheep, that is a dangerous combination. That is where our story really begins.
SCENE ONE: The Pasture
Shepherd, sun, 2 clouds, extra sheep, Jeffry (with calm and happy face), and a Texas long horn in the very back facing backwards. (instructed to turn around when clouds are mentioned)
The deep green grass was especially delicious that day. And the sun shone so brightly. A couple of clouds drifted slowly in the gentle breeze as the sheep grazed and rested there on that hillside pasture. The shepherd’s watchful eye was ever on guard. It was his job to guard and protect the flock. And he was VERY good at doing just that!...hey wait one minute! What’s that Texas long horn doing in this story! I am so sorry ladies and gentlemen, excuse me as I adjust the scene. (Remove the long horn off to the side)….There, now back to the story. Look at Jeffry. He is so calm and happy here. Life is good with the shepherd—very good! But do you recall what I told you earlier about Jeffry? He still had a lot to learn. And that learning process was about to begin. (Change Jeffry’s face to looking around wide eyed) Jeffry began looking around and wondering what it was like away from the shepherd and away from the flock. Surely it must be exciting and interesting. An adventure would be so much more fun than just laying around here and eating grass. And so, without thought of the possible dangers that lay ahead, Jeffry headed off on his own.
SCENE TWO: walking
Camel, Pig, Jeffry (mouth open in amazement), long horn facing back (directed to turn around when the camel is mentioned)
Here is Jeffry. Look at the excitement in his face. What an adventure! Why hadn’t he thought of this before? This is great! He hadn’t walked far when he met a most peculiar looking animal. It was a camel. Jeffry had seen one once, but not up close and personal like this. This was amazing. He stopped and watched as the camel slowly plodded by, completely ignoring him. “How rude!” he thought. At least his sheep friends always had a nice “baa, baa” for him when they would walk by….Hey wait a minute. There’s no Texas long horn in this scene either! Excuse me ladies and gentlemen as I make a minor correction to this scene. (Remove long horn again) Now that’s better. It wasn’t long before he met a pig. Jeffry had seen one once, but not up close and personal like this. This time he said “Hello Mr. Pig”. The pig just grunted (have pig grunt) and continued to wallow in the mud. “Animals just aren’t as friendly out here” hew thought to himself. He was beginning to have doubts about this adventure idea. He remembered how nice it was with the shepherd. But where was the shepherd? Jeffry then realized that he didn’t know the way back to the flock. He was totally and completely lost. He looked for the sun—it was gone now—darkness would be here soon. (Put frightened look on Jeffry). This was not turning out the way he had planned at all!
SCENE THREE: The attack
Texax long horn sitting on a chair and facing backwards, instructed to turn around when “something scary” is said, lion, and sad Jeffry
As shadows began to lengthen, Jeffry trudged along. Look how sad he is—he misses the rest of the flock. He began to feel very uneasy—something was watching him. Something scary, something hideous, something dangerous…no No NO! Not a Texas long horn! They don’t eat sheep! Excuse me ladies and gentlemen as I make some corrections to this scene. (Remove long horn and replace with lion) Change Jeffry to terrified) There, now there’s some real danger! A genuine, hungry, lion looking for a late night snack. A Jeffry size sheep snack. Jeffry was paralyzed with fear. He was so scared, he couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. Hew couldn’t even cry out for help.
But what Jeffry didn’t know was that the shepherd had put the other sheep in the barn for night. He counted every sheep carefully, and realized that one was missing! Not wanting even a disobedient sheep to perish, he left the others and had come in search of Jeffry.
And the shepherd arrived just in time! (Bring in shepherd with a club). Seeing the lion, he bonked him on the head and the lion ran off. (Remove lion from scene). Jeffry was so relieved to see the shepherd again. (Put happy face on Jeffry)
SCENE FOUR: The pasture
Shepherd, happy Jeffry, other sheep, sun, clouds, Texas long horn facing backwards and instructed to turn around when the shepherd is mentioned.
So Jeffry learned a very important lesson that day. One he will never forget. Not only was the flock a good place to be, but the kind shepherd really loved him—enough to come looking for him. So Jeffry stayed with the shepherd and had all the lush green grass he could ever want, his sheep friends by his side….and a lone Texas long horn watching it all. Life was good with the shepherd—VERY GOOD!
The End
As Jesus taught the people around Him that day, He actually told them three stories reflecting on God’s love. This one, the Parable of the Lost Sheep, compares God to the good shepherd who cares about each of his sheep. So much so that He will go looking for the lost one. The truth of that statement is humbling. Our sin nature makes us despicable creatures. We are sinful to the core, and were it not for God’s intervention, we would destroy ourselves. God often compare us to sheep. I have been around those farm animals enough to be able to affirm to you that sheep are stupid and they will follow each other to their death. If there were no shepherd, they would surely die. There are no feral sheep living out in the wild. Their temperament does not allow for that. We need a shepherd, and God has said He will gladly fill that void in our lives. A loving God, tenderly searching for each one of us, because we have all gone astray.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Lesson
Jeffry
Once upon a time…dontcha just love stories that start out that way?!...Anyway, where was I…oh, Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away, there lived a kind man who raised and cared for sheep. Oh my, he had so many sheep! There were big ones, and little ones, small ones and tall ones. There were fuzzy ones, and even some not-so-fuzzy ones. And there was one in particular who was…well…a real problem! His name was Jeffry, and this is his story.
Now there are some who would say that sheep are by nature, not too bright, not very intelligent or just plain dumb. But in Jeffry’s case, he just didn’t know any better. You see, Jeffry was still young and hadn’t learned all that he needed to learn. What’s more, he didn’t obey very well either. Now for a sheep, that is a dangerous combination. That is where our story really begins.
SCENE ONE: The Pasture
Shepherd, sun, 2 clouds, extra sheep, Jeffry (with calm and happy face), and a Texas long horn in the very back facing backwards. (instructed to turn around when clouds are mentioned)
The deep green grass was especially delicious that day. And the sun shone so brightly. A couple of clouds drifted slowly in the gentle breeze as the sheep grazed and rested there on that hillside pasture. The shepherd’s watchful eye was ever on guard. It was his job to guard and protect the flock. And he was VERY good at doing just that!...hey wait one minute! What’s that Texas long horn doing in this story! I am so sorry ladies and gentlemen, excuse me as I adjust the scene. (Remove the long horn off to the side)….There, now back to the story. Look at Jeffry. He is so calm and happy here. Life is good with the shepherd—very good! But do you recall what I told you earlier about Jeffry? He still had a lot to learn. And that learning process was about to begin. (Change Jeffry’s face to looking around wide eyed) Jeffry began looking around and wondering what it was like away from the shepherd and away from the flock. Surely it must be exciting and interesting. An adventure would be so much more fun than just laying around here and eating grass. And so, without thought of the possible dangers that lay ahead, Jeffry headed off on his own.
SCENE TWO: walking
Camel, Pig, Jeffry (mouth open in amazement), long horn facing back (directed to turn around when the camel is mentioned)
Here is Jeffry. Look at the excitement in his face. What an adventure! Why hadn’t he thought of this before? This is great! He hadn’t walked far when he met a most peculiar looking animal. It was a camel. Jeffry had seen one once, but not up close and personal like this. This was amazing. He stopped and watched as the camel slowly plodded by, completely ignoring him. “How rude!” he thought. At least his sheep friends always had a nice “baa, baa” for him when they would walk by….Hey wait a minute. There’s no Texas long horn in this scene either! Excuse me ladies and gentlemen as I make a minor correction to this scene. (Remove long horn again) Now that’s better. It wasn’t long before he met a pig. Jeffry had seen one once, but not up close and personal like this. This time he said “Hello Mr. Pig”. The pig just grunted (have pig grunt) and continued to wallow in the mud. “Animals just aren’t as friendly out here” hew thought to himself. He was beginning to have doubts about this adventure idea. He remembered how nice it was with the shepherd. But where was the shepherd? Jeffry then realized that he didn’t know the way back to the flock. He was totally and completely lost. He looked for the sun—it was gone now—darkness would be here soon. (Put frightened look on Jeffry). This was not turning out the way he had planned at all!
SCENE THREE: The attack
Texax long horn sitting on a chair and facing backwards, instructed to turn around when “something scary” is said, lion, and sad Jeffry
As shadows began to lengthen, Jeffry trudged along. Look how sad he is—he misses the rest of the flock. He began to feel very uneasy—something was watching him. Something scary, something hideous, something dangerous…no No NO! Not a Texas long horn! They don’t eat sheep! Excuse me ladies and gentlemen as I make some corrections to this scene. (Remove long horn and replace with lion) Change Jeffry to terrified) There, now there’s some real danger! A genuine, hungry, lion looking for a late night snack. A Jeffry size sheep snack. Jeffry was paralyzed with fear. He was so scared, he couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. Hew couldn’t even cry out for help.
But what Jeffry didn’t know was that the shepherd had put the other sheep in the barn for night. He counted every sheep carefully, and realized that one was missing! Not wanting even a disobedient sheep to perish, he left the others and had come in search of Jeffry.
And the shepherd arrived just in time! (Bring in shepherd with a club). Seeing the lion, he bonked him on the head and the lion ran off. (Remove lion from scene). Jeffry was so relieved to see the shepherd again. (Put happy face on Jeffry)
SCENE FOUR: The pasture
Shepherd, happy Jeffry, other sheep, sun, clouds, Texas long horn facing backwards and instructed to turn around when the shepherd is mentioned.
So Jeffry learned a very important lesson that day. One he will never forget. Not only was the flock a good place to be, but the kind shepherd really loved him—enough to come looking for him. So Jeffry stayed with the shepherd and had all the lush green grass he could ever want, his sheep friends by his side….and a lone Texas long horn watching it all. Life was good with the shepherd—VERY GOOD!
The End
As Jesus taught the people around Him that day, He actually told them three stories reflecting on God’s love. This one, the Parable of the Lost Sheep, compares God to the good shepherd who cares about each of his sheep. So much so that He will go looking for the lost one. The truth of that statement is humbling. Our sin nature makes us despicable creatures. We are sinful to the core, and were it not for God’s intervention, we would destroy ourselves. God often compare us to sheep. I have been around those farm animals enough to be able to affirm to you that sheep are stupid and they will follow each other to their death. If there were no shepherd, they would surely die. There are no feral sheep living out in the wild. Their temperament does not allow for that. We need a shepherd, and God has said He will gladly fill that void in our lives. A loving God, tenderly searching for each one of us, because we have all gone astray.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.