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Printable teaching guide: Mark 6:30-34, Sheep Without a Shepherd

TEACHER GUIDE · Mark 6:30-34 · RUN SHEET
Sheep Without a Shepherd
THE BIG IDEA · SAY IT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES
With the LORD as my shepherd, I lack nothing I truly need.
Open with it, bring it back after every section, close with it. By the end they should be able to finish the sentence for you.
BEFORE THIS PASSAGE · DAY 2
1 Samuel 17:32-37, The Shepherd Who Wrote It. Its big idea: The LORD is my shepherd: he does for me what David did for lambs.
AFTER THIS PASSAGE · DAY 4
Psalm 23:2-3, Green Pastures, Quiet Waters. Its big idea: The Shepherd gives rest, restores my soul, and leads me rightly.
Open: Recall last time (1 Samuel 17): David learned “The LORD is my shepherd” in a field. Today: the second half, “I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Ask: What is the difference between wanting something and needing it? Then read Mark 6:30-34, where a crowd lacks a shepherd. Big idea: With the LORD as my shepherd, I lack nothing I truly need. Ask one person what stuck from last time.
NumberSECTIONTHE ONE THINGASK
1I Shall Not Want
Psalm 23:1 · about 8 min		“I shall not want” is about need, and it rests on who the Shepherd is.Does “I shall not want” mean God gives us everything we ask for? Why or why not?
2Running Short
Mark 6:30-33 · about 10 min		Even faithful servants run short; the Shepherd leads them to rest.What were the apostles running short of, and what did Jesus give them?
3Moved with Compassion
Mark 6:34 · about 12 min		Jesus sees what the crowd lacks and supplies it, starting with his word.Why do you think the first thing Jesus gave this crowd was teaching?
Close (never cut it): Read Mark 6:34, then Psalm 23:1. The crowd lacked a shepherd, and the Shepherd came to them. Say the line together: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
PROTECT THE ENDING
If the last section starts late, read v34 aloud and go straight to the close.
KIDS SIDE (BACK OF THE HANDOUT)
Story order: 4, 3, 5, 2, 1 (top to bottom) · Feelings: The tired apostles sad, The crowd without a shepherd worried, The crowd hearing Jesus happy, Jesus seeing the crowd sad · Code: I SHALL NOT WANT · Act it out: Some children are the apostles in a “boat” (chairs), and the rest are the crowd. The crowd runs around the room to the other side and gets there first. Jesus steps out, looks at them kindly, and begins to teach them.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.RUN SHEET · TEACH FROM THIS PAGE
YOUR NOTES
1. I Shall Not WantPsalm 23:1about 8 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
1. I Shall Not Want Psalm 23:1
  • “Want” means to lack or run short (Hebrew chaser).
  • Israel “lacked nothing” in the wilderness because God cared for them.
  • A sheep with a shepherd does not go without what it needs.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) A flock without a SHEPHERD lacks everything.
“They were like sheep without a SHEPHERD.” (Mark 6:34)
DISCUSS
Does “I shall not want” mean God gives us everything we ask for? Why or why not?
“I shall not want” is about need, and it rests on who the Shepherd is.
MUST COVER
  • Psalm 23:1: the verb chaser means to lack or run short.
  • Nehemiah 9:21: in the wilderness God sustained Israel “so that they lacked nothing.”
IF THERE’S TIME
  • Exodus 16:18: in the manna story, “he who gathered little had no shortfall” uses the same verb.
Illustration idea: A child on a school trip who has no money in their pocket but knows the teacher has packed lunch for everyone.
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
  • It's about needs, not wishes.
  • It depends on the Shepherd.
If it drifts: If the talk turns to prosperity, read Psalm 23:1 again and ask what a sheep actually needs.
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
With the LORD as my shepherd, I lack nothing I truly need.
Short on time? Drop the manna note. Keep the meaning of “want.”
Bridge → Mark shows what it looks like to lack a shepherd, and to be found by one.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 1 OF 3
YOUR NOTES
2. Running ShortMark 6:30-33about 10 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
2. Running Short Mark 6:30-33
  • The apostles return from their mission.
  • Jesus invites them to rest with him.
  • The crowd runs ahead and gets there first.
“Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us REST for a while.”
“They did not even have time to EAT.”
DISCUSS
What were the apostles running short of, and what did Jesus give them?
Even faithful servants run short; the Shepherd leads them to rest.
MUST COVER
  • v30-31: the apostles report everything; Jesus sees they have had no time to eat.
  • v32-33: the crowd recognizes the boat and runs around the shore to arrive first.
IF THERE’S TIME
  • The Sea of Galilee is about thirteen miles long; a crowd on foot could beat a boat across a bay.
Illustration idea: A parent who notices a child is worn out and quietly cancels the afternoon's plans.
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
  • Even good work wears you out.
  • He cared about them as people, not just workers.
If it drifts: If the talk becomes a complaint about busy lives, bring it back to v31: the invitation is “Come with Me.”
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
The Shepherd sees when his sheep are running on empty.
Short on time? Drop the boat facts. Keep v31.
Bridge → Then Jesus sees a crowd that lacks a shepherd altogether.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 2 OF 3
YOUR NOTES
3. Moved with CompassionMark 6:34about 12 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
3. Moved with Compassion Mark 6:34
  • Jesus sees a large crowd.
  • He has compassion: they are like sheep without a shepherd.
  • He begins to teach them many things.
“He had COMPASSION on them.”
“They were like sheep without a SHEPHERD.”
DISCUSS
Why do you think the first thing Jesus gave this crowd was teaching?
Jesus sees what the crowd lacks and supplies it, starting with his word.
MUST COVER
  • v34: “compassion” is a gut-level word in Greek.
  • v34: “sheep without a shepherd” echoes Moses' prayer (Numbers 27:17) and Ezekiel's promise that God himself would search for his flock (Ezekiel 34:11).
IF THERE’S TIME
  • Joshua, God's answer to Moses' prayer, has the same name as Jesus in Hebrew.
Illustration idea: A teacher who sees a child standing alone at break and walks straight over.
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
  • He put their needs before his own.
  • He saw that they were lost.
If it drifts: If someone asks why Jesus does not always seem to answer, admit it is hard, then return to what v34 shows about his heart.
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
Sheep without a shepherd lack everything; Jesus came to be their Shepherd.
Short on time? Drop the Joshua note. Keep v34 and Numbers 27:17.
Bridge → So come back to how the Shepherd sees you.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 3 OF 3
With One Friend, Over Coffee
About 30 minutes · for a friend who is curious, or not sure
RUN ORDER
  1. Start with the line. Say Psalm 23:1 together, then ask: What is the difference between wanting and needing?
  2. Read it. Read Mark 6:30-34 together. It is five verses.
  3. The interruption. Jesus planned rest, and a crowd got there first.
  4. His response. Read v34 again: he had compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
  5. Leave the question. Ask: What are you lacking right now, and would you bring it to the Shepherd? Leave it with them.
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HEAR
“Why didn't Jesus just send the crowd away?”
Mark says he had compassion on them. He saw people who needed a shepherd.
“What does “sheep without a shepherd” mean?”
People with no one to lead or protect them. It is an old phrase in Israel's Scriptures.
“Did Jesus ever rest?”
Yes. He offered rest to his disciples here, and Mark records him going off alone to pray.
“Why does it matter that he taught first?”
Mark shows the Shepherd feeding them with his word before he feeds them with bread.
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · WITH ONE FRIEND
Evergreen Principles
Four standards every week. The rest rotate: each lesson brings the few that fit its passage best.
EVERY LESSON
THE PRINCIPLEIF YOU’RE NEWIF YOU’VE TAUGHT FOR YEARS
Pray before you prepare
Teaching the Bible is spiritual work first (John 15:5).		Pray for your class by name during the week.Pray for the one person you find hardest to reach.
Study the text first
Understand the passage yourself before any help.		Read it in two translations; write your own questions first.Don’t lean on old notes. What did you miss last time?
Teach one big idea
People remember one sentence, not four points.		Write it in 12 words or fewer before anything else.Test every story against it. If it doesn’t serve it, cut it.
Point to Christ
All of Scripture points to him (Luke 24:27).		Ask: what does this show about Jesus?Show grace as the reason for obedience, not just the rule.
FOR THIS LESSON
THE PRINCIPLEIF YOU’RE NEWIF YOU’VE TAUGHT FOR YEARS
Let the Bible do the talking
v34 is a short, full sentence.		Read it twice and ask what it shows about Jesus.Lay Numbers 27:17 and Ezekiel 34:5 beside it.
Know your people
Many in the room will be tired.		Give room to name tiredness without solving it.Notice who in the room carries others and needs care.
Guard the time
Only five verses; do not wander into the feeding.		Stop at v34; the feeding comes on day 5.Use the pause before the feeding as a bridge.
BEFORE CLASS
☐ Read the passage three times
☐ Big idea in one sentence
☐ Opening and close chosen
☐ Know what you’ll cut
☐ Handouts, pens, extra Bibles
☐ Prayed for the class by name
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · EVERGREEN PRINCIPLES
Openings, Closings & Hard Moments
Pick one opening and one close; rotate so class doesn’t get predictable.
OPENINGS
ask a real-life question
This lesson: When you are exhausted and someone needs you, what is your first reaction?
raise a problem
This lesson: Jesus planned a rest and it was ruined. What would you have done?
start in the text
This lesson: Read v31 and ask what kind of leader notices that his team has not eaten.
CLOSINGS
restate the big idea
This lesson: With the LORD as my shepherd, I lack nothing I truly need, and he sees you.
allow quiet reflection
This lesson: Read v34 and give a minute of quiet.
pray the text
This lesson: Pray v31: thank Jesus for inviting tired people to rest with him.
WHEN CLASS GETS HARD
Someone is burned out from caring for others.: Point to v31: Jesus noticed his workers' tiredness. Do not add another task.
Someone feels like a scattered sheep with no one leading them.: Let v34 speak to them directly: this is exactly who Jesus had compassion on.
Silence after a question: Wait. Then rephrase simpler, or ask them to talk to a neighbor first.
One person dominates: “Thanks. Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.” Talk privately if it continues.
A question you can’t answer: Say so, write it down, bring an answer next week.
A tangent takes over: “Great question. Let’s catch it after class so we can finish the passage.”
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.TEACHER GUIDE · OPENINGS, CLOSINGS & HARD MOMENTS
Mark 6:30-34
Sheep Without a Shepherd
The Lord Is My Shepherd · Dig Deeper
KEY VERSE
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
THE BIG IDEA
With the LORD as my shepherd, I lack nothing I truly need.
1. I Shall Not Want Psalm 23:1
  • “Want” means to lack or run short (Hebrew chaser).
  • Israel “lacked nothing” in the wilderness because God cared for them.
  • A sheep with a shepherd does not go without what it needs.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) A flock without a lacks everything.
“They were like sheep without a .” (Mark 6:34)
DISCUSS
Does “I shall not want” mean God gives us everything we ask for? Why or why not?
2. Running Short Mark 6:30-33
  • The apostles return from their mission.
  • Jesus invites them to rest with him.
  • The crowd runs ahead and gets there first.
“Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us for a while.”
“They did not even have time to .”
DISCUSS
What were the apostles running short of, and what did Jesus give them?
3. Moved with Compassion Mark 6:34
  • Jesus sees a large crowd.
  • He has compassion: they are like sheep without a shepherd.
  • He begins to teach them many things.
“He had on them.”
“They were like sheep without a .”
DISCUSS
Why do you think the first thing Jesus gave this crowd was teaching?
Read this week: Exodus 16:13-18 · Nehemiah 9:19-21 · Ezekiel 34:11-16
BIG IDEA: WITH THE LORD AS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING I TRULY NEED.HANDOUT · ADULT SIDE (KIDS ON THE BACK)
Mark 6:30-34 · FOR KIDS
Sheep Without a Shepherd
Name: ____________________
Big idea: Jesus is my Shepherd, so I have what I need.
1. Put the story in order!
Number the boxes.
A crowd runs and gets there first.
They go away in a boat.
Jesus teaches them with compassion.
Jesus says, “Come and rest.”
The apostles come back tired.
2. How did they feel?
Circle a face.
The tired apostles
The crowd without a shepherd
The crowd hearing Jesus
Jesus seeing the crowd
3. Word search
PPKYTEACH
SGJYYRVSR
HFEHWNUHC
ECSCARBEG
ENUSNGOPY
PFSSTKAHY
SRESTOTEV
CROWDBYRB
YNCFDNNDK
JESUS · BOAT · CROWD · SHEEP · REST · TEACH · SHEPHERD · WANT
4. Secret code
1=A · 2=H · 3=I · 4=L · 5=N · 6=O · 7=S · 8=T · 9=W
3
7
2
1
4
4
5
6
8
9
1
5
8
5. Draw it!
Draw Jesus stepping out of the boat and seeing the big crowd.
6. Memory verse
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1  Say it to a grown-up: ☐ ☐ ☐
Jesus sees me when ______.
DIG DEEPERKIDS SIDE · PRINT ON THE BACK OF THE HANDOUT