John 10:11-13 — A hireling runs when danger comes. The Good Shepherd never does.

Here's how to teach your children who they can trust.

⛪ Preached at Pilgrim Baptist Church • Cookeville, TN • July 12, 2026.

📚 Lesson 1 of 5 in our Good Shepherd's Care children's safety series

This child safety lesson for Christian families uses the picture of the Good Shepherd

from John 10 to teach children how to recognize a safe grown-up, why telling a trusted

adult is never tattling, and why it is never their fault when something scares or

confuses them. If you've been looking for how to talk to your kids about body safety

and abuse prevention from a biblical perspective, this lesson was built for that

conversation.

Every parent wants to protect their children, but many don't know where to start.

This lesson gives you a simple, repeatable model — four things every child should

know — that you can put in your own words and repeat at home this week. It is not a

substitute for you as the parent; it is the launching pad for that conversation.

Preached from John 10:11-13, with 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (David rescuing the lamb from the

lion and bear) and Mark 10:14-16 (Jesus welcoming the children), this lesson contrasts

the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep with the hireling who flees when

danger comes — and applies that picture directly to how children can recognize the

adults God has given them to protect them.

This child safety lesson walks through Scripture to teach:

- The difference between a Good Shepherd and a hireling (John 10:11-13)

- Four things every child should know to stay safe

- "My body belongs to me and it's a gift from God"

- The difference between a fun surprise and a secret that should always be told

- Why telling a trusted grown-up is never tattling

- David's courage in rescuing the lamb from the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-35)

- How Jesus welcomed and blessed the children (Mark 10:14-16)

- Why children will never get in trouble for telling the truth

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 - The Good Shepherd keeps his lambs safe

00:04 - The goal of this five-lesson series

02:03 - What a shepherd's staff is for

03:53 - Pastoring: not a golf buddy, a shepherd

09:05 - John 10: the Good Shepherd vs. the hireling

10:23 - What makes a hireling: "Pay me and I'll care"

13:36 - 1 Samuel 17: David rescues the lamb

17:29 - Mark 10: Jesus welcomes the children

19:36 - Four things every lamb should know

23:16 - Surprises vs. scary secrets

25:07 - Telling is never tattling

28:46 - Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"

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