Object Lesson / Sunday School Outline: God Knows Our Names

Title: God Knows Your Name

Scripture: John 10:3 - "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

Objective: To teach children that while we may need name tags to remember each other’s names, God knows each of us by name and knows everything about us. He knows us personally.

Object lesson items:

  • Name tags and markers, A Bible, A large sheet of paper or whiteboard, Markers or crayons

Welcome and Opening Prayer

  • Briefly introduce the topic of the lesson: God's personal knowledge of us.
  • Activity: Give each child a name tag and a marker. Have them write their name on the tag and wear it. (If you are doing this in church you could skip this part.) Ask the children why they think we wear name tags in church or at events. Discuss their answers.
    • Explain that name tags help us remember each other’s names because sometimes we forget or don’t know everyone.
    • Share that God never needs a name tag to remember us. He knows our names and everything about us. How wonderful is that! Consider playing the song "He knows my name" by Tommy Walker. It's very powerful. 
  1. Scripture Reading:
    • Read John 10:1-5 aloud to the children. Or, give your own paraphrase.
    • Focus on verse 3: "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
  2. Interactive Discussion:
    • Ask the children how it feels when someone remembers their name. Discuss how it makes them feel special and important. Explain that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows each of us by name. He calls us and leads us because He loves us deeply.
  3. Illustration Activity: (if you are in a class room)
    • Visual Aid:
      • Draw a large sheepfold (sheep pen) on the whiteboard or paper. Add a gatekeeper and a shepherd. Draw several sheep inside the pen and write the children's names on the sheep. As you call out each child’s name, write it on a sheep and add it to the pen. Explain that just as you know their names, Jesus knows their names even more perfectly.
  1. Application:
    • Encourage the children to remember that God knows everything about them – their likes, dislikes, fears, and dreams. Remind them that they can always talk to God in prayer because He cares for them individually and listens to them by name.
  2. Conclusion:
    • Summarize the main point: While we might need name tags to remember each other’s names, God knows each of us by name without any help. Encourage them to trust in God's personal knowledge and care.
  3. Closing Prayer:
    • Pray, thanking God for His intimate knowledge of each child and asking Him to help them remember that they are known and loved by Him.
  4. Optional Craft Activity:
    • Provide each child with a small card and markers or crayons. Have them decorate the card with their name and a reminder: "God knows my name!" They can take this card home as a reminder of today’s lesson.