For more than twenty years, designing and offering Faith Milestones has been one of the great joys and priorities of my ministry with both littles and their bigs. These moments create space for some of the most meaningful teaching we can offer—where Scripture and sacred Christian tradition come together in ways that are clear, personal, and developmentally appropriate.

Each Faith Milestone is more than a lesson—it’s an experience. A chance to practice holy habits, explore what we believe, and invite families to grow in faith together.

I was first inspired to create these milestone moments at a Christian Educators Fellowship gathering in Nashville. A speaker challenged us with a simple but powerful idea: many of the faith foundations we once assumed kids would “catch” in Sunday school were being missed in the busyness of life. What if we reimagined those teachings as special, can’t-miss events—something meaningful enough that families would plan around it… especially if there was a certificate involved?

That idea stuck—and it shaped so much of what I’ve built since.

Last Wednesday, I had the joy of leading a one-hour I Can Trust & Obey Jesus: A Faith Milestone designed for 1st–5th graders and a big person who loves them. My goal is simple: I don’t want a single child to move through our ministry without having the opportunity to learn what it means to trust and obey Jesus with their whole heart for their whole life.

This particular milestone centers on a foundational truth: people are like sheep—and we need a good shepherd. In other words, who is Jesus and why do we need Him.

What follows is the interactive, fill-in-the-blank content we used—paired with games and videos to bring it all to life. And here’s a little spoiler: every single blank has the same answer. JESUS. And yes—the giggles when the kids figured that out were absolutely priceless.

Takeaways: A certificate; A sticker book; The Case for Christ for the 4th & 5th graders, a tiny lamb

Worksheet Content: I CAN TRUST & OBEY JESUS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SHEEP AND JESUS IS A GOOD SHEPHERD. 

OPENING QUESTION: What are some things that are super important in your life? Think about the stuff that is really important to you.

TRUST

“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3
Sheep and shepherds are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible…they are big deal and can help us understand some things.

Who are the sheep? US.

Sheep wander, get lost, can’t get up, can’t get rid of bugs in their noses, can’t protect themselves, and stray looking for greener grass and something more.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way.” Isaiah 53:6a

When we turn our own way, we SIN.

Sheep need a GOOD SHEPHERD.

Object Lesson Break: Do you trust me? (fall back; chair to sit in)

OBEY

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14

When we choose ________________________ , our GOOD SHEPHERD, to be the center of our lives when we remember who He is and what He has done.

What does it mean to be good? (Circle all that apply)

Kind                     Wicked                Protective            Mean

Generous            Grumpy               Evil              Helpful

Watch video: Who is a good shepherd?  ______________!

·   When we are upset, we can go to ____________________________ for peace.

·   When we are afraid, we can remember that _____________________ is strong.

·   When we are sad, we can remember that ______________________ can give us joy.

·   When we don’t know what choice to make, we can ask ____________ to make us wise.

Making ___________________________ the center of our lives, our GOOD SHEPHERD, means we go to Him over and over. We tell Him that we need Him. We believe that He is the only One who can help us with every part of our lives.

In the life of a Christian/follower, _________________________ is the One in charge of all things, so Jesus gets to make the rules.

Jesus is a good shepherd!

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

When we choose to follow ________________________,

Jesus says we are His children. We are loved and set apart from the rest of the world. Because we belong to Him, He gives us certain rules (commands) to obey.

Jesus is a good shepherd!

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God  — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. We are all children of God.” John 1:12-13

Obeying the commands of  ___________________________ is part of our faith.

Jesus is a good shepherd!

“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him/her and make myself plain to him/her.” John 14:21

We have the choice to obey ____________________________.

We call this ‘free will.’

Jesus is a good shepherd.

Watch video: Good sheep follow a good shepherd.

The Bible gives us a picture to help us remember: ____________________ is a good shepherd and we are His sheep. Look up Psalm 23.

The more we learn about ___________________________, by reading the Bible, going to Church, and praying to Jesus, the more His voice will be familiar to us. As good sheep, it will go well for us all when we want to do everything He tells us.

OBEY = immediately, completely, and sweetly

Game: Guess Who’s Calling? (Child faces the door and guesses who is calling his/her name) Goal: When you spend time with someone you begin to know their voice more and more.)

How can I keep learning to know the voice of my GOOD SHEPHERD?

Read your Bible – Psalm 1:1-3

¹ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
² but who delights in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—  whatever they do prospers.

Go to Church – Hebrews 10:24-25

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Pray (talk & listen to God) – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I want to trust and obey Jesus ___________________________________.

Write your name here; Let’s pray!

Do you use something comparable to Faith Milestones in your ministry? Tell me more!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6