Simon Says: Learning the Shepherd's Voice
A short round of Simon Says helps children and youth feel the difference between random commands and the voice they are meant to follow.
Big Idea
Discipleship begins with recognising the Shepherd's voice and following Him.
Delivery Script
Hook Use this with children or youth before teaching discernment, obedience, or listening to Jesus. Because here is the thing: we all follow something. The question is whether we know whose voice we are actually obeying.
1. Set the rule. We are going to play quickly. Nobody is out. Just notice what happens. [stand in open space, Bible open to John 10 nearby] Ready?
2. Three easy commands. [give three clear Simon Says commands: "Simon says hands up. Simon says touch your shoulders. Simon says hands down."] Good. You are listening well. Stay sharp.
3. Slip one in. [give a command without the phrase: "Now stand on one foot."] Wait. Did I say Simon says? [pause, let the room land on the moment] Some of you followed anyway.
4. Stop and ask. What caught us? [brief pause for responses] A familiar pattern. A confident voice. A quick command. We did not stop to check. We just moved.
5. Open the Bible. [lift the open Bible and read John 10:27] "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Three things. Hear. Known. Follow.
6. Name the truth. Jesus says His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. [hold the Bible steady] This is not a game of quick reactions. This is a relationship. The sheep know the Shepherd because they have stayed close long enough to learn what He sounds like.
7. Land the contrast. The Christian life is not following every loud voice. It is learning the Shepherd's voice and obeying Him. His voice is consistent. It matches His words, His character, His care. When something calls you to move, the question is not only "is this fast?" It is "is this His?"
Land Which voice have I been obeying too quickly? That is the honest question. Jesus does not just call out into a crowd hoping someone responds. He knows you by name, and He speaks words worth following. Learn His voice, and the noise gets easier to sort.
Call to action Read one saying of Jesus this week and find one concrete way to obey it.
Transitions
In
Use this with children or youth before teaching discernment, obedience, or listening to Jesus.
Out
Ask, "Which voice have I been obeying too quickly?"
Scripture Anchors
Props & Setup
Props Required
- 1Open spaceEnough room for simple hand motions without bumping others.
Setup Instructions
- 1Prepare six to eight safe commands.
- 2Decide beforehand that no one is out; mistakes become teaching moments.
- 3Keep the game under ninety seconds.
- 4Prepare to explain that Jesus' voice is heard through Scripture, not random inner impulses.
Stage Execution
- 1Say, "We are going to play quickly. Nobody is out; just notice what happens."
- 2Give three easy commands beginning with "Simon says".
- 3Slip in one command without the phrase and let some follow it.
- 4Stop and ask, "What caught us?"
- 5Read John 10:27.
- 6Say, "Jesus says His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him."
- 7Add, "The Christian life is not following every loud voice. It is learning the Shepherd's voice and obeying Him."
Safety Notes
Use safe movements only: hands up, touch shoulders, stand still, small step. Avoid running, jumping, spinning, touching others, or excluding children publicly when they make mistakes.
Theological Grounding
John 10:27 sits in Jesus' good shepherd discourse, where His sheep hear His voice, are known by Him, and follow Him. The verse is not about clever religious instincts detached from Scripture. It describes covenant relationship with Jesus, whose voice is consistent with His words, character, and saving care.
Preacher Tips
- Do not eliminate children. Public failure can shut down the lesson.
- Use your normal voice, not a mocking or harsh one. Jesus is a Shepherd, not a bully.
- Keep commands simple so the attention stays on listening.
- For teens, make the debrief sharper: confident voices are not always trustworthy voices.
If Things Go Wrong
1The game gets chaotic.
Recovery: Freeze everyone with a calm hand signal and say, "This proves why listening matters."
2A child feels embarrassed.
Recovery: Repeat, "Nobody is out. We are all learning to listen."
3The point sounds like Jesus tries to trick us.
Recovery: Clarify that Simon Says is the game; Jesus is the faithful Shepherd.
Adaptations
teens
Use competing voices from social media, peers, fear, and Scripture as the debrief.
small group
Ask each person to name one voice that competes with Jesus' words.
online
Play with camera-safe hand motions and invite viewers to self-check privately.
intergenerational
Let adults join too, then ask children what made the adults get caught.
Response Prompts
1.What voices do I follow quickly?
2.How do I learn the Shepherd's voice?
3.Why is it good news that Jesus knows His sheep?
Application Questions
- 1Do I know Jesus' voice well enough to recognise a counterfeit?
- 2Where is He calling me to follow today?
Call to Action
Invite hearers to read one saying of Jesus this week and practise obeying it in one concrete way.
Focus Note
Simon Says is simple because the rule is simple: listen for the right voice cue. John 10 is deeper and better. Jesus is not a trick caller trying to catch us out. He is the good Shepherd who knows His own, gives them life, and leads them. The game helps us feel how easily we move when a voice sounds confident. Disciples learn to recognise Jesus through His word and follow Him.
Cultural Notes
Some audiences may not know Simon Says. Rename it "Follow the True Command" and explain the rule in one sentence. Avoid idioms or game references that require local childhood knowledge.
Themes & Tags
Sermon Placement
Memorability
The game is instantly understandable and works well when kept short and gentle.
Type
audience participation
Difficulty
simple
Setup
none
Cost
free