Good Shepherd Sunday 2011
Kids Sermon;
The Lord be with you.
How many of you know what a shepherd is and what they do?
Well, a shepherd is a person who takes care of animals, keeps them from getting into danger, keeps them in places they can eat and drink, and it doesn’t just have to be sheep. They will also do everything in their power to keep those animals alive.
Now, how many of you have a pet? Dog or cat or bigger?
Does your pet know who you are? Do they come when you call them? You make sure they have food and water, right. Well then you’re a shepherd too.
Did you know that God’s son Jesus Christ is called the Good Shepherd?
We all know what Jesus did for us, right? He was being that Good Shepherd when he gave his life for our sins, so that we can celebrate his resurrection with him.
Jesus knows who we are, that includes you, me, this Church, and the whole world. He knows us by name!
So, listen for Jesus calling your name. “Child of God, come to me. For we know the voice of our shepherd because he knows us.
Adult Sermon
May the words from my mouth be from the inspiration of my heart, Amen.
As we listened to the 23rd Psalm, what a peaceful picture comes to mind. Still waters to still my soul. My cup overflowing. Fear no evil. Your presents with me. I shall not want. What better diagram of Heaven could we ask for? Now I want you to pick out a word or a phase, close your eyes and listen to this Psalm as I read it again. No napping now.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Does this Psalm say something different to you now? So, how does the Lord Jesus Christ fit into being your shepherd now.
As we think about what was said in the kids sermon, how many of us are a shepherd?
The one verse that was missing in today’s Gospel lesson was verse 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. How many of us know this and are being good sheep?
The sheep know whom to follow, the shepherd, but do we ever stop to listen for and to the Good Shepherd voice.
All the farmers know how to get their animals up to “the barn”. Some have a call others have a whistle while others bang buckets together. I know how this works, as a young kid wanting to ride one of our horses, could never go out in the pasture to catch one. I wasn’t the shepherd. However, after learning to use the bucket trick, tried to catch me one to ride. Didn’t work, wasn’t the shepherd! But, when it was close to feeding time. It worked but only for a time or two. Who said animals were not bright?
Now what do we hear from our Shepherd to come to Church? Is it the desire to come and worship, sing songs, hear the word of God, fellowship, and Holy Communion? What makes you decide to Church?
It just might be the Holy Spirit doing what it does best. Leading us to Christ.
Now what about us and listening to our shepherd, Jesus Christ. Do we ever take ourselves out of the rat race to listen? How many times have we just stopped and cocked our heads because we thought we heard something. Did you ever think maybe that was Jesus whispering in our ear?
I think the biggest problem today in our society is the personalized headphones, cell phones and texting, and other equipment that distracts us in our daily lives; we just don’t or just can’t listen or hear.
How can we find ourselves in a refreshing place to enjoy what God has created for us and listen to what is being said. I would like to see each and every one of us set a time and place every day to stop, enjoy, and listen. I know it’s hard to find that quit place, but think about what you might learn. You could even add this time to finish up your prayer time.
If you are already doing something like this, then try sharing that experience with someone else.
While your at it, try telling the Good News about Jesus Christ and what he’s done for us.