Sermon Tone Analysis

Scattered for Lack of a Shepherd

Shepherd, pastor, bishop, under-shepherd… pick a name typically this is the name or title given to any who assume the role of the leader of the church.

The average church simply calls this person pastor.

Their role?

Maybe its just preaching… maybe its just counseling… has it all together… answer to all things theological… seldom do we call them defender of the flock.

The apostle ensures the leaders are operating well, training teaching leading, and the flock is being fed properly… the prophet brings shape and speaks what is on the heart of the Father… the evangelist… goes wherever they must to ensure the lost hears the gospel… the shepherd engages directly with the flock to ensure they are cared for, tended to, and are growing in their relationship with Christ…

The shepherd defends the flock against all attacks, and is incredibly concerned with their well being.

Looking at the American Church we should hear the alarm bells ringing as the call to tend to the flock has been replaced with a heart for pragmatism…

Today as we engage the shepherd keep in mind what the shepherd has been called for make note of how the Lord is concerned for their work and how He will not delay to rectify the abhorrent behaviour we see in the shepherds work.

Shepherds are called to restore and guard the flock maturing the flock into their calling.

Turn to Zechariah

Exiles have returned but are beginning to follow after the things that caused them to go into exile

The ones held to account are the leaders

The Lord is Calling the Shepherds to Stand Well

The opening is a call for the people to seek after God and not the emptiness of the those who have made a mockery of the pulpit

Household gods… idols installed in the temples

Diviners-prophets running without boundaries (where are the shepherds?)

False prophecies unchecked

word of the Lord that should console the flock does nothing

People wander and are afflicted their defenders are gone

The Lord’s Heart for His House

He is angry with the shepherds they will not go unpunished (what did they do?) (Ez the Lord all out removes the shepherd and calls them to an account)

His flock is what matters to Him… all of this is for them…

He will make of His flock ready for battle…

the condition of the church today by and large is attributed to the condition of the congregation because of what their leaders have done.

Shepherds it is time to return to guarding of the flock and maturing them until they are battle ready…

When the Shepherd Fails the Flock is Consumed

Use of trees to exemplify the people and building to express the building of the church

Open...Lebanon the mountain range that serves as a defense

cedar (Pillars) is burned

Wail… Cypress which is used for building… the cedar which is used for building is ruined… what they have invested in is lost

Wail...oaks of bashan… that which is made in idolatry… as big as the church may be it has bent sent down

Bashan noted as sheol…

Shepherds… WAIL… not because they have misled… not because they have abused… but because their “glory”is ruined.

The anger of the Lord raises up and He jumps to action because the Flock is being decimated.

Call for the Shepherd to Oppose the Broken Office

Today the Lord is awakening true shepherds

They are being called to a people that are being led to death and not life in the name of pragmatism

The real shepherd will oppose those who are;

using the flock as trading stock

buying and selling them… fail to lead them into a relationship with the Lord

slaughter them… sending them to their death without them knowing it

they take pride in how great they have become while they are being destroyed

Difficult Work Ahead for the Shepherd

when the flock does not want to be restored

Staffs represent what the Lord has given as a symbol of authority

Favor that comes to the congregation

Union that keeps the body together

When the shepherd begins to correct they will face significant opposition

v. 8 tells us Zech… destroyed three shepherds… but the congregation detested him...

v. 9… the shepherd needs to know when to walk away…

What is to die… let it die… what is to be destroyed let it be destroyed…

he broke the staff of favor from them…

v.11 those who were destroying the sheep returned to ravage them…

Note how the shepherd is being compensated…

the congregation compensated the shepherd for doing their work yet their heart posture detests them…

as a congregation care for them… love them… dont tolerate their work but whole heartedly accept their work…

when the congregation despises their shepherd…

The Lord will give them one v.16 that is worthless… that doesnt care when they re being destroyed… maimed… or even care for their nourishment.

Woe to the Bad Shepherd

There is no reward for the shepherd who fails to guard the flock… who fail to mature the flock… who take advantage for their own gain… There is no excuse

Struck powerless… no authority

Struck blind… no revelation

Reward for the Good Shepherd

The example for the shepherd is to imitate Jesus… lay down your life for the flock...

their needs matter

the things that keep them awake at night need to keep you awake

your life is no longer your own… lay it down…

feed and tend the flock that has been assigned to you

ensure they are growing properly

do the work because you want to not because you are being obligated

don’t do it because of “shameful” gain and don’t abuse them

unfading crown of Glory because Jesus

Today the call to be good shepherd is resounding… defenders of the flock rise up… guard the flock, and ensure they are maturing… your crown is an unfading crown bestowed on you by Jesus.