The Good Shepherd

CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, let’s raise our voices in worship, knowing that God hears and knows us. Come, let’s listen and hear Jesus’ voice though our wrestling with Scripture and in our worship today.

533 The king of love my shepherd is.

A GATHERING PRAYER

Loving Lord, there are many sounds around us, lots of voices making lots of noise. Help us to hear your voice: of encouragement, of challenge, of peace and comfort and joy, as you speak into our hearts today. Amen.

A PRAYER OF ADORATION

Jesus wanted us to have life and live it to the full. Lord, you are the good shepherd who gave his life for his sheep – and that means us! As a shepherd knows his sheep by name, so, Lord, do you know each one of us. You call us by our name to come into your divine presence – we worship you, O Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we know what we want, and we want it now. We will follow any new fad to get it; or any stranger. Forgive us, good shepherd, and bring us back Lord, we know where we want to go. And sometimes, we don’t mind treading on a few toes to get there, even trying to get ahead of our leader. Forgive us, good shepherd, and bring us back We think we know who we are, but only you, Lord, truly know us. Forgive us, good shepherd, and bring us back Lord, sometimes we are content with a lesser form of life than the one you desire for us. We don’t always try to get to know other people before we let them influence us. Forgive us, good shepherd, and bring us back to where we know and are truly known. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Thank you, O God, that in you we have the safety and security of your abundant forgiveness. surround us with warmth and well-being, as your forgiveness wrap us in security and new hope. Praise be to God. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

321 Lead us heavenly Father lead us.

READING

Psalm 23

John 10: 1-10

2 Abba Father

SERMON

Some years ago, The Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in London. In a rush, he accidentally jumped on the wrong carriage and found himself was full with inmates from a mental hospital. They were all dressed in outdoor clothing.

Just as the train pulled out of the station, an orderly came in and began to count the inmates, "1-2-3-4…" when suddenly he saw this distinguished looking gentleman there wearing a business suit and a clerical collar and he said: "Who are you?" The answer came back: "I am the Archbishop of Canterbury!" And the orderly continued: "5-6-7-8."

It’s interesting isn’t it we sometimes don’t see things as clearly as they should be, or the Archbishop should look more carefully where he is going.

We are all Christians Under Construction: Building a Life that Really Matters. I would like to ask, “Where is life?”

And as we are looking for life. Sometimes we look for life in all the wrong places, search for life in too many faces. Even in our confusion we are looking for life—for a life that really matters.

The image of the shepherd is deeply rooted in the history of the Jewish people and in the literature of the Israelite's that Jesus would have studied. As a good Jewish boy, Jesus would have learned the Hebrew scriptures and among those writings were example after example of God's love for God's people, often using the image of a shepherd and the sheep. Among the words Jesus would have known and treasured are the words we read today from Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters."

In fact, when the Old Testament prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Messiah, he portrayed the Saviour with the same image when he said, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd! He will gather his lambs into his arms." So, the tradition of the shepherd was very much a part of the background of Christ.

This picture of God as a shepherd who cares for the flock comes even more into focus in the New Testament.

Jesus once told a story about a shepherd who had 100 sheep, but one of them went astray. In our way of thinking, 99% is not bad. But not for the shepherd. In Jesus' teaching, the shepherd leaves the 99 alone in the wilderness to go in search of that one lost sheep. Later, when Jesus was speaking to the crowds who came to him, the gospel writer, Mark, tells us that Jesus had compassion upon them because they were "as sheep without a shepherd."

Throughout the scriptures, the image of the shepherd and the sheep is scattered everywhere. In our reading for today, the same picture is given to us. Jesus again taps into this image when he refers to himself as the gate for the sheepfold — as the one who leads the sheep to safety. For the next few moments, I'd like us to ask ourselves:

What does Jesus have in mind here? What is Jesus trying to teach us this morning with this talk of the true shepherd and the false shepherd? Well, the first thing he tells us as we look at Jesus' words again is that we have a shepherd who cares for us.

In the gospel reading, Jesus compares two shepherds. Outwardly they may seem the same. The skin of both is tanned by the sun. They both wear a coat of sheep's wool to keep them warm at night. Both carry a shepherd's staff. But only one is a genuine shepherd and the other is a counterfeit. One is a shepherd in his heart; the other is a shepherd for hire.

On an ordinary day, you would never tell them apart. If trouble approaches, or let a pack of wolves appear, and the difference comes out. The false one runs because it is only a job to him. He has no ownership of the sheep. But the real shepherd stays. The real shepherd risks everything to protect his sheep. The real shepherd lays down his life for them. Isn't that what Jesus says in our text? "I am the true shepherd for I lay down my life for the sheep." That is the difference between the real shepherd and the false one.

Now, this is good news. Here is God's word of grace for us today. Jesus says, "I don't care how much trouble comes your way; the good shepherd will never leave you. I don't care how difficult times become; the good shepherd will never desert you. I don't care how helpless, how hopeless, your life may seem; the good shepherd will always be at your side. He will not desert you in time of need. For the true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

But that's not all. As we look at this text, we can see more. Jesus says the true shepherd knows his sheep. Sir George Adams Smith, the Anglican church leader, tells of touring the Holy Land many years ago. One day on his travels, he saw several different groups of sheep gathering at a watering hole. Now, there will be trouble, he thought. They'll all get mixed up. The shepherds won't like this. But to his amazement, the shepherds gave it no thought. All the sheep came together and formed one big flock of sheep. They all looked alike — a big mass of white wool. What will they do now? Smith thought. How will the shepherds ever separate them out? To his amazement, when they had finished drinking, each shepherd gave out a cry. Each let go his unique call, and almost by magic, the sheep divided back into their original flocks. Jesus says to us, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me."

It strikes me as a rather comforting thought that the creator of the universe, the almighty God, and Father in heaven above knows me by name. He knows my situation. He knows my worries and cares. He knows my joys and sorrows. Oh, I know there may be those who laugh at that idea. There are those who would question the thought that the God of all creation would also be a caring shepherd. But isn't that what Jesus is telling us this morning? Isn't that what he means when he says, "I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved."

About a year ago, a murder took place in a small town the neighbours who were interviewed on the news were all shocked. It seemed impossible to them that the man next door would have done such a thing. "We knew these people," they said. "We knew what was going on in their lives. Or at least we thought we did." You see, that's the difference between God and us. God knows. We only think that we do.

But Jesus says more than that. Remember what he says? "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice." Did we hear that? "The sheep listen to his voice." So, the question before us today is, "Do we?" Do we listen to his voice? Do we know the voice of the shepherd? Are we reading his word? Are we speaking to him in prayer?

Have you ever seen the painting done in the 1930s of a dog, looking with a cocked head, at an old gramophone? The name of the painting is His master’s Voice, and it's a symbol of what Jesus is saying to us. "The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

Now, I know there have been times in my own life when I haven't recognised the master's voice as I should have. There have been times when I've been too busy, too preoccupied, too centred on my own concerns. And frankly, there have been times when I was afraid to hear his voice; for I guessed he'd have something to say that I didn't want to hear. Maybe you're like that, too. That's why Jesus says, "The sheep listen to his voice. He calls them by name and leads them out."

My Grandchildren like to play a quiz where you must identify a song as quickly as possible, they know all the singers and all the lyrics from their favourite songs. But I do wonder and pray they will know the voice of the shepherd.

And what about us do we know the voice of the shepherd. In the verses that follow our text for today, Jesus makes it clear when he says, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me." This is a great word of promise and a great blessing for us.

Do not miss that! I know my own and my own know me. We can’t know the voice of the shepherd if we don’t listen for it. We can’t recognise the Father in heaven if we don’t spend time in his house here on earth. We will never be sure of the good shepherd's presence if we do not live our lives with his flock. If the church is always just an option to us, just another activity in our busy schedule — if worship is something we do only on Sunday morning — if we do not set aside time in our daily living for prayer and Bible reading — the voice of Jesus will always be the voice of a stranger and the promise and blessing of the shepherd will never be ours.

That's what Jesus' story of the gate is all about. It is by following the true shepherd that we truly find peace. It is by hearing his voice and following his leading that we go the right way. That's why Jesus says, "All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." For the true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Isn't that what Easter is all about — a shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep? A Saviour who dies for the sinner? In using this illustration, Jesus points out the true nature of the cross. A shepherd dies for the sheep. A person sacrifices his life for an animal. The God of creation dies to redeem his creation, and a Saviour offers up himself for the world. That's what he means when he talks of being the gate through which the sheepfold passes.

A true shepherd comes that we might have life and have it in fullness. Through his leading we are saved. Through his death on the cross, we are redeemed and made children of God. But it’s not enough that we simply remain sheep. It is not enough to wander about in life like a bunch of stupid lambs. Jesus calls us his children and asks us to be shepherds. He invites us to be the shepherd of the sheepfold in his place. He wants us to share God's love with one another and offer up our lives for something worth living.

Remember these words. I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved. For the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. In Jesus' name. Amen.

OFFERING DURING HYMN

The Lord’s my shepherd

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

Jesus calls us by name and leads us out. He is always with us, surrounding us with love and protection. Lord, we go out in the safety and security of knowing we are part of your flock. Thank you for our sense of belonging: to our church family. to all our other family, work, and community groups. May we never lose our sense of inclusion. May we know our true identity in you. We go in your name, gracious Lord, to offer our lives in your service. Amen.

Loving God, we pray for those whose lives are empty; for all who feel alone and unloved; for those whose lives lack purpose. Lord of love, bring them abundant life. We pray for those whose lives are filled with anger and bitterness; for those who cannot let go of the past, and so have no present or future. Lord of love, bring them abundant life. We pray for those whose lives are filled with anguish and pain; for those who suffer depression; for those who are afraid to go out; for those who cannot see a way forward. Lord of love, bring them abundant life. We pray for those who live on the edge; for those who watch others enjoy life but are unable to join the group; for those who lack faith; for those whom others ignore. Lord of love, bring them abundant life. Loving God, may your abundant life fill our world, our church and ourselves, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

42 Be Though My Vision

BLESSING

As we leave this place, go with us and guide us through the coming days. Protect us from harm and help us to hear your voice. Create opportunities for us to share your love with those we meet. Amen.