Shepard

THE NEXT LEADER

Numbers 27:12–23

Central Truth: God raises up leaders to care for His people, but every good leader points us to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Main Line: God does not call you to be impressive. He calls you to be faithful.

OPEN

Moses is near the end of his life.

God tells him he will see the Promised Land, but he will not enter it.

Moses could have been focused on:

his legacy

his position

what people thought of him

Instead, Moses is worried about the people.

Read Numbers 27:16–17

“Let the LORD… appoint a man over the congregation… that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

Punch: Moses cared more about the people than the position.

Ask students: What do you normally picture when you hear the word “leader”?

1. EVERYBODY IS BEING SHEPHERDED

“Like sheep that have no shepherd.”

Sheep wander.

Sheep follow.

Sheep need direction.

Moses knew Israel could not just be left without leadership.

Bring it to students:

TikTok is shepherding people.

Friend groups are shepherding people.

Culture is shepherding people.

Coaches, teachers, parents, pastors are shepherding people.

Punch: You may not choose whether you are influenced, but you can choose whose voice you follow.

Question: Who has the loudest voice in your life right now?

Transition: Before God talks about what Joshua will do, notice what He says about who Joshua already is.

2. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA BEFORE GOD PROMOTED JOSHUA

Read Numbers 27:18

“Take Joshua… a man in whom is the Spirit…”

Memory joggers:

Joshua was not random.

He had already served Moses.

Already fought battles.

Already stood with Caleb.

Already followed when others doubted.

He was faithful before he was publicly commissioned.

Punch: God usually develops you in private before He uses you in public.

Student application:

You do not need a platform.

You do not need a title.

You do not need thousands of followers.

Start with whoever God has put around you.

Lunch table. Team. Classroom. Sibling. Friend group.

Punch: You keep asking God for a bigger platform while God is asking what you are doing with the people already in front of you.

3. JOSHUA WAS A SHEPHERD — JESUS IS THE SHEPHERD

Moses asks God for someone so Israel will not be “sheep without a shepherd.”

Then jump to Matthew 9:36:

Jesus sees the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd.”

Then John 10:11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Connection:

Joshua could lead Israel.

Joshua could not save Israel.

Joshua could take them into the land.

Jesus brings His people into eternal life.

Joshua fought Israel’s enemies.

Jesus defeated sin, death, and the grave.

Punch: Joshua led the sheep. Jesus died for the sheep.

Gospel:

We are not just confused people needing advice.

We are sinners who wander from God.

Jesus comes after wandering sheep.

Cross.

Resurrection.

Grace.

Punch: The gospel is not lost sheep finding the Shepherd. It is the Shepherd coming for His lost sheep.

LAND IT

Two questions before small groups:

1. Who is shepherding you?

Whose voice is shaping your decisions?

2. Who are you shepherding?

Who watches you? Who listens to you? Who could you point toward Jesus?

Final Central Truth:

God does not call you to be impressive. He calls you to be faithful.

Moses had his generation. Joshua had his generation. You have yours.

Transition Question for Small Groups

If someone followed Jesus exactly the way you do, where would your life lead them?