July 18 Sheep Without A Shepherd

Matthew 9:31–38 NLT

31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. 32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. 34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.” 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Sheep Without A Shepherd

Even before my earliest days in ministry, the Church has been wondering about the loss we’ve been experiencing. We’ve lost attendance numbers. We’ve lost financial comfort. We’ve lost respect in the public square. And we’re concerned about it.

Today, I want to invite you to stop being concerned about those things. Stop worrying about our attendance numbers. Stop worrying about our financial comfort. Stop worrying about our status in the public square.

Today, I want to share with you what should be our deepest concern.

Matthew 9:33 NASB

33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (literally “appeared”)

Pharisees, the religious rulers are confused by it. The very people who should’ve understood!

Do you know why they didn’t understand?

They were too distracted by concerns like status in the public square, and financial comfort, and other distractions!

To the world, ‘church people’ are the Pharisees of today! They saw the world and tried to stay away because the world was full of unclean people.

Matthew 9:36 NASB

36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them ...

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts 15. Over Disease (9:35–38)

The sight of so much need moved the Master to deep compassion. This was more than human pity. The word literally means a “suffering with.”

Jesus “SUFFERED WITH” the crowds.

…and his people should be suffering with the crowds today.

Too often, you and I are too busy (or too self-important) to condescend to the level of “those people”.

Jesus saw the crowds were suffering, so he suffered with them.

[non-rhetorical] Can you see anyone in this crowd that Jesus thinks was too far gone to avoid suffering with them? From this Scripture, can you tell me … Does Jesus think of anyone as more important than the others in this passage?

Simple: He saw the crowds suffering, he felt their pain and showed compassion.

Sheep Without A Shepherd

Do you feel like Terre Haute has people who dislike the Christian Church?

It’s easy (tempting?) to think, “Well, they don’t like us, so I won’t like them!”

Jesus rejects this type of thinking. He recognizes they are confused and helpless, and their thinking is influenced by confusion and helplessness. Let me encourage you to see your worst opponent as confused and helpless … and see how that may help you develop compassion for them instead of animosity.

sheep without a shepherd

teachers … scribes

none who cared

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament Chapter 9

And yet they had many teachers; they had scribes in every city. But they had none who cared for their souls, and none that were able, if they had been willing, to have wrought any deliverance. They had no pastors after God’s own heart.

Pharisees were supposed to be leaders.

Scribes were supposed to be teachers.

But they treated sinners as ‘less than’ them.

They abandoned the sheep they were supposed to be shepherding.

Let me suggest the Western Church of today … has done the same thing.

Sheep Without A Shepherd

There are sheep all over Terre Haute without a shepherd.

MissionInsite data - Vigo County, IN (2017)

8.5% believe in multiple gods (30% increase over 2012 - 5 years)

15.4% don’t believe ANY god exists (63% increase since 2012)

“I don’t believe a god exists; the material universe is all that is”

Friends, the Church is losing ground, and souls are hanging in the balance.

Jesus’ heart was broken for them. Is ours?

Sheep Without A Shepherd

We believe Jesus is our shepherd! (MissionInsite - beliefs about Jesus)

“Jesus is the only way for human salvation from sin” — 57% in 2012, 50.6% in 2017

HALF OF THIS COUNTY DOESN’T BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION!

107,569 - population of the county

If we believe Jesus is indeed the only way to salvation ...

53,139 people all around us in this county are destined for Hell! That figure is 4 years old, AND THE TREND ISN’T GETTING BETTER!

Is your heart broken that most people in this county are wandering through life aimlessly?

Does it matter to you that a majority of this county is destined for an eternity separated from God?

Harvest is great - workers are few

PRAY FOR WORKERS!

I beg God for workers for this harvest field.

Today, I am begging YOU to BECOME one of those workers!

If we can’t generate a broken heart for those who are like sheep without a shepherd, who will?

I am not willing to tell Vigo County, Indiana I’m okay with them going to Hell. (53,139) So, I plan to tell people about Jesus. Their response is on them. Telling them … well that’s on me and it’s on you.

Sheep Without A Shepherd

A pastor’s job isn’t to do the work of ministry alone. A pastor’s job is to lead and equip the saints … you for ministry.

Will you beg God for more workers with me today?

Will you commit to being one of those workers?

Will you commit to recognize the lostness around us and to engage it with the hope of Jesus Christ?

Prayer slide

TEACH CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER!

Lord in your mercy … HEAR OUR PRAYER!