SoulShift: Sheep to Shepherd

SoulShift  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  52:59
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What are some reasons that people come to Christ?
Fear
Guarantee of heaven
Cure for sin
To find meaning
You see, this is vastly different than the way that the disciples followed Jesus.
From what we know, the followed Jesus simply because He said “follow me.”
You see, people that come to Jesus for the reasons mentioned above, tend to lose interest once whatever they were wanting from Jesus is given.
It’s as if they no longer need Him so they get bored and walk away.
It’s as if they are missing something.
Arguably, what they are missing is the next shift.
From:

Sheep to Shepherd

At the point in the Bible story that we read just a bit ago, the disciples had been following Jesus for some time.
Earlier in chapter 6, Jesus had sent out the 12 in pairs to preach.
Mark 6:12–13 NIV
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
So, they come back to Jesus to tell him what they had done.
They jump in a boat, but people follow them.
Mark 6:34 NIV
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Jesus noticed that they were following like sheep without a shepherd.
So, this sets the stage for today’s shift.
People needs shepherd!
But who?
Well, they get out of the boat and Jesus was teaching them for most of the day.
As with most people, they got hungry.
They disciples came to Jesus and told Him that they were hungry and needed to go into the villages and eat.
Jesus tells them:
Mark 6:37 NIV
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
You see, the disciples answered in the way that we do, don’t they?
Well, I don’t have the money to feed them....
But, Jesus doesn’t even touch on their comment.
He just asks how many loaves they have.
They count and turns out, they have 5. And, 2 fish.
“That should do” Jesus says....maybe
He has them sit down in groups, prays over the bread and they distributed the food.
You see, what’s interesting in this whole interaction is that Jesus doesn’t prepare them for what is about to happen.
He doesn’t tell them that they needed to go to seminary for 4 years, earn a degree, and then begin to minister.
In fact, He doesn’t tell them to do anything other than “feed them.”
Now, I am not saying that education isn’t important, it is.
But what I am saying is that Jesus isn’t asking you to calculate everything before He calls you to do something.
He is saying “do it.”
Jesus had plenty of miracles where He did the miracles Himself.
He healed several people.
But, what is different here is that Jesus told His disciples to do it.
Jesus could have done it Himself.
He could have said “have a seat and I will take care of it.”
But no, He tells them “feed them”
Something is happening here.
Jesus is moving His disciples from the position of sheep to shepherd.
They had been with Jesus.
They had learned from Him and His example.
And now, Jesus says shift.
I wonder if His words from early may have struck them.
Way back in Mark chapter 1 when He calls peter and Andrew, He says to them:
Mark 1:17–18 NIV
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Mark doesn’t record any discussion here other than they followed Jesus.
I probably would have been like “yeah dude, I will follow you, but you are going to need to explain the whole “I will send you out to fish for people” thing.
Now is the time when this shift is starting to happen.
Jesus has been preparing them to become shepherds.
As they shift from sheep to shepherd, there are three things that He has them do.
Preach the gospel
Mark 3:13–15 NIV
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
2. Healing diseases
Mark 6:13 NIV
13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
3. Delivering people from oppression and evil as we read in the previous two passages.
After reviewing these things it is clear that Jesus didn’t come simply to call us to follow Him, but to recruit us!
Jesus has some jobs for us to do!
Maybe it’s similar to the disciples.
Maybe He is calling us to shift from sheep to shepherd.
Jesus is recruiting us to be shepherds!
“Jesus asks us to feed those He loves - to grow in our faith, beyond milk onto meat, and then, when well-fed ourselves, to being feeding others.” - Steve DeNeff and David Drury
We have spent time with Jesus. We have grown in our relationship with Him!
We have the power to shepherd His sheep!
Shepherds have some interesting qualities about them.
They have compassion towards their sheep - how can you build trust with someone that you don’t have compassion towards?
The know their sheep by name - they get to know their sheep. Spend time with them.
They are self-forgetful - they are more concerned with their sheep than themselves
They lay down their lives - you are willing to go to extreme lengths for those you are shepherding
Jesus is calling us to be shepherds because many in the world are like “sheep without a shepherd.”
So, what are the ways that we can be a good shepherd?

1. Identify your sheep

Are you married? - Your spouse is your sheep!
Do you have kids? Your children are you sheep!
Where do you work? Your co-workers are your sheep!
Who in your life is God calling you to shepherd?
Maybe He is calling you to help with ministry in the church?
We can always use children’s church helpers!
You can’t have the college ministry, that is mine! - just kidding, I will share if anyone feel led to help!

2. Make sure your sheep are fed

Ask questions about their spiritual life.
Where are they at with Jesus?
What are their struggles and sins?
How are they growing?
What is influencing them? What are they reading? Who are they listening to?

3. Make sure your sheep have water

The shepherds in ancient Palestine had to lead their sheep to water so that they wouldn’t dehydrate.
We too can dehydrate if we are not connecting with others!
Where are your sheep connecting?
Are they in a discipleship group?
Are they spending time with other believers?
Are they serving others in some way?

4. Protect your sheep

As we asked with feeding our sheep, what is influencing them?
What do they listen to? Is it of the world of the kingdom of God?
What are they watching? What movies or songs do they talk about?
“They need to know what kinds of entertainment might rob their identity. They need to know what temptations are around the corner and how God has provided an escape for them...
...Our sheep need to know someone will stick up for them in the real world and will pray for them before a real God.” - Steve DeNeff and David Drury
Are you praying with and for your sheep?
Do your sheep see Jesus in your life?
Do they know that you believe in a God that has their back?
As we wrap up this morning, I want to encourage you to think about a few things.
When Jesus asks you to do something, do you consider the cost?
Do you protest because you don’t have enough resources?
Do you question how it could possibly even happen?
Do you feel inadequate?
Or feel if you don’t have the right connections or it’s not the right timing?
I want to encourage you this morning that the God who calls is the one who equips!
“Somewhere in God’s plan to save the world, he left room for us!” - Steve DeNeff and David Drury
He calls us to move forward from being sheep to being shepherds!
It all begins with hearing the voice from the good shepherd who says “you feed them!”
One of the coolest things about being a shepherd is dedications and baptisms.
This morning we get the honor of doing both!
At this time, if Sabre and Douglass want to come up with Brenton, we will begin the dedication.
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