Week of September 13, 2020 Theme: Shepherd I. Scripture Focus - Psalm 23 What image comes to your mind when you hear the word “shepherd?” Stop and think about this. If you hear the words pastor, doctor, nurse, or teacher, likely the image of a person comes to mind, along with some knowledge of their responsibilities in our culture. Most of us do not know any shepherds. What most of us know about shepherds comes from a knowledge of the Bible. As we read the 23rd Psalm we must remember that the original target audience (Jews, c.1000 BC) understood the responsibilities of a shepherd well. Exercise #1 Read Psalm 23, then list the responsibilities of a shepherd. Consider the specific example of David as a shepherd. Read I Samuel 17:34-37. Notice what David describes as some of his responsibilities. Did you include the killing of lions and bears in your list of responsibilities? The job of a shepherd was relentless and difficult. If a shepherd was irresponsible, what happened to the flock? Sheep are not very smart animals (no insult to the sheep). They need constant nurturing, constant direction, and constant protection. If the shepherd was irresponsible the sheep would starve, become lost, and could be injured or killed. Exercise #2 How are you like a sheep? Take a moment to consider the ways in which you need nurturing, guidance, and protection. Now personally apply Psalm 23 to your life. Take one verse at a time and consider how Jesus is your shepherd. Psalm 23 truly depicts every season of our lives. We have times lying in green pastures, times enjoying rest by still waters. We also have times when we walk through the deepest, darkest valleys of life. The psalm ends by stating that God’s goodness and love will follow us (literally will pursue us) all the days of our lives. There will come an end to our days on earth. We even need our shepherd to take us to his home where we will dwell forever. Take some time and pray/mediate on each verse. Digging Deeper Psalm 23:1 in the original Hebrew states, “Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This is God’s covenantal name, the name that God used to establish His covenant relationship with Abraham in Genesis 12, 15, and 17. As part of the establishment of the Abrahamic Covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed to Abraham (see Galatians 3:6-8). So as we put our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we are declared righteous just like Abraham. Read Psalm 23 as a letter of God’s covenantal commitment to care for you in every season for life, a commitment by Yahweh your shepherd to be with you through good times and the times of suffering. It is Yahweh’s covenant commitment that he will bring you to live with him in his house for all eternity. Have you placed your faith in the finished work of Christ? II. Scripture Focus - John 10:1-18 Consider John 10:1-18. Like Psalm 23, this passage describes some the responsibilities of a shepherd. Jesus describes himself as a good shepherd in contrast to thieves and robbers. Exercise #4 How is Jesus described as a good shepherd in John 10? How intimate is the relationship between Jesus and his sheep? Notice that Jesus compares his relationship to his sheep to his own relationship to God the Father! What is the end goal of the thief? What does it mean in John 10 that Jesus “knows” his sheep and his sheep “know” him? Consider that the implication of “to know” means much more than just an intellectual attachment. It is a term of full relationship. Digging Deeper Read Isaiah 53:1-6 and note how we are described as sheep in this text. We humans do not see ourselves as sheep, especially in our modern western culture. We have been taught to be self-sufficient and that we can conquer any problem by ourselves. We are a very prideful, arrogant people. Isaiah also highlights another problem of the sheep - their sin (iniquity). To what extent is our shepherd Jesus willing to go for His sheep? Notice that in John 10, Jesus says that he laid down his life for his sheep. III. Scripture Focus - 1 Peter 5:1-4; Ezekiel 34:1-16 The scriptures say that God has set men and women in both the Old Testament and New Testament as shepherds over his people. Ezekiel 34 describes the failures of the shepherds, while 1 Peter 5 lists qualities of good shepherds. Exercise #5 In contrast to what we learned about good shepherds in Psalm 23 and John 10, consider what these shepherds did to dishonor God in Ezekiel 34. In contrast, 1 Peter 5 commands the elders of the church to be good shepherds of God’s people. What are the characteristics of good elders? Please pray for our new and current elders at Threshold, that they would faithfully execute the responsibilities that they have been called to by Jesus Christ. .