« Back

The Good Shepherd

Posted on April 21, 2024

See on YouTube 

https://youtube.com/live/1idkCy3uTiI

The Good Shepherd 

 

Set up microphone if singing 🎶  

 

Acts 4:5-12 

Psalm 23 

1 John 3:16-24 

John 10:11-18 

 

Special Music: 

Baa Baa He’s the Good Shepherd  

D            G 

Baa Baa He’s the Good Shepherd 

D                               A 

Everywhere I go He knows. (He Knows, He Knows) 

D            G 

Baa Baa He is my Savior. 

D                   A             D 

I will follow where He goes. 

 

Verse 1 

G       D              A             D 

Jesus loves me; finds me; cares for me.      

G              D             E                 A     

Watches; saves me; Leads back home.  (Halleluiah) REFRAIN 

 

Verse 2 

G       D              A             D 

I was so lost; where do I begin 

G              D             E                 A     

He paid the cost for my sin. (Halleluiah) REFRAIN 

 

Verse 3 

G       D              A             D 

I was so scared; Storms would frighten me. 

G              D             E                 A     

I will not fear; He’s with me! (Halleluiah) REFRAIN 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction/Opening 

Good morning 

 

Introduce yourself – My name is Pastor Anna; I am Associate Pastor here at Living Hope  

 

Opening Prayer  

Lord God Heavenly Father, we thank you for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ask that you be with us throughout this service. We ask that your Spirit guide us and move us to do your will. Help others to see you in us. Help us to be your children, serving you obediently with love and proclaiming the Gospel wherever we go. We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever. Amen. 

 

Opening Scripture: 

Acts 4:5-12 

4:5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 

 

4:6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 

 

4:7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" 

 

4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, 

 

4:9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 

 

4:10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 

 

4:11 This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' 

 

 

 

4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved." 

 

Mission Moment with Judy 

 

Offering and Tithes 

 

Call to Worship: 

Psalm 23 

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

 

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 

 

23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 

 

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 

 

23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

 

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. 

 

Hymns: 

Gentle Shepherd #626  

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock) #436 

The Church’s One Foundation #668  

There’s Something About That Name #148 

Lamb of God (chorus) 

He Leadeth Me #99  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congregational Prayer 

Lord, we lift up Living Hope congregation to You. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your Word. Lord, please put your healing hand on those who need healing. Help each one of your servants to lead others to You. We are your called disciples and thank you for fulfilling your promises and saving us. We ask that you bring unbelievers to Christ through us. We thank you for this grace, each and every day. Please protect us from the  

outside world and guide us to the right direction. Help us Lord to repent from our sins, to obey Your commandments, and to love You with our whole heart and to love our neighbors. Thank you for sending Your Advocate the Holy Spirit to guide us. Lord, we thank you for being with us today and abiding in us. We ask all this in Jesus precious  

name, Amen. 

 

First Reading: 

1 John 3:16-24 

3:16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 

 

3:17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 

 

3:18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 

 

3:19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 

 

3:20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

 

3:21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 

 

3:22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 

 

3:23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 

3:24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. 

 

 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday  

Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  

- John 10:7-11 NIV 

 

Gospel Scripture: 

John 10:11-18 

10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

 

10:12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 

 

10:13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 

 

10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 

 

10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 

 

10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

 

10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 

 

10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Good Shepherd 

 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

John 10:27-28 NIV 

 

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” 

John 10:29-30 NIV 

 

Jesus is our Good Shepherd  

The message of this parable is that Jesus is the true shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd who was willing to die for those who put their faith in Him. Any other person who claims to be the true shepherd is a robber or thief, for they are a false shepherd. 

 

Yesterday Pastor JJ, Dave, Judy, Bob, and I went to Flint Central Church of the Nazarene for the NMI (Nazarene Missions International) Convention.  

 

The speakers were Carlos & Robin Radziszewski. Mainly Carlos spoke in Spanish and Robin energetically translated. Carlos told a story about a guy named Pinocchio. Carlos knew Pinocchio from a young age. He was called Pinocchio because of the way his nose looked. However, he was good in futbol aka soccer;  which made him popular with both guys and girls. Carlos was not popular and was taller and bigger than Pinocchio. Carlos was also a pastor son. Pinocchio would go up to Carlos and bully him, knowing that he would not respond because he was a pastor son. One day as an adult, Carlos saw Pinocchio on a bus. At this time Carlos had a program and he  thought he should invite Pinocchio to this program, but he chose not to do that because of his past experience with Pinocchio. And shortly after seeing Pinocchio, Carlos read in the paper that Pinocchio robbed a store and was shot dead. Carlos now wonders , if he had spoken to Pinocchio if he would’ve been alive and became a Christian because of the program.  

 

Do you have family, friends, even enemies who need to hear about Jesus Christ? 

 

Don’t wait until it is too late; talk to them now! Carlos waited and it is now too late for him. Who knows what could of happened in Pinocchio’s life if he became a Christian. 

 

 

 

 

 

During Sermon with pauses  

The Good Shepherd video 

https://youtu.be/mDzuGZBq488?si=7iyu6H2RETAdT8Br 

 

Stop video when lamb is lost 

When do you feel lost and alone? 

  1. As a child / lost at an amusement park or grocery store – when I was 11 years old Mark at Cedar Point – MOM!! 

  1. After a break up with a boyfriend or a  girlfriend or divorcing a spouse 

  1. You feel unwanted, unloved, wronged or hurt 

  1. Not wanting to be around others 

  1. After an argument with a so called friend 

  1. Annette moved me out of the mobile home where I was living while I was in the field in New Mexico. 

  1. We get so focused on ourselves 

  1. We don’t see others around us and their problems  

  1. We stumble and things appear worse we might start to feel pity upon ourselves  

  1. We are lost and alone 

  1. Not only physically but spiritually  

  1. We feel a separation from God because of our sin 

  1. How can God love is when we are not perfect? 

  1. Oh you think you are perfect or not that bad? 

  1. Kirk Cameron in “Way of the Master” show asks questions  

  1. “Do you consider yourself to be a good person?” 

  1. How many lies do you think you have told in your life?  

  1. Have you ever stolen something, no matter the value?  

  1. Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain?  

  1. Have you ever looked at a woman or man with lust? 

  1. If you have lied then you are a liar! 

  1. If you have stolen anything then you are a thief! Even a pen or paper clip from work 

  1. If you have looked at a man or woman with lust that makes you an adulterer. 

  1. If you use God’s name inappropriately like as a swear word or statement of astonishment  

 

 

 

 

  1. “In light of your own admission, if God were to judge you by the standard of the ten commandments, do you think you would be found innocent or guilty and would you be going to heaven or hell?” 

  1. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” - Revelation 21:8 NIV 

  1. Because of Jesus blood shed on the cross, sin is no longer a barrier for anyone. The Lamb of God took away the sin of the whole world. 

 

The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29 NIV 

 

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 

1 John 2:2 NIV 

 

  1. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

John 20:30-31 NIV 

  1. The emphasis the Lord Jesus gave was on Himself, not the sinner. He repeatedly called for people to believe in Him, the Son of God, in order to have everlasting life. 

   

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

John 3:16-17 NIV 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 

John 5:24 NIV 

 

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 

John 6:47 NIV 

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 

John 11:25-27 NIV 

 

Restart video 

  1. Finally we look up 

  1. And we see the Shepherd - Jesus 

  1. We are so excited 

  1. We run into His arms and He gives you a big loving hug 

  1. We breathe. You feel safe, at home and at peace. 

  1. Comforted and Protected by Your Shepherd. 

  1. Now, I want you to close your eyes and think about visualizing Jesus’ face to face with yours: 

  1. Does this excite you? 

  1. Do you run to him and give him a big hug? 

  1. Does this cause fear? 

  1. Then you need to rethink your life. Do you want to be scared or happy to see Jesus? 

  1. You have a choice right now to choose Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. By the Name 

  1. During my training of the Kennedy Program called Evangelism Explosion years ago I learned to ask people two main questions  

  1. If you died tonight, do you know for sure you would go to heaven?  

  1. Yes 

  1. And if God asked you, why should I let you into my heaven, what would you say?” 

  1. I am a good person, I gave to charity, I help out at a food pantry or soup kitchen  

  1. I don’t deserve to go to Heaven but … Jesus died for me. It is Jesus name that saves you. It is your relationship with Him. Your faith in Him. You are washed by His blood and made clean. 

  1. Jesus Christ  

  1. We have victory in Jesus name 

  1. then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  

- Acts 4:10-12 NIV 

  1. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

- Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV 

  1. Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV 

  1. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

- Acts 2:38 NIV 

 

 

 

 

  1. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  

- Colossians 3:17 NIV 

  1. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us    

- 1 John 3:23 NIV 

  1. He abides 

  1. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  

- John 15:4 ESV 

  1. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  

  1. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  

  1. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  

  1. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  

  1. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. - John 15:5-10 ESV 

 

  1. 1. I’m rejoicing night and day  

As I walk the narrow way,  

For the hand of God in all my life I see;  

And the reason of my bliss, 

Yes, the secret all is this:  

That the Comforter abides with me. 

 

Refrain:  

He abides,  

He abides;  

Hallelujah, He abides with me!  

I’m rejoicing night and day  

As I walk the narrow way,  

For the Comforter abides with me. 

 

 

  1. Once my heart was full of sin,  

Once I had no peace within,  

Till I heard how Jesus died upon the tree;  

Then I fell down at His feet,  

And there came a peace so sweet;  

Now the Comforter abides with me. 

 

  1. He is with me everywhere,  

And He knows my every care;  

I’m as happy as a bird and just as free;  

For the Spirit has control;  

Jesus satisfies my soul,  

Since the Comforter abides with me. 

 

  1. There’s no thirsting for the things  

Of the world—they’ve taken wings;  

Long ago I gave them up, and instantly 

All my night was turned to day,  

All my burdens rolled away;  

Now the Comforter abides with me. 

 

Memory Verse: 

3:23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 

 

Final Song: 

He Abides #315 

 

Closing Prayer 

Lord God, Heavenly Father, may our worship today be acceptable to you and give you joy and happiness. May your wisdom transform us throughout this week, and through your Spirit and our baptism, may it change and transform us and make us more like your Son Jesus Christ. Lord, help us to love and serve you with heart, soul,  

mind, and strength. Help us Lord, to stay focused on your love. Give us strength, to Love our neighbors as ourselves. Thank you for sending Your Spirit to guide and protect us. 

 

 

 

 

 

Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the promise of the kingdom near, by our words and deeds.  

 

Give us Wisdom to do your will. Help us to make a difference in the world. Let our words and actions align with Your word. Cleanse us and purify our hearts and bring us to you. Give us Victory through our trust in you and our faithfulness. Help us Lord, remember that we are found by You and help us to practice what we have learned here today. Bless us as we leave this place and help us to be a blessing to everyone that  

we meet and interact with. Help us never to forget that you are always with us. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. 

 

Blessing/Benediction 

May the strength of God sustain us; may the power of God preserve us; may the hands of God protect us; may the way of God direct us; May your Spirit go within us; may the love of God go with us this day and forever.  

 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you His peace. Amen #788  

___________________________________ 

04/21/2024 06:45a 

04/21/2024 08:10a