"'Grazing' on God's Goodness"

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Our risen Lord reveals his love and care for us as our Good Shepherd by guiding us with his Word and protecting us from spiritual harm.  So it is fitting we hear Jesus say in our Bible lesson(s) from John 10, “I am the Good Shepherd…,” (and from Hebrew 13 we hear said of him, “That great Shepherd of the sheep…”).  Perhaps today, then, you remember and reflect on Jesus’ protection in the appropriate words of one of the most well-known portions of God’s Word, Psalm 23:

A psalm of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  ³ he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness    for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk    through the valley of the shadow of death,^[a] I will fear no evil,    for you are with me; your rod and your staff,    they comfort me.

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD    forever.

Prayer:

"Jesus, shepherd of the sheep, Who your Father’s flock does keep,  

Safe we wake and safe we sleep, Guarded still by you.

In your promise firm we stand; None can take us from your hand,

Speak—we hear—at your command, We will follow you."  Amen.

·         “Sheep Squads” is a small-groups adult ministry of Victory of the Lamb that is launching after several months of thought and organization.  I have to be honest, it certainly feels like crunch-time…We begin this week!  But it is an exciting time too.  As I have told several of you this last week, “I’m looking forward to ‘grazing’ on God’s Word with you a little more!” 

In these “Squads” you will meet weekly with a small group (about 6-12 people) to “feed your faith” by discuss and apply the previous Sunday’s message to our lives and experiences.  In these “Squads” you will listen to others in your Christian family and build relationships, perhaps even “fulfill friendships.”  These “Squads” will provide you with an opportunity (or opportunities) to pursue ways of how your group may “seek to serve” the Lord and your community.  So, look for the “traffic” signs to point you in the right direction to sign up as a participant of a “squad.”  Look for the Sheep Squads logo on an insert to VotL’s worship folder (called “Sermon Notesheet” & “Squadsheet”) or on our website to find weekly material you can use to take notes on a sermon or take home to answer and use for personal or family devotions.

“Grazing” on God’s Goodness,

Pastor Andy