The Shepherd’s Voice

Readings for Sunday, May 3^rd
Acts 4:5-12
Ps 23
1Jn 3:16-24
Jn 10:11-18

The Shepherd’s Voice – Sermon Audio

Whiskers the Cat – Wow! Did you hear those kids singing about the Lord is my Shepherd?

Mac the Ferret – Yes, they were pretty good, but what did they mean by Lord, as in the Lord is my shepherd?

Whiskers the Cat – Well a Lord is someone who is very special. Sorta like me. I’m the master, the main cat, the dude, the head honcho, the smart one, the leader of the pack, the one in charge, the boss……. You know….

Mac – Wait just a minute, stop already! Who gave you top billing?

Whiskers the Cat – Well, I’m smarter, I’m cooler, I’m better looking, I make things happen.

Mac – Once again, I think you’re going overboard. I think we ought to ask some of the children what Lord means. They should know since they were singing about it, right. Can you help us pastor and ask some of the children what they mean by Lord?

Pastor – Ok, let’s see what the children have to say. Who can tell us what you mean by Lord?
Asking kids and getting responses………..

Maybe I can summarize. The word Lord has many other names in the Bible, Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah. Sometimes Adonai was in place of God. Bottom-line the word for Lord is the term God. We could say here that God is my shepherd, but it doesn’t flow as well, so we us the word Lord.

Does that make sense?

Mac – Stop, stop… you’re making my head spin. You want my head to turn completely around like in the Exorcist. If not I think I need to go lay down next to a stream.

Whiskers – Well, I want to find out more about what the children were singing. It was a catchy tune and I want to find out about lying down in green pastures and besides still waters. Why would anyone want to lay down in a pasture next to a stream? Pastor, can you ask the children once again why they might want to do this?

Pastor – Ok, children why do you may want to lay out in a pasture or field next to a stream? Who can tell me why they might want to lay on the ground and look up at the sky?
Answers from the kids………..

When I was a youngster I used to live on a farm. We had a lake on our farm with streams and pastures where our cows would graze. One of the things my dad would let me do is lay out in the green pasture and watch him work in the field. I would usually find a piece of grass, find a good spot and just lay on the ground looking at the sky. It was awesome.

Whiskers – Why was that so awesome?

Pastor – It was great for me because it seemed like I had no worries, I could lay there and look at the clouds, look for clovers in the grass, or watch the cows and it was relaxing. Even caught a nap or two that way. I think this is what God is wanting for us as well. We have so many busy activities in life today that it’s hard to relax and wait on the mercy of God. God wants a better, more relaxing life for all of us. God wants us to stay connected with the Spirit of all life, God.

Whiskers – I wonder if Mac found a green pasture and a stream to lay next to so he could relax and think about what God is doing in his life?

Pastor – Perhaps that’s just where he went. The children’s song said that God would restore our soul if we take time to do this relaxing thing.

Whiskers – Ok what’s a soul? Do I have a soul? Does everybody have a soul? Do babies have souls?

Pastor – Wow! Those are a lot of questions Whiskers. Why don’t we see if the children know what a soul might be?
Ask questions of children…..

In our Psalm soul here means our being, our spirit, it’s what makes each of us human. Sometimes people use the word heart here. It’s a hard word for youngsters to understand, but they can if they try really hard. In reality, it is that (totality of the self) our whole being which is saved for eternal life.

Whiskers – So a soul is like a ghost?

Pastor – No, no, no, a soul is not like a ghost. A ghost is not alive and our soul is what God makes alive when we are born, it’s what makes us alive as humans. In Psalm 23 our soul is like our heart or our spirit and it’s what God refreshes each time we come to worship on Sunday.

Mac – What’s all the noise over here? I was resting, relaxing and now I feel refreshed, God has renewed me and I’m full of energy and excitement once again.

Pastor – That’s just what we were saying when God restores our soul we feel full of energy and ready to take on the world again. We are ready to dance and sing about God’s love for us.

Whiskers – Well I think it’s time for me to lie down in green pastures so God can restore my soul.

Mac – See you later alligator…Wow! They’re a lot of kids here, how do you keep them all under control?

Pastor – Well, the teachers are very helpful in giving them direction and helping along the way. The teachers are kind of like shepherds for children. Remember when the children sang the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want? Teachers, parents, sometimes pastors are like shepherds.

Mac – So you are saying a shepherd is kind of like a parent? Do you kids know that? Pastor why don’t you see if the children know what a shepherd is like?

Pastor – Ok, children what is a shepherd is like?
Questioning…….

Children, do you remember what we read from our Gospel this morning? Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd is willing to (do anything) lay down his life for the sheep.

How many of you have had a sheep or lamb at home? Has anyone? Well since I grew up on a farm I know a little about farm animals and sheep are usually raised on a farm. Sheep are animals that need a lot of direction…. Jesus said many times, we are like sheep.

Mac – Ya, kind of like Whiskers, he needs a lot of direction. I’m always telling him where to go….

Pastor – Mac it’s not about telling people where to go it’s about listening to them. It’s about being willing to do anything for them if there’s trouble. Jesus said when the wolf comes someone who doesn’t care about the sheep runs away, they won’t be helpful, but the Good Shepherd is willing to do anything for the sheep, even if it means he may have to give up his own life.

Children, how are your parents like a shepherd to you? Questioning…….

A shepherd is like a parent who loves you and is willing to give you the very best. It’s like a parent who teaches you about life, reads the Bible to you, helps you learn how to get dressed, how to get breakfast, how to play fair, how to show love for your brothers and sisters or friends. Mac you can relate right?

Mac – Sure pastor I help Whiskers all the time. Whisker’s is a dummy so I have to……..

Pastor – Hold it, hold it. Those are not very kind words. Do you think a shepherd would talk like that? Jesus said a Good Shepherd listens to others and loves others the way our parents love us.

Mac – Ok, ok, a shepherd is a leader, someone who guides us, helps us and loves us.

Pastor – Mac great! You get it. A good shepherd loves us with love that’s fresh and full, forever.

Amen.

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