Sermon and Worship Resources

These Illustrations are based on John 10:22-30
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Sermon Opener: So Who Needs a Shepherd?

One Sunday morning, following the church service, a layman accosted the pastor and said, “Tom, this church has been insulting me for years, and I did not know it until this week.” The stunned pastor replied, “What on earth do you mean?” “Well,” said the layman, every Sunday morning the call to worship in this church ends with the words, ‘We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.’ And I have heard ministers over the years call the congregation, God’s flock.’ Then this past week I visited the Chicago stockyards. There I discovered that sheep are just about the dumbest animals God ever created. Why, they are so stupid that they even follow one another docilely into the slaughterhouse. Even pigs are smarter than sheep, and I would certainly be angry if my church called me a pig’ every Sunday morning. So I’m not at all sure I want to come to church and be called a sheep’ any longer...even God’s sheep’.”

The man had a point. But whether we like it or not, that is the language of the Bible: both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament. We are called “God’s sheep.” The favorite psalm of many people is the 23rd, and it begins by saying, “The Lord is my shepherd...” And if “the Lord is my shepherd,” then I am one of the Lord’s sheep. Centuries before Christ, the prophet Isaiah said to his people: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) From the Bible, we have taken this pastoral imagery over into the Church. One of the symbols of the office of bishop across the centuries has been the shepherd’s crook, that long staff with a hook on the end…

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A Shepherd To Lead Us - John 10:22-42

Numbers. Our lives are filled with numbers. Each year we file our income taxes. Now that's an exercise in numbers to end all numbers games. Pages upon pages of numbers: earned numbers, spent numbers, invested numbers, and saved numbers. When it is finally prepared, we send it off to the Internal Revenue Service with our Social Security number on it. And the IRS takes all those numbers and puts them into a computer, along with the numbers of thousands and thousands of other people. And to them, we become a number.

The government knows us by our tax number. The state knows us by our driver's license number. The bank knows us by our account number. And when we retire, we'll be remembered by our Social Security number. And it goes on and on. In fact, sometimes I wonder if anybody knows us at all without a number!

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Humor: Goodness and Mercy

A couple retired to a small Arizona ranch and acquired a few sheep. At lambing time, it was necessary to bring two newborns into the house for care and bottle-feeding.

As the lambs grew, they began to follow the rancher’s wife around the farm. She was telling a friend about this strange development.

“What did you name them?” the friend asked her.

“Goodness and Mercy,” she replied with a sigh.

She was referring of course to a line in everyone’s favorite Psalm, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (KJV).

Our lessons for today from Scripture all refer to sheep or shepherds. It is probably the most familiar image in Scripture. God is a shepherd. We are God’s sheep. Sheep were important to the agricultural lives of the ancient Hebrews. That is perhaps why sheep are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible, more than any other animal.

King Duncan, www.Sermons.com

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He Knows Our Names

There is an old story of a census taker who was making his rounds in the lower East side of New York, who interviewed an Irish woman bending over her washtub. “Lady, I am taking the census. What’s your name? How many children have you?” She replied, “Well, let me see. My name is Mary. And then there’s Marcia, and Duggie, and Amy, and Patrick, and...” “Never mind the names,” he broke in, “just give me the numbers.” She straightened up, hands on hips, and with a twinkle in her eye, said, “I’ll have ye know, sir, we ain’t got into numberin’ them yet. We ain’t run out of names!” The image of God as the Good Shepherd tells us that is the way it is with God. He knows us by name.

Donald B. Strobe, Collected Words, www.Sermons.com

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Sheep Know Their Shepherd

In her book The Preaching Life, Barbara Brown Taylor tells of a conversation she had with a friend who grew up on a sheep farm in the Midwest. According to him, sheep are not dumb at all. "It is the cattle ranchers who are responsible for spreading that ugly rumor, and all because sheep do not behave like cows. Cows are herded from the rear by hooting cowboys with cracking whips, but that will not work with sheep at all. Stand behind them making loud noises and all they will do is run around behind you, because they prefer to be led. You push cows, her friend said, but you lead sheep, and they will not go anywhere that someone else does not go first-namely, their shepherd-who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all right."

Sheep know their shepherd and their shepherd knows them.

He went on to say that "it never ceased to amaze him, growing up, that he could walk right through a sleeping flock without disturbing a single one of them, while a stranger could not step foot in the fold without causing pandemonium."

Sheep & shepherds develop a language of their own.

Unknown Source

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The Rewards of Loving

There once was a young woman who had a baby boy. Just after her son’s baptism, a ragged old man came to her, and offered to grant her one wish on behalf of her son. Thinking only the best for her baby, the woman wished that her son would always be loved by everyone he met. The old man said, "so be it," and vanished. It turned out just as he said.

As the boy grew, everyone loved him so much that he never lacked for anything. Yet, things did not turn out as expected. As adored and admired as the young man was, he experienced a terrible emptiness within him. He could have anything he wanted, just by asking, but he had no real friends. He never knew the joy of a day’s work or an achievement, richly rewarded. His neighbors took care of all his needs. The young man became cynical, jaded and selfish as none of his actions ever brought him any negative consequences.

Finally, the day came when his aged mother died. At the funeral, the same mysterious old man appeared and offered the young man one wish. The young man took him up on his offer and asked that his mother’s original wish for him be changed. Rather than being loved by everyone he met, the young man asked the old wizard to give him the power to love everyone he met. And, the story goes, from that day forward he knew happiness such as no one on this earth has ever known.

Keith Wagner, The Promise of Listening

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Called by Many Voices

Now if I had to nominate one animal to represent the word mediocre, a sheep would easily be in the top five. Sheep are not independent. They cannot defend themselves like cattle. They are not strong, creative, brave nor will they initiate. They cannot even work up a good stampede. Normally, they just sort of meander. Also, sheep will not be driven, like cattle. They will scatter in a thousand different directions. This type of behavior did not earn the animal any respect on the open range so the ranchers assumed that the animal was dumb. However, a sheep is actually smarter than a cow.

So why does Jesus choose to use a sheep to represent his disciples? Even in ancient society, sheep and shepherds did not garner the respect and admiration of the rich and famous. They did not have a contest to see which shepherd would be the next “Israeli Idol.” For us who do not live in an agrarian society, it is even harder to understand. I have never identified myself with a sheep. Popular artists write songs about soaring on the wings of eagles, not grazing with the lambs.

Sheep have one particularly admirable quality. They will follow their shepherd wherever he leads them. They have learned to know him and trust him. They are not easily distracted by another shepherd. Move three flocks into a field, place three shepherds at three strategic points and have each of them issue a call. The sheep will sort themselves. You will not need brands to recognize which sheep belongs to which shepherd. Every animal will only follow his/her shepherd.

The people of God have been placed in a very large field that is often called the world. Many voices are calling us to come and join them. The voice of materialism wants us to deny our faith in the supernatural and believe only in the physical world. The voice of consumerism calls us to fulfill our envy by overspending on vacations, cars, clothing and a home. The voice of entertainment wants to fill our lives with media driven flashes that grab our attention, isolate us from our family and friends and then leave us with nothing but an oversized bill.

John H. Pavelko, The Voice That Calls Us to Follow

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Basic Instructions before Leaving Earth

A story is going around the internet right now about a little boy who tells his father that he knows exactly what the Bible means. Of course Dad says, "Oh, yeah. What does the Bible mean." To which the little boy responds: "The Bible means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."

I really like that. The Bible is our basic instruction book for life and relationships. Oh, I know, you can't turn to an index and get direct advice about how to deal with your straight A student who suddenly decides they want to pierce their eyebrows or dye their hair clown orange. Or a child who has decided that the only thing they can eat is a diet of quail eggs, jicama, kiwi and tabouli. It doesn't give direct answers about what movies we should let our children see or what curfew we should set for what age.

But it DOES speak to us of a loving caring God. It IS filled with stories of loving caring parents. It DOES show by example what loving relationships should be like. It DOES tell us the ramifications of disobedience and disrespect. And it DOES talk about grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, and about giving and sacrifice.

Billy D. Strayhorn, Sometimes They Smell Like Sheep

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Confirming the Testimony

Some time ago I came across this short story called, "Whom Should You Ask?"

An Amish man was once asked by an enthusiastic young evangelist whether he had been saved, and whether he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior?

The gentleman replied, "Why do you ask me such a thing? I could tell you anything. Here are the names of my banker, my grocer, and my farm hands. Ask them if I've been saved."

There is a sense that one cannot testify to one's self. When Mohammed Ali testified, "I am the greatest," that meant nothing until his works testified to that fact. In a sense, someone claiming, "I am a Christian" is invalid until there is someone or something else that confirms that testimony.

Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes

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What Is Unique About Christianity?

The story of Jesus sitting and debating the Law with rabbis reminds me of another debate that took place in a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God became incarnate in human form. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead.

Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, armful of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what's all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We're debating what's unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that's easy,” answered Lewis, “it is grace."

The room fell silent.

Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God's love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. After a moment someone commented that Lewis had a point, Buddhists, for example, follow an eight-fold path to enlightenment. It's not a free ride.

Hindu's believe in karma, that your actions continually affect the way the world will treat you; that there is nothing that comes to you not set in motion by your actions. Someone else observed the Jewish code of the law implies God has requirements, and Islam's code of love does the same.

At the end of the discussion everyone concluded Lewis had a point. Only Christianity dares to proclaim God's love is unconditional. An unconditional love that we call grace.

Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com, Adapted from an unknown source.

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ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS NOT IN OUR EMAIL

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The Healing Fountain of Tears - Revelation 7:9-17

Life can go from normal to nightmare in a nanosecond.

Take hurricane Katrina. In two days there was no “normal” left for hundreds of thousands of Gulf coast residents. The well-housed went to homeless overnight, and people were left struggling just to find shelter, find food, and find clean water. The bare basics of life became the most all-important “finds.”

But not long after — once two days became a week — another need became pungently apparent. People needed clean clothes. Babies continued to trash their onesies, socks stank, T-shirts were as hard as T-bones.

It was in response to the Katrina catastrophe that Tide detergent first started a program called “Loads of Hope.” An eighteen-wheeler “semi” was out-fitted with thirty-two energy efficient washers and dryers. With its accompaniment of support vans, Tide’s “Loads of Hope” express was able to handle up to three hundred loads of laundry each day. Katrina refugees were offered a place where their laundry could be washed, dried and folded. For free.

Who said it first — “Cleanliness is next to godliness?” If that’s true, if cleanliness is next to godliness, then how many of us live in evil houses, drive ungodly cars, and shake unholy hands?

The gift of cleanliness. We don’t think about cleanliness until it is gone. Your sink stops up and the dirty dishes start to accumulate until they take over the kitchen. Your washing machine dies and suddenly you have no clean underwear and the laundry room turns into a Fort Knox for funky smells.

Or, worst of all, something in your life breaks — a relationship, a promise, a dream, a hope, a haven — and a snowballing of bad side-effects start stinking up your world more than you could have ever imagined.

We are not clean. We are creatures. And creatures stink and sweat and stain everything we touch with sins and shortcomings…

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Sermon Opener - The Color Wheel of Blindness – John 10:23-30

When anxious teenagers finally go to get that sovereign rite of passage into adulthood called the “driver’s license,” they have to pass a tricky written test and a nerve-racking driving test. But there is a third test they must pass as well: A vision test.

It is one of the odder quirks of the DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) that the eye exam is often given last — suggesting that knowing the rules and operating a vehicle are more important than being sure you can see where you are going!

For most drivers, the eye exam is nothing, takes virtually no time, and hardly registers as a “test.” That is, until you reach a certain age. For older drivers the one exam they cannot study for, the one skill they cannot improve with practice, the one exam over which they have the least control, becomes the biggest obstacle to renewing their license. Degenerating eyesight, either because of cataracts, glaucoma, astigmatisms, or just increasing near- or far-sightedness, ends the driving careers of many older adults.

In driving, there comes a time when experience and insight don’t help. What is required is eyesight.

The problem with the old adage “what you see is what you get” is that vision is surprisingly subjective. Ask any police officer trying to get eyewitness reports at the scene of an accident and they will confirm that ten witnesses will give ten very different versions of the event. They eye might be an amazing piece of biological equipment. The eye might be a remarkable camera. The eye might be a feat of unparalleled divine imagination. But the information behind the images the eye spies is processed by our whole being. Every “picture” our eyes take is colored, clouded, focused, and framed, by a lifetime of experiences and expectations.

As Jesus strolled around the temple during the festival of Dedication, his image was at odds with the picture of a Messiah that the Jewish people had come to expect. The Festival of Dedication commemorated a military-religious triumph. Under the leadership of Judas Maccabee (aka “Judah the Hammer”), the Syrians were sent packing. The so-called “desolating sacrilege” (1 Maccabee 1:59) of a pagan altar constructed within the temple was torn down. A new altar was constructed and sanctified. The Jewish victors celebrated, confident that God’s presence had once again been established and ensconced within the temple.

Jesus did not look like any “Judas the Hammer” or talk like one either. Jesus did not speak of running the Romans out of town on a rail. Jesus talked about being a “Good Shepherd.” Jesus spoke of self-sacrifice. Jesus likened the faithful to “sheep,” not mighty warriors. Jesus offered protection and presence, not triumph and glory.

To “the Jews” who questioned his identity and challenged him to tell them “plainly” if he were the Messiah, Jesus just didn’t look right or sound right. His words and images were not what they expected.

How could suffering bring salvation?

How could weakness bring strength?

How could a shepherd stand up against a soldier?

How could the presence of Almighty God reside in such a humble spirit as this Jesus?

These Jews failed their vision test...

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Stability Zones

In his book, Future Shock, Alvin Toffler explains how, in this modern world of rapid change, confusion and over-choice, we all need some kind of "stability zones" - regular habits, rituals, beliefs - whatever it is that gives us a stable point of reference. It would be difficult to deny the wisdom of Toffler's observation, or to miss its application to the role of religious faith in our lives. The grace of God as revealed in Jesus, the Christ, is surely our ultimate stability zone.

Carl L. Jech, Channeling Grace, CSS Publishing Company

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Humor: The Trouble with Self-atonement

I share one of my favorite stories that I once clipped from the Readers' Digest. A gentleman wrote in and told of this real life encounter. "While I was sitting in my parked car on the street one day, a young woman in the car ahead came over and asked me if I had a hammer that she could borrow. When I said no, she got one from the man in the car in front of hers. She then proceeded to smash out the vent pane on the side of her car. After returning the hammer, she opened her door, took out the keys and waved them at us with a triumphant grin. As she drove away, the fellow who lent her the hammer came over to me and said, ''If only she had told me what she wanted the hammer for I think I could have helped her. I am a locksmith.''"

Oh, the brokenness we bring into our lives when we try to do a self-atonement job and fix our fallen nature.

Eric S. Ritz, www.Sermons.com

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We Know Your Voice

From 1928 through 1942, children in schools in America learned to know the voice of Walter Damrosch, the host of ‘Music Appreciation Hour’ a radio broadcast from NBC. He taught thousands of boys and girls to know and love music. Classes stopped at a certain hour, the school radio was switched on, and then his familiar voice was heard: "Good morning, my dear children." They then enjoyed a half-hour of beautiful music, and he would tell them the meaning and the message within the music.

One day Mr. Damrosch was asked by the headmaster of a school to come and talk to the boys and girls. He sat on the platform and the children fidgeted, for he was an old man, and they knew that old men very often make long speeches. The headmaster let him introduce himself. Mr. Damrosch stood up and smiled, but no one knew him. Then he said, "Good morning, my dear children," and immediately the whole room was in an uproar. The children clapped and cheered. Mr. Damrosch said, "And why do you cheer? You do not know me." "Yes we do, we know your voice."

If we are sheep, do we know our Shepherd’s voice? Do we know with whom we belong?

David Beckett, Sheep Language

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What Have You Heard?

A rabbi and his pupil were discussing God's Word:

Rabbi: Herschel, do you know the sacred scriptures?

Pupil: Yes, teacher, I have been studying them.

Rabbi: And, do you know the phrase, 'Thus have I heard?'

Pupil: Oh, yes, that is throughout the scriptures.

Rabbi: Herschel, what have you heard?

Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com

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Humor: Leading the Way

A new kind of plane was on its first flight. It was full of reporters and journalists. A little while after takeoff, the captain's voice was heard over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm delighted to be your pilot for this plane's historic first flight. I can tell you the flight is going well. Nevertheless, I have to tell you about a minor inconvenience that has occurred. The passengers on the right side can, if they look out their window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating. That shouldn't worry you, because this plane is equipped with four engines and we are flying along smoothly at an acceptable altitude. As long as you are looking out the right side, you might as well look at the other engine on that side. You will notice that it is glowing, or more precisely one should say, burning. That shouldn't worry you either, since this plane is designed to fly with just two engines if necessary, and we are maintaining an acceptable altitude and speed. As long as we are looking out the plane, those of you on the left side shouldn't worry if you look out your side of the plane and notice that one engine that is supposed to be there is missing. It fell off about ten minutes ago. Let me tell you that we are amazed that the plane is doing so well without it. However, I will call your attention to something a little more serious. Along the center aisle all the way down the plane a crack has appeared. Some of you are, I suppose, able to look through the crack and may even notice the waves of the Atlantic Ocean below. In fact, those of you with very good eyesight may be able to notice a small lifeboat that was thrown from the plane. Well, ladies and gentlemen, you will be happy to know that your captain is keeping an eye on the progress of the plane from that lifeboat below."

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations very similar to that plane flight. Everything around us seems to be falling apart and the person in charge seems to be as remote as the captain in the raft on the ocean far below.

But the person in charge of our lives is not remote. He is our Shepherd and he is leading the way. Leading us; giving us eternal life; assuring us we will never perish; and, my friends, no one can snatch you out of his hands.

Lee Griess, Taking The Risk Out Of Dying, CSS Publishing Company

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Other Voices

The call of our Lord is "hidden" in a whole chorus of worldly voices which beckon us. Other would-be shepherds seek to tempt us away from the Good Shepherd, the joy of his forgiveness and the security of his love. And when we are weak and confused we may fall victim to the enticements of other gods.

I am reminded of an American tourist who was traveling in the Middle East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means, "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him.

Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me."

The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The traveler asked.

"Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone."

We have seen it, haven't we? People, young and old, who are "sick." Battered by the storms of life and distracted by voices urging them to go this way and that, they have lost their bearings and they don't know where they are or where they are going. That can be more than a little frightening; it leads to despair, to hopelessness. And when someone is "sick" they will follow anyone who will promise a moment of happiness, a brief feeling of peace or forgetfulness, a sense that they are someone.

But the call of Jesus the Good Shepherd is, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." There is no better way, no greater truth, no happier life. Our Lord reaches out to us in love that we might follow him.

John M. Braaten, The Greatest Wonder of All, CSS Publishing

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Who’s Your Yoda?

At the last assembly of the Presbytery of Chicago (the governing body that oversees the ministries of the Presbyterian congregations in the Chicago area), there was a speaker from the Christian Industrial League, who took some time to discuss the work of her organization and the Presbytery’s support of it. At one point she mentioned one of her personal mentors, someone who had taught her a lot about service and had inspired her to do the kind of work that she does. In a completely offhanded, unassuming way, she referred to this gentlemen as her Yoda.

Now I don’t think she meant anything much by it, but this comment struck me as peculiar. Yoda, of course, is the Jedi master and instructor of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker in the epic myth we know as Star Wars. It’s a perfectly good analogy or metaphor for this type of person. Yet it sounded funny to my ears. I turned to a friend who was sitting with me that day, and with a mischievous smirk on my face I asked her, “So, who’s your Yoda?” As the words left my mouth, I knew I was on to something.

“Who’s your Yoda?” What a great question! Who’s your mentor? Who’s your role model? Who’s your Yoda? I’m thinking about having T-shirts made—and if anyone else tries to beat me to it, I’ve got lots of witnesses this morning that you heard it from me first. Now I just need to convince George Lucas . . .

Who’s your Yoda? At first I thought that this question might be generationally restrictive, that folks older than myself might not get much out of it. But my fears were put to rest on Friday afternoon when John Boyle, one of our parish associates, stopped by my office and proclaimed, completely unprompted, “The Lord is my Yoda. He keeps me from wanting what I can’t have.”

John W. Vest, Who's Your Yoda?

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What Time Is It?

An airline pilot, passing over an airport one day, called the air traffic controller and asked him what time it was. "What airline are you flying?" came back the response. "What airline am I flying?" the pilot repeated. "What possible difference does that make? I want to know what time it is." The controller replied patiently: "Well, sir, it makes all the difference in the world. If you are with United Airlines, it is 1500 hours. If you are with American, it's 3 p.m. If you are with Continental, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the three. And if you are with ComAir, it's Tuesday."

Knowing what airline you are flying and where you are going can make all difference in the world!

Building Loving Relationships. . . . Knowing what it is necessary to build loving relationships can make all the difference in the world.

Andrew D. Kinsey, Building Loving Relationships

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Sermon Opener

And that's why this morning's Gospel reading is so significant, because it tells us that God knows us. He knows us intimately, in fact, better than we know ourselves. And that's important to remember. In spite of the fact that the image of sheep and shepherd is foreign to our experience, the words of the Gospel this morning hearken for us a truth that our human hearts long to hear. The Old Testament writer put it even more clearly when he wrote, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Jesus says it this morning, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me, and I give them eternal life."

Lee Griess, Taking The Risk Out Of Dying, CSS Publishing Company

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She Knew the Good Shepherd

Missionary Herb Schaefer tells about a thirteen-year-old Chinese girl who continued with her family to worship God secretly in their home during the Cultural Revolution in China, that time when religion was forbidden and worship was banned by the Chinese rulers. One evening the Red Guards burst into their small home and threatened them for worshiping Jesus. A small altar with a crude cross stood in one corner of the room. Determined to put a stop to their worship and command complete allegiance to the Communist state, the Red Guard lieutenant demanded they spit on the cross. They refused. The lieutenant became indignant and shouted at them that unless they spat on the cross they would be killed.

Finally the elder in the group came forward, spat on the cross and left. One by one they followed, doing the same disgusting thing until only the thirteen-year-old remained. She refused to do what the others had done. "I cannot and I will not," she replied. Then she told the lieutenant the depth of her faith and said that she was willing to die for it. Remarkably the Lieutenant seemed pleased. "This is the kind of devotion we want for the new China: people who will commit themselves so totally that they are willing to die for what they believe." But he wanted that devotion directed toward Chairman Mao. "We will change you," he promised and left. She was spared, but she never saw the rest of her family again.

The story doesn't end there, however. For shortly thereafter, that little girl fled to Hong Kong and was taken in. Later she entered the Lutheran seminary there and today she is a pastor of the Hong Kong Lutheran Church, serving the needs of countless souls. She prays for the day when she will be allowed to return to her village and minister to her people there and perhaps even to that Red Guard lieutenant who spared her but murdered her family.

She was able to endure, to overcome that tragedy in her life, because she knew the Good Shepherd.

Lee Griess, Taking The Risk Out Of Dying, CSS Publishing Company

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Our Master Makes the Difference

As I have moved among men and women from all strata of society as both a lay pastor and as a scientist I have become increasingly aware of one thing. It is the boss, the manager, the Master in people's lives who makes the difference in their destiny.

I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent intimately-also some of the leading scientists and professional people. Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of the wrong master.

By way of contrast, I have numerous friends among relatively poor people-people who have known hardship, disaster and the struggle to stay afloat financially. But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him as Lord and Master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold.

It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes where men and women are rich in spirit, generous in heart and large of soul. They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies of their time.

They are under God's care and they know it. They have entrusted themselves to Christ's control and found contentment.

Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Harper, 1970, p. 17

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Coping With Childhood Fears

I heard the cartoonist Jules Pfeiffer discussing a comic strip he once drew. In it, a little boy was afraid to go to school because he thought his parents might move away while he was gone. He didn't want to go to bed at night because he feared that his parents might die while he slept. "Coping with fears is a terrific battle for a child," said Pfeiffer. "It's like being on 24-hour guard duty." He went on to say that he had received many letters about the cartoon from adults who said that it was that way for them, too, that you don't have to be a child to feel surrounded by fear.

The words of our gospel from the Apostle John were written to Christians who were also on "guard duty," suffering hardships and persecution. Not only did they have to deal with the customary distresses of life, but they faced questions such as, "Would they be arrested? And if so, how would they die?" Would they be whipped to death, forced to fight the gladiators, fed to the lions? Theirs were frightful issues of life and death.

John M. Braaten, The Greatest Wonder of All, CSS Publishing.

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The Last Great Deliverance

In 167 BC, Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Jerusalem and desecrated the Temple by setting up pagan altars. The Jews revolted under the leadership of Judas Maccabaeus and recaptured the Temple. For eight days in 164 BC the Jews rededicated the Temple. They chose to commemorate this occasion by a yearly celebration lasting eight days entitled, "The Feast of Dedication." This festival is still celebrated by Jews today commonly referred to as "Hanukkah."

In the mind of the first century Jew, the Feast of Dedication was the last great deliverance they had known. No doubt this symbol of hope was a constant reminder as to how they presently longed for God to deliver them from their current “Roman” oppression. It was their continual prayer that God again would raise up a Judas Maccabaeus or better yet, the Messiah, who would bring freedom to the land.

Randy Smith, Once a Sheep, Always a Sheep

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Power to Overcome

Many years ago the great preacher Harry Emerson Fosdick told of a teenage girl stricken with polio. As he visited with her, she told him about a conversation she'd had with one of her friends, who told her, "Affliction does so color life." To which this courageous young girl agreed, but said that she would choose which color. At her young age she had already discovered one of life's great secrets: It's not what happens to you that matters as much as what happens in you. For faith in God does not so much shield us from danger and death as it gives us the power to overcome it.

Lee Griess, Taking The Risk Out Of Dying, CSS Publishing Company

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Nibbled Lost

The story is told of a farmer who had just rescued a lost sheep. When asked how the sheep got lost, the farmer replied, "They just nibble themselves lost. They go from one tuft of grass to another, until at last they've lost their way." That's what happens in life, isn't it? We nibble away at life with little purpose or direction, until it's gone and we have no idea where it went.

In a world that’s increasingly more scattered and scared, our task as Christ’s Church is to translate and transmit the voice of the Good Shepherd to all those who are lost, hurting, and alone. It’s also about following Jesus’ example and welcoming everyone into the fold. Even we sheep should be able to understand that.

David Beckett, Sheep Language

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Outside of God

I often think of the words of the late Dr. Leslie Weatherhead of City temple in London, who was asked on a radio program near the end of his life, “What have you learned from life?” He replied that he had learned many things from the rough and tumble of 45 years in the Christian ministry, but the one outstanding thing he learned was this: “Life will only work out one way, and that is God’s way. (God) made it like that. Every other way has across it a barricade bearing a notice which says No thoroughfare this way.’ If you surmount the barrier, there is a precipice. (We) will not learn the truth of a half dozen words: OUTSIDE GOD THERE IS ONLY DEATH!’” (Key Next Door, New York and Nashville: The Abingdon Press, 1941, pp. 88,89)

I would add only one thing to his wise words. From over forty years in the Christian ministry, I have learned one more thing: Outside of Jesus Christ I simply don’t know very much about God. But with Him, I know that God is love. I know that he is the gateway into the heart of a loving God.

Donald B. Strobe, Collected Words, www.Sermons.com

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When It Comes to Humility

Some years ago I found myself at a clergy conference among a bunch of bishops. (I don’t know what else to call them. I know about a “gaggle of geese” and a “flock of birds” but what do you call a gathering of bishops? I settle on “bunch.”) There was some sort of unintentional pride involved in the proceedings, for in front of the various clerical dignitaries, along with their names, were written their titles, the “Most Reverend” so-and-so, the “Right Reverend” so-and-so, and the “Very Reverend” so-and so. Whimsically, I printed on my card the “Hardly Reverend”...which, of course, made me guilty of a reverse sort of pride, like the monk in the famous story who said about the various monastic orders: “The Jesuits are ahead of us in learning, the Franciscans are ahead of us in good works, but when it comes to humility, we’re tops!”

Donald B. Strobe, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com

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Any Favorites?

A mother of eight children was once asked if she had any favorites. “Favorites?” she replied. “Yes, I have favorites. I love the one who is sick until he is well again. I love the one who is in trouble until he is safe again. And I love the one who is farthest away until he comes home.” Jesus said, “That is what God is like. God is a Divine Parent whose love never stops, a Parent whose love will never give up. You may stop loving God, but God will never stop loving you. You may run away from God, but you will soon find that your legs are too short. You can’t get away from God. And that is not a threat, but a promise! God is out on every road where people, like sheep, get themselves lost, earnestly and tenderly seeking them and calling them back home.

Donald B. Strobe, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

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The Hands of God

In Jesus' day, real sheep were in constant danger of being snatched away by thieves and wild animals. So the assurance that the metaphorical sheep of Jesus' followers - us - will not be snatched away is powerful. The implication that there are "snatchers" should not be over looked. We face many real internal and external threats to our relationship with God. But NOT from God. Contrary to John, I think the plain message of Jesus is that this assurance is extended to all of creation with no one and nothing left out. We may screw up, others may harm us, accidents and disease may take our life, but nothing will snatch us out of the caring, restoring, life-giving hand of God.

David Ewart

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Absolute Truth

In religious circles today, there is a broad discussion about the nature of truth. I have been involved in some of those discussions and listened in on others on Internet discussion groups. Most of them turn into a highly philosophical debate over questions such as these: "Is the Truth objective or subjective?" or "Is the Truth absolute or relative?"

Whether we think philosophically or not, the issue confronts everyone sooner or later. In fact, this issue came up in our church some years ago when a young family visited our church for several months. I have been told that they loved the people, loved the building, loved the programs, but finally decided to find another church. When someone asked them why they left our church, they replied, "Your church doesn't seem to believe in Absolute Truth."

How did they decide that this church did not believe in Absolute Truth? Did someone tell them that? And what did this young family mean by that phrase, "Absolute Truth?" If we don't believe in Absolute Truth, what kind of truth do we believe in? What is so dangerous about this Subjective Truth others condemn? Why is Objective Truth so much better Subjective Truth? More importantly, where does the Bible discuss the difference between them?

Mickey Anders, Faith and Ambiguity

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What We Know in Part

Roland H. Bainton, a former professor of church history at Yale Divinity School, tells of a picture that illustrates something of my understanding of the Truth. He tells of a mosaic of Christ in a church in Constantinople. When the Turks invaded the city they plastered over the picture of Christ on the wall so it could not be seen. But centuries later the plaster has cracked, and one can see features of the face of Jesus Christ showing through the broken plaster (Best Sermons, Vol. 2, p. 42). Isn't that the way we really see Jesus? Isn't that the way we see the truth?

The Apostle Paul said it this way: "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away… For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith… hope… love… " (1 Corinthians 13:9-13).

Mickey Anders, Faith and Ambiguity