The Good Shepherd
The Shepherds sheep dogs
AI relationships
Scripture Title: Like a Shepherd
Pastor Greg Wiest
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:9-11 “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Sermon Summary:
According to the American Psychological Association, 1 in 3 Americans are lonely and disconnected from others. What is the answer to the deep question of feeling alone in the universe and not experiencing love and acceptance? The answer is a relationship with the God who created us. In our Scripture passage, the prophet Isaiah was addressing the existential loneliness and disconnectedness that Israel was experiencing because of their sin and rebellion against the Lord God. Thom Rainer in his podcast shares that the largest demographic of unchurched people are people who had a past connection with a church but something happened and they drifted away from the Lord into the darkness of the world. If you speak with these people, there is something missing. They are far from God and they have no eternal outlook into the future. Often there is loneliness. The good news from Isaiah to Israel and the good news to us today is that we are not alone. There is a God who loves you and cares for you and wants to be in relationship with you. Jesus, God in the flesh, came and lived among us beginning at Christmas in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Christ died on the cross for our sin and rebellion and removed all of the barriers to fellowship between us and God. If we put our faith in Jesus, He will forgive us. He will fill that emptiness that is within us and take away our loneliness. Isaiah describes Jesus, the Messiah, as a sovereign and mighty ruler of the universe who is able to solve the deep problems that plague humanity. He also describes the Messiah as the good shepherd who cares for His flock, protects us from the enemy, and when we are hurting, He carries us and holds us near to him. Jesus lifts us out of the pit of dark despair and into the light. Invite Jesus into your heart and draw near to Him because He cares for you.
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