Sermon Central
-
Shepherdless Sheep
Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 2, 2009 (message contributor)
SHEPHERDLESS SHEEP
How pitiful shepherdless sheep are! Shepherdless sheep become easy prey for wolves, coyotes, and other predators. They can’t outrun them. They can’t outfight them. And what wolf would be scared off by a bleating: baaa? Sheep are left torn and bloodied and dead without a shepherd.
In addition, shepherdless sheep can overgraze a pasture eating the grass down to the dirt so that it can’t grow back. If that’s the pasture they know, they won’t move on to another. If they survive the predators, how easily they could waste away starving to death without a shepherd!
Thirdly, shepherdless sheep can even die due to their own filth. In many places today sheep need their rears regularly sheared. It’s called crutching. Otherwise manure sticks to the wool. Blowflies lay eggs in these dags, and within a day the maggots begin burrowing into the sheep’s skin. A fly-blown sheep is a sickening sight.
How pitiful shepherdless sheep are!
And his shepherd’s heart goes out to you, dear friend, to you. For without him we are shepherdless sheep. Without him we fall easy prey to that ravenous wolf named Satan. His teeth tear us to shreds with his lies and deceptions. We need our Shepherd! Without him we spiritually starve to death unable to find the green pastures that restore our soul. Like the dusty dirt of overgrazed land, the empty promises and senseless pleasures of this world cannot bring true nourishment or life. We need our Shepherd! Without him the filth of our own sin clings to us breeding the maggots of guilt that burrow deep into our conscience. We need our Shepherd!
He cut away the filth that we had soiled ourselves with, and he pulls out the maggots of guilt from your conscience as his voice assures you: "I, Jesus, your Shepherd, have taken away all your sins and washed you clean in my blood. For I laid down my life for you, my sheep. You are fully forgiven. Be of good cheer." Listen to his voice, for only his word brings you this good news.
For you he faced down Satan, that ravenous wolf and prowling lion, and with his truth he continues to protect you from Satan’s lies and deceptions. His voice calls to you, "Fear not, little lamb, only hold on to my word of truth. It will not fail, for I, your Shepherd, have taken up my life again in victory. Follow me and shut your ears to Satan’s seductive purring. Listen to my voice, for my word of truth protects you."
And he feeds you, dear Christian, with the green pastures of his word. He brings you life and nourishment through his teaching. His voice invites you, "Come, all who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Come, drink the living water flowing from the Scriptures. Come, feast on this life-giving food that alone truly satisfies. Come and be filled." Yes, dear friend, listen to your Shepherd’s voice.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Why Do You Follow Jesus? Patrick Morley Has Some ... PRO
Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 12, 2005
Why do you follow Jesus? Patrick Morley has some important things to say about our answer to this question. "The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is a belief that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in ...read more
-
Mark Twain Noted, "Most People Are Bothered By ... PRO
Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 21, 2003
Mark Twain noted, "Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages ...read more
-
More Of A Miracle Than Resurrection PRO
Contributed by Greg Buchner on Mar 28, 2005
Lee Strobel put it like this… “If we were holding a trial to determine the facts concerning the resurrection, and if we were to call to the witness stand every witness who personally encountered the resurrected Jesus and we cross-examined them for only 15 minutes, and if we went around the ...read more
-
Knowledge Is Exploding At Such A Rate—more Than ...
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 18, 2005
Knowledge is exploding at such a rate—more than 2000 pages a minute—that even Einstein couldn’t keep up. In fact, if you read 24 hours a day, from age 21 to 70, and retained all you read, you would be one and a half million years behind when you finished. How can it be, in a world where half the ...read more
-
In His Book, The One-Minute Manager, Kenneth ... PRO
Contributed by Brent Baker on Sep 13, 2005
In his book, The One-Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard recommends developing the practice of "one-minute praising," where the manager (or parent, spouse, etc.) tries to "catch someone doing something right" and then spend a full sixty seconds praising that person for the good deed. This is a lot ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Road To Victory Series
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Apr 7, 2014
A sermon examining the events surrounding Jesus' Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
-
We Would See Jesus Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 22, 2014
Having heard & observed, these Gentiles were attracted or drawn to Jesus & they wanted to believe in Him, they wanted to "know" Him. Jesus therefore challenges them & us - to die that we might live
-
Taking His Yoke Is No Joke Series
Contributed by David Dykes on Aug 16, 2012
How taking the yoke of Jesus is the key to life.
-
How To Have Less Stress Series
Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 24, 2015
This sermon looks at seven principles for stress management. 1. Know Who You Are 2. Know who you want to please 3. Know what you want to accomplish 4. Focus on one thing at a time 5. Make a habit of personal prayer 6. Take time to rest 7. Give your stress to Christ
-
Good Friday?? Series
Contributed by Paul Clemente on Apr 29, 2011
The significance of what we call Good Friday is what actually happened and for what purpose!
