Podcasts about great shepherd

God carried out a spiritual heart transplant on you at the New Birth. God replaced your old, darkened, stubborn, and rebellious heart with a new, discerning, willing, and obedient heart. Therefore, your default heart setting is to obey God's Word and follow God's Spirit. Part 5 of this informative teaching series examines your new loving, discerning, willing, and obedient heart as a sheep of God. Listen and embrace the spiritual realities of your new heart!

Sermon Notes Date: 09/06/2026 Preacher: Monty Simao, pastor Key Text: Hebrews 13:7, 17, 20–21 Description: What does Christ requireof those who shepherd His church — and what does He requireof the the sheep they are called to lead? Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast,Pastor Monty Simao brings us a special momentin the life of our […]

Under the New Covenant, every sheep of God receives a new heart at the new birth. Your new heart is filled with God's love by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Understanding your new heart's true nature is vital to your responding rightly as God's sheep to your Good Shepherd. Part 4 of this enlightening teaching series examines your new, good, and perfect heart as God's sheep. Listen and see yourself through God's lens as a good sheep of God!

September 3rd, 2026:  St Pius X - An Image of Our Lady of Sorrows;  St Gregory the Great on Mary's Perpetual Virginity;  The Absolute Primacy of Christ;  St Pius X - Zealous in the Public Defense of Christ;  St Gregory the Great - Shepherd of Shepherds

Revelation Episode 11: The Woman, the Church and the Manchild Today we are doing Revelation episode 11, which talks about the Woman, who represents the Church in the last days, and her experience of being attacked by the Dragon and protected by God during the three and a half years, or forty-two months, of the Tribulation. Reading from Revelation 12:1: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems…” The Dragon of Revelation is out to destroy the Woman and her Man Child. We will look at him in a moment. Most traditional viewpoints identify the Woman as Israel bringing forth Jesus. However, that is a historical event—not a future event during the three and a half years of the Tribulation. Revelation chapter 12 describes the narrative of the Woman over the Tribulation period of 1,260 days, or 42 months, or three and a half years. This event is of great significance in Revelation for the Church, regarding its ongoing future conflict with the Dragon and his rebellious angelic following, and the divine protection of the Church throughout the Tribulation. Remember, in the last episode on the Two Witnesses, we saw that Revelation chapters 11 to 19 deal with all the events within the final 3½ years. The events are not all presented as a single, uninterrupted chronological sequence. They are explanatory “camera angles,” or parallel perspectives on the same period—like watching a movie and thinking you've arrived at the end of the story, where everything is about to be resolved, and then a caption comes up on the screen saying, “Three and a half years earlier.” From Revelation 19, we can move progressively toward Christ's return. Today we are identifying the Woman as the Church—camera angle three on the grid below. PERSPECTIVE — FOCUS OF THE VISION — SPECIFIC NARRATIVE SYMBOL - Heaven — Declaration of God's Kingdom — The Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 10) - Israel — The prophetic ministry/testimony — The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) - Church — Conflict and protection of the Church — The Woman (Revelation 12) - The Beast — The political/religious authority — The Two Beasts (Revelation 13) - God Blesses — Choosing of an anointed group — The 144,000 (Revelation 14) - God Judges — The outpouring of divine wrath — The Seven Bowls (Revelation 15) The foundational blueprint for the overarching journey of the Woman as the Church travels from Genesis to Revelation starts in Genesis 3:15 (God to Satan): “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This promise of a coming deliverer who will bruise the serpent's head finds its prophesied goal in the corporate body of Christ. While the initial fulfilment is enacted in the person of Jesus on the cross, the apostolic vision of Paul in Romans 16:20 confirms a final delegated work from Jesus to the Church. Paul says to the Church, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” This shift to the corporate phrase “your feet” signals the transition from Jesus on the cross to the Church as the feet in the execution of judgement. To understand this fulfilment, we must first analyse the celestial “Woman” of Revelation 12—a spiritual fulfilment whose seed is prophesied into history from Genesis 3:5. We saw the Woman dwelling in the fulness of the Godhead in the sun, moon, and stars. The sun speaks of the glory of the Father; the moon is the reflected glory of Jesus; and the stars speak of the Holy Spirit in Christians. Twelve stars represent the twelve Apostles of the Book of Acts—the number twelve speaks of order and authority. The Woman, the Church, is about to bring forth a Man Child. The identification of the stars representing the Holy Spirit in Christians is seen in the following Scripture references. Firstly, through Abraham—Genesis 22:17: “I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Matthew 16:18—the gates of hell shall not prevail). Then, through Daniel—Daniel 12:3: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Then, through Paul—1 Corinthians 15:37: “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory” (God on display). THE DRAGON This Dragon is Satan. Revelation 12:3: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” The seven heads speak historically of seven world kingdoms down through the ages, spoken of in Daniel. These are Egypt, Assyria, Media, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the final fearsome ten-toed kingdom (covered in Revelation in a later lesson). The seven heads here are seen as last-days heads of nation-states, while horns in the Bible speak of power. The ten horns speak of last-days strategic horns of power that give rise to the Beast's Antichrist rule. We will see later that the crowns change place between Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17:9, speaking of significant corrupt political and spiritual power-brokering in the final days. Even today, we are seeing radical changes in the power dynamics of political, military, and economic hegemony, where some nation-states are in desperate decline while others are gaining economic and military advantage. Unexpected alliances of strategic horns-of-power groupings are being formed to dominate nation-states, and these power groupings leverage and threaten with no regard for diplomacy. We can perhaps expect to witness surprising structural and influential changes in national leadership, even over the next two years, because of the current political instability (next episode). THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DRAGON, SATAN, AND THE WOMAN, THE CHURCH Revelation 12:4: “His tail swept down (syro from 138, drawn to oneself) a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the Dragon stood before the Woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child, he might devour it. She gave birth to a Man Child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to His throne, and the Woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.” The tail of the Dragon draws the third part of the stars of heaven (verse 4). This “sweep” refers to the deception of “fallen saints” rather than original angelic rebels. We saw earlier that the stars represent Christians. Later, in verse 9, the Dragon, Satan, falls with ALL of his rebellious angels. According to the typological key, we see what happens here in Isaiah. Isaiah 9:15: “And the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up” (bala—engulfed). So these are Christians deceived by false prophets and lying wonders, as Paul prophesied in 2 Thessalonians: 2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time (the Holy Spirit). For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way (mesos; in the midst—how is the Woman out of the way?). And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one (the Beast) is by the activity of Satan (the Dragon), with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The Dragon now prepares to devour the Man Child because this is the fulfilment of the prophesied “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15), who will completely destroy him, the Dragon (Romans 16:20). When the Man Child is caught up, the Dragon is cast to the earth with all of his angels. This is distinct from the one-third of the stars being swept by the tail of the Dragon, meaning fallen saints, not angels. All the angels are cast down after Michael defeats Satan. THE MAN CHILD Revelation 12:5: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.” The identity of the Man Child is one of the controversial issues of the Book of Revelation. Like the Book of Revelation itself, teaching on the Man Child has become sectarian and divisive. This would be precisely what Satan, the Dragon, would want to see for obvious reasons. I simply propose that the Man Child is a certain corporate group expression of Christ that rules with Him, with a designated sphere of influence and authority. We will compare Moses, Jesus, and the Man Child in their ministries and note the progression. FEATURE — MOSES — JESUS — MAN CHILD - Birth — Natural birth; old creation from old creation — Supernatural birth; new creation from old creation — Miracle birth; new creation from new creation - Conflict — Children slain by Pharaoh; Moses picks up serpent by the tail — Children slain by Herod; serpent bruises Jesus' heel — Children?; Man Child bruises Dragon's head (Romans 16:20) - Ministry — Ministers at Tabernacle; supernatural feeding (manna) — Ministers in Temple; feeds people in the wilderness — Ministers in spiritual Temple; feeds Church in Woman in wilderness - Authority — Shepherd who ruled with a rod — Great Shepherd; the measuring rod — Rules all nations with a rod of iron - Translation — Translated bodily into heaven — Translated bodily into heaven — Translated bodily into heaven WAR IN HEAVEN Revelation 12:7–9 In verse 6, we saw that the Woman flees into the wilderness, where “they” feed her for three and a half years. This is the “taking out” of the Church and is expanded in verse 14. We will deal with this event in a moment. The Dragon is now cast down to the earth from his place in the heavens. Michael the Archangel is seen here in his role as warrior, conquering the evil angels (compare Daniel 10:13). The power of the Dragon, Satan, is in his deception. He is called the Father of Lies and always desires to work under cover. But now he is exposed and seen for who he is, shifting the battlefield from the heavenly to the earthly realm. The saints who are left on the earth during this time of Tribulation will no longer be deceived by him and will overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, which is their newfound love of the truth (verses 10–11). Satan now knows that he has but a short time and is bent on the destruction of the earth and its inhabitants. His first target is the Woman, the Church—his greatest enemy. THE ESCAPE OF THE CHURCH Revelation 12:14: “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place (out of the way, in the midst, mesos?), where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the Dragon.” The Church is supernaturally taken into a protected place or spiritual state of existence on “eagles' wings” (see Exodus 19:4), as Israel was taken out of Egypt. This will be a place on earth, but protected from the judgements upon the earth (Isaiah 16:1–5; Isaiah 26:20–21; Psalm 55:6–7; Isaiah 49:25). Also compare the 42 months of Tribulation with the 42 encampments of Israel in their wilderness journey. Whether or not this wilderness refuge is an actual geographical place, or a state of spiritual protection within the general community, remains to be seen. But the miraculous protection and provision are clearly indicated, just as they were in the spiritual protection of the symbolic Noah's Ark during the 150 days of protection in the midst of the flood. We compared this with the 150 days of spiritual protection from the demonic, tormenting spirits set free from the pit of the Euphrates in Revelation chapter 9. The Dragon cannot destroy the Woman, so he goes to war against the remnant—made of the same cloth, but a smaller piece not woven into the garment. These are the saints who did not comprise that Bride company. See the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25) and the parable of the invitation to the wedding feast (Matthew 22). A remnant is made of the same type and quality as the original garment but is not able to be used in the making of the garment. It is always a smaller piece than the cloth used for the garment. It would seem that God's mercy will ensure that a greater number of His people will escape the Tribulation, while fewer will be martyred in that time for not taking the mark of the Beast. The outcome of this conflict was settled at the dawn of history. The narrative concludes by pointing to the foundational promise in Genesis 3:15, where God declared the seed of the Woman would bruise the serpent's head. This is confirmed for the Church in Romans 16:20: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” We don't know what “shortly” means, but it signifies a progressive movement from an earthly struggle of trials of faith to a Heavenly Wonder, where the Church is seen in divine glory, and then to a Cosmic Conflict involving the birth of a governing body (the Man Child) and a war in the heavens. Although the Dragon attempts to destroy the Church through deception in the end times—and through a full-on attack at the very end—God provides a Supernatural Escape into a protected place for the Bride. While the Remnant must face a final test of faith, the ultimate victory and the crushing of the serpent are historically and prophetically guaranteed. We are to see ourselves as having Satan under our feet at all times. The bruising for us is small compared with the mighty crushing of his power in the earth. 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Preacher:  Pastor Shane Michael Waldron Passage:  Hebrews 13:17-25 Series:  Greater: The Supremacy of Christ in Hebrews For more information about Rocky Mountain Presbyterian Church, please visit us at rmpca.org.   

The All-Powerful God is the Shepherd of believers in Christ. The Good Shepherd uses His immeasurable, unlimited, and surpassing power for His sheep. Part 3 of this excellent teaching series aptly presents God as the All-Powerful Shepherd who uses His infinite power in the interests of His sheep. Listen and experience God's unlimited power!

Psalm 23by Rev. Steve Green

Join us today as Pastor John continues his series "Favorite Psalms" with todays message "The Shepherd King" giving us three ways God blesses His people as the Great Shepherd. Key Passage: Psalm 23. August 23rd, 2026

God is incapable of being unfaithful. It is God's nature to be faithful. God's faithfulness is not dependent upon our faithfulness towards Him. God's faithfulness is infinite—limitless or endless!  Part 2 of this inspiring teaching series presents God as a Faithful Shepherd who is consistently dependable, entirely responsible, and utterly devoted to the well-being of His sheep. Listen and rest in God's faithfulness to keep His promises!

Listen to Pastor Paul as he teaches from John 10:1-21.

In the Old Testament, God is presented as the Shepherd of Israel and Israel as His flock. But now, under the New Covenant, God is no longer just the Shepherd of Israel; He is now the Shepherd of the Church—the believing Jews and Gentiles in Christ. Part 1 of this enlightening teaching series aptly presents God as a Good, Compassionate, Loving, and Caring Shepherd who never gives up on His sheep. Listen and see God's loving heart toward you, His precious sheep!

This morning we look at the heart of the Great Shepherd for the sheep. We will see that God loves the humble and asks us to love them too rather than despise or look down on them. But how can we have that same heart? Let's find out by looking at the HEART, the, the HUMILITY, and the HELP.

This sermon explores Hebrews chapter 13, urging believers to live out their faith through practical acts of love, service, and praise. The preacher emphasizes that while Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system, Christians are now called to offer spiritual sacrifices, including brotherly love, hospitality, and continual thanksgiving. Central to this message is the call to remain content in Christ rather than coveting worldly possessions, trusting in His unchanging presence as the Great Shepherd. The text challenges the audience to submit to faithful spiritual leadership and to stand firm in grace against false doctrines. Ultimately, the sermon encourages a life of active obedience and reliance on Jesus, who empowers believers to do God's will.

We continue our four-part series, Under the Chief Shepherd, preached by the marketplace elders of Bryanston Bible Church. In this week's message, Ben McCarthy takes us to Hebrews 13:17 to explore what it means to be faithfully pastored by the elders of the church. As we consider elders who watch over our souls and obedience that works for our good, we're reminded that biblical leadership isn't about control, but care. And ultimately, we look to Jesus, the Great Shepherd, who obeyed, submitted, and laid down His life for His sheep.

Sunday Service | A teaching on Psalm 23 with Pastor Josh BlackVictory Calvary Chapel is a church in Menifee, California. We gather for Jesus, to worship Him, to follow Him, and represent Him wherever we go. To learn more, visit us at www.victorycc.com.

by Bro. Byron Fair (preached on July 19, 20260 As we began to see in the first half of this sermon by Bro. Byron Fair, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee in a storm and marched right up to a man living in the tombs, all because He is the Great Shepherd who seeks the...

Hebrews closes with instructions concerning the church's relationship to its spiritual leaders, emphasizing obedience to biblical teaching, willing submission, pastoral accountability, and prayer. The epistle concludes with a powerful benediction that points to the risen Christ, the Great Shepherd, and God's work of equipping His people to do His will. Notes are available below.

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Welcome to Day 2898 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2898 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 139:19-24 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2898 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2898 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's title is: Search Me, O God, and Lead Me Home Today, we complete our trek through Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, focusing on verses nineteen through twenty-four from the New Living Translation. This final section may feel, at first, like a sudden and jarring turn. In our previous podcast, David was standing in wonder before the God who formed him in the womb, saw him before birth, recorded his days before even one of them had passed, and thought thoughts more numerous than the grains of sand. David ended that section with the beautiful confession that, when he wakes up, he is still with God. Now, however, David moves from wonder to warfare, from worship to moral anguish, from being known by God to asking God to examine him. This is not a contradiction. It is the natural movement of a heart that truly loves the Lord. When we recognize that God knows us completely, forms us intentionally, and surrounds us continually, we also become more aware of what opposes his holiness, his justice, and his covenant love. Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, verse nineteen, begins with David crying out for God to deal with the wicked. He asks God to destroy those who are violent and evil, and then he separates himself from them, saying, in effect, “Get away from me, you murderers.” That is strong language. It is uncomfortable language. Yet, it is also honest language from a man who has seen what evil can do. David is not speaking as a casual observer. He has lived in a world where violence breaks families, corrupts nations, defiles worship, and destroys the innocent. As Israel's king, he knew that evil was not merely a private flaw tucked away in the heart. Evil could become public, organized, and destructive. It could infect courts, armies, cities, temples, and thrones. Wickedness was not an abstract idea to David. It had names, weapons, plans, and victims. In the ancient Israelite worldview, rebellion against God was never only earthly. Scripture presents a universe in which the Lord reigns above every power, every nation, every ruler, and every spiritual being. The divine council imagery reminds us that God is the Most High, surrounded by heavenly servants, yet unrivaled in authority. When human beings give themselves to violence, falsehood, and idolatry, they are not merely breaking social rules. They are aligning themselves with rebellion against the Creator's order. That helps us understand David's intensity. He is not simply saying, “I dislike difficult people.” He is grieving those who stand against the Lord's purposes. He is pleading for God's justice to break the power of those who shed innocent blood. In a world where the vulnerable are often crushed, where tyrants often prosper, and where evil often wears a respectable mask, David's prayer says, “Lord, do not let wickedness have the final word.” Then, in verse twenty, David says that these enemies blaspheme God, and that they misuse his name. They speak of the Lord with deceit, contempt, and rebellion. In the New Living Translation, the sense is that they take God's name in vain, using holy language for unholy purposes. This is a serious charge. In Israel, the name of the Lord was not a religious slogan. God's name represented his character, presence, covenant, authority, and reputation among the nations. To misuse God's name was to treat the Holy One as common. It was to drag sacred truth into the service of selfish ambition, violence, manipulation, or false worship. We still see this today. People may use God-language to justify hatred, greed, pride, abuse, or indifference. They may speak the name of the Lord, while refusing the ways of the Lord. They may claim spiritual authority, while crushing others. They may use faith as a costume, while their actions reveal another allegiance. David's concern in verse twenty is not merely bad manners. It is spiritual treason. It is the corruption of worship itself. Then, in verses twenty-one and twenty-two, David asks, “Shouldn't I hate those who hate you, Lord? Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you?” He says he hates them with complete hatred, and counts them as his enemies. Again, these are difficult words, and we must handle them carefully. David is speaking in the language of covenant loyalty. He is declaring that he will not make peace with rebellion against God. He will not celebrate evil. He will not pretend that violence is harmless. He will not treat blasphemy as wisdom. He will not stand in neutral territory when the honor of the Lord is under attack. Yet, as followers of Christ, we must read David's words through the fullness of Scripture. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and bless those who curse us. He did not weaken God's hatred of evil; he revealed God's mission to redeem sinners. At the cross, we see both truths held together. God takes evil with absolute seriousness, and God offers mercy with astonishing grace. So, how do we apply David's prayer today? We do not use it as permission for personal bitterness, revenge, cruelty, or contempt. Instead, we let it teach us to hate evil without becoming hateful people. We reject wickedness without forgetting that we, too, need mercy. We stand against injustice, violence, deception, abuse, and blasphemy, while still praying that enemies may become brothers and sisters through repentance and grace. That is why the final two verses are so important. David does not end by saying, “God, examine them.” He says, “God, examine me.” Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, verses twenty-three and twenty-four, bring us to one of the most well-known prayers in all the Psalms. David asks God to search him and know his heart, to test him and know his anxious thoughts. He asks God to point out anything in him that offends the Lord, and then lead him along the path of everlasting life. This is the great turn of the psalm. David has spoken about the wicked. He has condemned violence. He has grieved blasphemy. He has declared loyalty to God. But before he walks away satisfied with his own righteousness, he opens his own soul to divine examination. That is wisdom. That is humility. That is spiritual maturity. It is easy to see the sins of others. It is much harder to invite God to expose the sins within us. It is easy to criticize the violence “out there,” while ignoring anger in our own hearts. It is easy to condemn deceit “out there,” while excusing half-truths in our own speech. It is easy to grieve arrogance “out there,” while protecting pride in our own spirit. David refuses that kind of self-deception. Remember how this psalm began. In Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, verse one, David said that the Lord had examined his heart and knew everything about him. Now, at the end, David asks God to do what God already does. “Search me.” Why ask God to search what he already knows? Because David is not asking for God's information. He is asking for God's transformation. That is a vital distinction. God already knows every hidden corner of our hearts. He knows our motives, fears, memories, wounds, desires, and anxieties. But prayer is the act of inviting God's knowledge to become our healing. We are saying, “Lord, bring into the light what I would rather keep in the shadows. Show me what I cannot see clearly. Reveal what is twisted, anxious, selfish, proud, fearful, or false. Then lead me.” The word “anxious” is important. David does not ask God only to identify obvious sins. He asks God to know his anxious thoughts. Anxiety can drive us into control, suspicion, anger, avoidance, envy, and despair. Fear can distort our view of God, ourselves, and others. When David invites God into his anxious thoughts, he is opening not only his behavior, but his inner life. Then comes the final request: “Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” David knows that exposure without guidance would crush us. Conviction without mercy would leave us hopeless. But God does not search us merely to shame us. He searches us to lead us. The Great Shepherd reveals the dangerous path so he can guide us onto the everlasting one. In the ancient covenant world, there were two paths: the path of life and the path of death; the way of wisdom and the way of folly; loyalty to the Lord and rebellion against him. David asks to be led in the ancient, enduring, everlasting way—the way aligned with God's character, God's kingdom, and God's future. For us, this path is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the righteous King greater than David. He is the One who confronts evil, forgives sinners,...

The relationship between a pastor and a congregation is one of the most important dynamics in the life of a local church. Jesus is the Great Shepherd, and every earthly pastor serves under His authority as an under-shepherd. Pastors are called to lead, teach, and care for their people with faithfulness and integrity. At the same time, congregations are called to follow well, be a joy to shepherd, and pray consistently for those who lead them. If you want a better pastor, the best place to start is by being a better sheep. Good sheep and good shepherds, working together under the lordship of Jesus Christ, is the context in which God does His greatest work.

Sermon on Psalm 23 by Pastor Jeff McInnis from Springhill Community Church

EL OLAM | The Everlasting GodWho is God when generations come and go? Who remains when kingdoms rise and fall? Who was there before the beginning and will still reign after the end?In this powerful message, we explore the name El Olam—The Everlasting God. First revealed through Abraham in Genesis 21, El Olam reveals a God who is eternal in His nature, unchanging in His character, and faithful through every generation.While everything around us is temporary, God stands outside of time. He never grows weary, never loses understanding, and never fails to fulfill His promises. He is the Ancient of Days, seated upon His eternal throne, ruling with wisdom, power, and glory that knows no end.Through the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Everlasting God has established an everlasting covenant with His people. The same God who sustained Abraham, strengthened the prophets, and raised Jesus from the dead is still working today—equipping His people for every good work and leading them as the Great Shepherd of the sheep.This message will encourage you to anchor your faith in the One whose kingdom is everlasting, whose promises are eternal, and whose presence remains constant through every season of life.Key Scriptures:• Genesis 21:33• Hebrews 13:20-21• Isaiah 40:28• Daniel 7:9-10• Psalm 145:13No matter what changes around you, El Olam remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever.Culture Like Christ. Vision: Jesus.

Pastor Daniel preaches that wolves will certainly come but our Great Shepherd protects His beloved sheep.

Main idea:  Men will fail in their leadership, but our Great Shepherd will lead us faithfully home. The Leadership that God's Judges - Micah 3 The Future We Long For - Micah 4 The Shepherd We Need - Micah 5 Discussion Questions: 1. Micah 3:2 describes leaders who "hate the good and love the evil." Where do you see this kind of backward thinking most prevalent in our culture today? 2. The road to redemption often runs through a valley of pain or exile. How does this perspective change how you view a trial you are facing right now? 3. For an oppressed person, God's final vengeance (Micah 5:15) is a massive relief. How does knowing that "evil will not have the final word" bring peace to your current anxieties?

1 Peter 5:1-4 June 7, 2026 AM.Peter instructs under-shepherds to lead God's flock not by compulsion, not for dishonest gain, nor acting as lords over them. Stated positively, pastors should lead willingly, eagerly, and as examples to the flock. The motivation to lead well is that pastors serve under the authority of Christ and will receive a reward in the future when the Chief Shepherd returns.

Using Psalm 23, Pastor Derek looks at the Lord as our Great Shepherd who provides rest to His sheep—sheep who, whether they realize it or not, are desperate for the care and nurture of the Shepherd for every single facet of their existence. Key Truths from the Message: We are created for communion with God. Our souls were literally designed to be in relationship with Him. We default toward cheap substitutes. When we get tired, we tend to chase things that cannot actually satisfy us. Substitutes can never restore us. A substitute cannot restore you because it didn't create you in the first place. Jesus alone restores. As our Great Shepherd, He is the only one who can truly restore our souls. Rest is not inactivity. True rest is found directly in the living presence of Jesus. Looking further at Matthew 11:28-30 and Hebrews 4:9-11, we see that the Lord lovingly calls us to a place of continual rest in Him, regardless of what season we may currently be walking through—whether it is busy, stressful, chaotic, or peaceful.

Using Psalm 23, Pastor Derek looks at the Lord as our Great Shepherd who provides rest to His sheep—sheep who, whether they realize it or not, are desperate for the care and nurture of the Shepherd for every single facet of their existence. Key Truths from the Message: We are created for communion with God. Our souls were literally designed to be in relationship with Him. We default toward cheap substitutes. When we get tired, we tend to chase things that cannot actually satisfy us. Substitutes can never restore us. A substitute cannot restore you because it didn't create you in the first place. Jesus alone restores. As our Great Shepherd, He is the only one who can truly restore our souls. Rest is not inactivity. True rest is found directly in the living presence of Jesus. Looking further at Matthew 11:28-30 and Hebrews 4:9-11, we see that the Lord lovingly calls us to a place of continual rest in Him, regardless of what season we may currently be walking through—whether it is busy, stressful, chaotic, or peaceful.

The Psalm of the Great Shepherd Sunday AM - Pastor Reno Download

HEBREWS 13:20-25 - The Great Shepherd - Jesus Is Greater (A Sermon Series In The Book Of Hebrews) Pasto Dan Layman Download

Psalm 23 describes the Great Shepherd's wisdom, compassion, and devotion.  In stanza 5, the metaphor shifts: David sees himself not only as a sheep under the Shepherd's care but also as a guest at the Shepherd's banquet table.  This message explores how the metaphor holds meaning for past, present, and future, and offers principles that have lasting relevance to believers today.

Bro. Matthew Robbins , president Basileia Ministries Living water Worship Centre  https://www.basileiaministries.com/livingwater   In this powerful message, “Our Gate Keeper,” we explore the battle between the soul, spirit, and flesh and discover why Jesus must become the overseer of our thoughts, emotions, and decisions. Through scriptures like Hebrews 4:12, John 10, Philippians 4:8, and Peter walking on water, this sermon reveals how the Holy Spirit works to guide believers into victorious living. Learn how to guard your mind, cast down destructive thoughts, overcome fear and doubt, and stop allowing harmful influences to “park” in your soul. This message will challenge you to surrender fully to God's Word and let the Great Shepherd become the true Gate Keeper of your life.

April 26th, 2026:  A Good & Great Shepherd Faces Danger with a Joyful Soul;  Are We Hopeless?;  Good Shepherd - Eternal Salvation Matters

Ever felt like a lost sheep? With Jesus as our shepherd we know that if there's a wool there's a way. At least that's what I've herd.  Join us for the message “I AM the Good Shepherd.”

 God desires that our lives producefruit. Taketime to read the entire chapter of John 15. It is in this chapter that Jesus isin the upper room with His disciples, and one of the things He speaks of thereis abiding in Him. If you abide in Him, He says that you will bear fruit. Inverse 5, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in Me, andI in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Inverse 8, He goes on to say, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bearmuch fruit; so you will be My disciples.” Then verse 16: “You didnot choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bearfruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Fatherin My name He may give you.” Wefind that the desire of the Father, the desire of Jesus Christ, is that weabide in Him and live a life that bears fruit—not just activity. So many of usbecome so active doing things for the Lord that we try to produce fruit by whatwe do. Activity is not the same as fruitfulness. We get so busy that weactually forget to take time to abide in Christ, to fellowship with Him, and toremember that our strength, grace, and power come from Him alone. Thisis real spiritual fruit. Remember Galatians 5:22: “The fruit of the Spiritis love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, kindness, temperance,self-control.” All these things—these are the fruit of the Spirit. Thefruit of the Spirit is something God produces within us. When we yieldourselves, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, when we are filled with theWord of God, then we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit being produced in ourlives. Whatis the outward evidence of this fruit in our lives? It flows from an inwardrelationship with Christ. It is Christlike character. It is godly attitudes. Itis righteous activity. I cannot help but think of Psalm 23: “The Lord is myshepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leadsme beside the still waters.” Notice next: “He leads me in paths ofrighteousness for His name's sake.” Whenwe are following Jesus—our Shepherd, our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd, ourears are attuned to what He wants us to do. We are on mission with Him. We donot have our own agenda; we are His servants. We follow Him. We do what Hecommands us—to love one another, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and toshare with the world around us the wonderful good news of Jesus Christ. Thesefruits of righteousness, as you see in verse 11, “which are by JesusChrist.” Literally, it is the life that Christ is living in and through us.That is why Paul would later write, “I am crucified with Christ;nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which Inow live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me andgave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Thatbrings me to James 3:13–15. We have been talking about the wisdom of God thatis in Christ and the knowledge of God to know Him. James asks the question, “Whois wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that hisworks are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy andself-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. Thiswisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. Butwhere envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and withouthypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those whomake peace.” Myfriend, that is the wisdom that is from above. “If you lack wisdom”—James1:5—"let him ask of God”. It is yielding your life to Jesus Christand allowing His life to live through you, and you will live a life full of thefruits of righteousness. Help us, O God, to have that kind of life.

Spring is the season of new life. As we finish up our series on the Psalms, we come to the most famous one of all.Psalm 23:1–2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”This psalm contains some of the most famous words ever written. It has everything: beautiful language, a man's raw, honest heart for God, and a universal theme of love that God has for all people.It echoes in the universe.Think of the picture that God is painting here for us.We are bone weary, but He has actually made a place for us to rest in a garden. We hear the flowing water. We are refreshed inside and out. And He is with us.Do yourself a favor this spring. Memorize every line of the 23rd Psalm. Put it in your heart so that when you're in that dark valley, you will remember that the one true God loves you absolutely and completely.Goodness and mercy follow you. Close your eyes and sit in the cool grass. He is with you.Let's pray.Lord, you are the Great Shepherd who provides a sanctuary for us. Thank you, thank you for making a place of safety for us as we go through life. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at www.kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Jesus is the Great Door, Sheepowner, and Shepherd. His life wasn't taken but given. And he had authority to take it up again. Learn more in this sermon preached on Easter Sunday, 4/5/26, to Hillside Baptist Church in Eastman, GA by pastor Chad Hendley.www.hillsideeastman.com

This message takes us on a journey into John 10, where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd, but it challenges us to move beyond merely knowing this truth intellectually to experiencing it deeply in our souls. Through the lens of attachment theory and relational patterns, we discover that many of us relate to God through the wounds of our past, projecting onto Him the unavailability, criticism, or distance we experienced from earthly authority figures. Yet the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals a God who relentlessly pursues us with love, who became vulnerable as an infant, who absorbed our sin and death on the cross, and who breathed new life into us through His Spirit. This is God as He truly is, not our wounded representations of Him. When we grasp that the Lord truly is our Shepherd who leads us beside quiet waters and walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, we begin to experience the weight of glory that seems almost too good to be true.Main Points:- There is a vast difference between how we experience God and who God actually is- God exists as Father, Son, and Spirit in a perfect relationship of love that existed before creation- Throughout Scripture, God consistently pursues humanity despite repeated rebellion, demonstrating His nature as a Good Shepherd- The cross demonstrates that God absorbs all our pain, sin, and death, transforming it into new creation- Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into us (John 20:22), paralleling the Genesis 2 creation account- God doesn't merely tolerate us; He delights in us as a father delights in his children- Our defensive relational patterns prevent us from experiencing God's true goodnessScripture Referenced:John 10 (The Good Shepherd discourse – primary focus)Genesis 2 (God breathing life into humanity)Genesis 3 (The Fall and Protoevangelium)Psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd)John 20:22 (Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on disciples)Hebrews 13:20-21 (Benediction about the Great Shepherd)Revelation 21-22 (New creation and God dwelling with humanity)Community Group Guide:Begin with PrayerBegin by thanking God for bringing your group together and asking the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and reveal how He wants to work through each person present.Discussion Questions1. Read John 10:11-18. What specific characteristics of the Good Shepherd stand out to you?2. When you walk through your own valley of the shadow of death, what makes it difficult to believe that God is truly with you as a Good Shepherd rather than distant, angry, or critical?3. What “defense mechanisms” have you developed in your relationship with God that have been born out of an inaccurate view of God's character? (Examples: trying to earn His approval, keeping Him at a distance, performing spiritual disciplines out of fear rather than love)4. Nathan traced God's pursuing love from Genesis through Revelation. What does it mean to you that God chose to reveal Himself not as a conquering warrior but through the vulnerability of birth in a manger and service as a Shepherd?5. How does the cross ultimately demonstrate that God is truly good, even when our circumstances feel painful or confusing?6. “He suffers with you. He suffered for you.” How does this reality change the way you approach God in your darkest moments?Personal Reflection and Practical ApplicationRead Psalm 23 slowly each day this week1. Each day, focus on one verse and ask: “What does this verse reveal about God's character toward me?”2. Take note of any resistance or disbelief that arises and bring it honestly to God. Where are you struggling with an inaccurate view of who God is?3. Spend some time looking through Scripture for verses that remind you of God's specific characteristics or promises you are struggling to believe are true.4. Ask God to not only help you grow in understanding but also in experiencing His true character in your daily life. Praise God for who He is and His loving posture toward you as your Good Shepherd.Worship Setlist:Worthy of More; We Fall Down / Awesome in This Place; Cornerstone; Doxology; The Goodness of Jesus

No matter how messy or complicated our story may feel, God is the one who begins, sustains, and completes the work within us. Even in seasons of wandering, failure, or doubt, His grace remains active—reshaping our hearts and drawing us closer to Him. This devotional highlights the powerful truth that we are continually being transformed, and God is faithful to finish what He started. Highlights God Initiates Growth: Our transformation begins with God, not our own efforts (Philippians 1:6). Jesus Rescues: We cannot save ourselves—Christ is the one who pulls us out of sin and restores us. Messy Testimonies Matter: Faith journeys aren’t always clean or simple, but God is still writing the story (Hebrews 12:2). God’s Faithfulness: Even when we fall short, He remains constant and committed (2 Timothy 2:13). Sanctification is Ongoing: Spiritual growth happens over time through Scripture, prayer, and obedience. Renewed Mindset: The Holy Spirit transforms our thinking, helping us focus on eternal priorities. Progress Over Perfection: God is continually shaping us into Christ’s image, step by step. Intersecting Faith & Life It’s easy to become discouraged when your spiritual growth doesn’t look the way you expected. But God never asked for instant perfection—He invites you into a process. Every step of obedience, every moment in Scripture, and every prayer contributes to the work He is doing in your life. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: You Are God’s Work in Progress By: Emily Rose Massey Bible Reading: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV). A new friend recently asked me, “Emily… how long have you known the Lord?”I wanted to be as concise as possible but also transparent. I explained that I have been coming to grips recently that I was most likely a false convert when I was a teen into my early 20s and didn’t truly start following Christ until the summer after I graduated college. It’s the only way I can seem to make sense of the mess I lived in for six years after my profession of faith, after responding to an altar call at a youth conference.As I walked the aisle at that church, I responded to the news that Jesus died for my sins to be forgiven then eventually ran right back into the same ditch like a dumb sheep thinking I could rely on my own works and not Christ’s finished work of the cross, and God allowed me to fail, fall, and create a home in my pit of self-righteousness and sin for six years. But thanks be to God, that wasn’t the end of my story- the Lord didn’t leave me in that pit because one day, I was rescued. We must first remember that we cannot rescue ourselves out of a pit of sin- Jesus is the Great Shepherd who rescues His sheep. It is God who begins the work in our hearts, turning them from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, and the longer we walk with Him, the more He will continue to mold our hearts. I don’t believe all our testimonies of coming to faith in Christ can be packaged up into a nice little box with a bow. It’s because we aren’t the author of the story- our Sovereign Lord is the author and finisher, or perfecter, of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Scripture tells us that He is faithful to complete that work that He began in us: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV). Intersecting Faith & Life:You may also have a messy and complicated testimony and cannot fully explain all of what you think the Lord was doing in your heart and when, but I can tell you that even when you have been faithless, God has been incredibly faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Even when I’m extremely dumb, hard-headed, and rebellious, He is wise, patient, and perfect on my behalf. He doesn’t give up on His children! And just as God is sovereign in salvation, He is also sovereign in our sanctification as we learn to partner with Him in our growth in Christ. He is the one who is in charge of seeing us mature on our walk with Him. The same grace that saved us is the very same grace that keeps us and molds us into the image of Christ, each new day. We will never be perfect this side of heaven, which is why we rest in the finished work of the cross of Christ, but we should be walking in holiness little by little each passing day. One way this occurs in our lives is through studying the scriptures and other spiritual disciplines such as prayer, serving others, and consistent discipleship and evangelism. The Spirit of God guides us into all truth and convicts our hearts of sin. The more we study the Bible and exercise spiritual discipline, the more the Holy Spirit renews our minds. This renewal of the mind helps us to think on eternal matters, and soon, worldly thinking and fleshly desires become less of a temptation for us the longer we walk with the Lord. Our behavior and attitude begin to change, and God gives us a desire to love, obey, and serve Him with fervor! From the moment of your conversion, you became God’s work-in-progress, and the greatest news of all is that He doesn’t grow weary, stressed, or exhausted with you. He will complete the work He began in you! Further Reading: Galatians 2:20 1 Thessalonians 5:23 2 Peter 1:2- Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We have seen Christ moving all throughout the gospels in the book of Acts. But now, how is He operating in the church? Christ is moving through the power of His Holy Spirit through the lives of believers. The Lord has specifically set up an authority structure in order to keep the church organized. Jesus is the Great Shepherd watching over the church but He's also set up under-shepherds in order to look over and feed His flock. Submit to your leaders, recognizing Christ put them in this place.

We have seen Christ moving all throughout the gospels in the book of Acts. But now, how is He operating in the church? Christ is moving through the power of His Holy Spirit through the lives of believers. The Lord has specifically set up an authority structure in order to keep the church organized. Jesus is the Great Shepherd watching over the church but He's also set up under-shepherds in order to look over and feed His flock. Submit to your leaders, recognizing Christ put them in this place.

Pastor Mike introduces Psalm 23 as a source of comfort for the living rather than a text for the dead, offering three keys to view the scripture in "Technicolor”. These keys include identifying the theological center as God's presence ("for you are with me"), placing the chapter canonically as the Great Shepherd's present care between the cross of Psalm 22 and the crown of Psalm 24, and recognizing the text contains no commands, serving strictly as a resting place of privilege and gospel provision. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oPbC6j0-8Y0 Produced/Edited By: Marrio Escobar (Owner of D2L Productions)