We Need a Shepherd

When Jesus saw the crowds of people following him, he compassionately described them as “sheep without a shepherd” for they had no one to whom they could turn when facing the crises of life. This is also an issue for us today. In this week’s sermon we will discuss our need for a spiritual shepherd.

Sermon
“We Need a Shepherd”

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “that would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “Adjusting Your Focus“ delivered on Christian Crusaders August 31, 2008.
How often we feel self-sufficient. We believe we have the answers and the strength to deal with our problems. But then come those hours when we do not know where to turn. . . . As Christians, we need to adjust our focus from self to the Lord, who watches over us. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Our cares and concerns are often more than we can carry. Why not take them to Him in prayer and then follow his Word?

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On the Light Side
A minister was giving the children’s sermon. He told them that sheep weren’t smart and needed lots of guidance. He also said that a shepherd's job was to stay close to the sheep, protect them from wild animals, and keep them from wandering off and doing dumb things that would get them hurt or killed.
He then pointed to the little children in the room and said that they were the sheep and needed lots of guidance.
Then the minister put his hands out to the side, palms up in a dramatic gesture, and with raised eyebrows said to the children “If you are the sheep then who is the shepherd?” obviously indicating himself.
A silence of a few seconds followed. Then a child said, “Jesus! Jesus is the shepherd!”
The young minister, obviously caught by surprise, said to the child, “Well then, who am I?”The child frowned thoughtfully and then said with a shrug, “I guess you must be a sheep dog.”