Shepherd and Sheep

Psalm 23
Acts 2:42-47
John 10:1-10

A few months ago, at the beginning of a Church Council meeting we studied the text from the book of Acts that we read this morning. The discussion around the table was quite lively as we talked about what the first century church must have been like. Someone thought that the early was like a good family because they took care of each other, holding all things in common, selling their goods and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. However this was a stretch for many of us because we live in a culture where we are encouraged to consume more than we share. We also talked about how the early Christians believed that the world would literally end in their lifetimes and that the church was just waiting for Jesus to come back to take them to their final glory. Well obviously that didn’t happen but suffuse it to say it’s not so hard to give up your individual livelihood to give toward the common good. However we remembered that many of the Early Christians lived on the margins as second class citizens in Palestine, they were at odds with the Jewish religion which they were a part of and they were dealing with the oppression of living in Roman Occupied Palestine. They didn’t have a lot individually so it made sense for everyone to pool what they have together in order to sustain themselves.


We know that things have changed dramatically for the Christian religion since the first century. Christianity has grown from being a counter-cultural minority movement to become one of the most powerful religions of the world. However through all the changes one thing has always remained true, that we the church are always completely and utterly dependant on God just as sheep are completely dependant on their shepherd. We did not do this on our own.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”

Anyone who has ever raised sheep knows that sheep have to be constantly watched. They have a tendency to stray. They do not know how to protect themselves and so they are vulnerable to predators. They have a limited ability to find things on their own such as food and water, and so they have to be herded, they have to be led to where they need to go. The sheep are dependant upon the shepherd for their safety, their sustenance, their very survival. Sheep cannot live without the shepherd. So too it is between the Church and God.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.”

(Psalm 23:1-3)

In the Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that they need God just as sheep need a shepherd. “Very truly I tell you; anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:1-4) Using the images of shepherds and sheep Jesus is trying to help his people understand that without God the disciples are in danger of going astray. That without God’s protection and guidance they are vulnerable to forces of the world that would seek only to steal, kill and destroy. But the people did not understand what Jesus was saying to them. So Jesus continued:

“Very Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who come before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (10: 7-10)

Sheep cannot sleep in the open, they could be stolen, they could be killed by wild animals. Most farmers put their sheep in a pen but when it was not possible the shepherd had to literally become the gate to pen the sheep in. The shepherd gathers them in, watches them and even sleeps with them so that he could protect them from being stolen or killed by wild animals. Under his watchful eye, the sheep are able to go about doing what ever sheep do in safety.

We can see in the Book of Acts that the early Christians knew that they could not do it on their own, that without God, they’d be like sheep without a shepherd. They lived in a way that honored God, by sharing what they had, claiming Christ in their midst who is shepherd and nourishing the good that is with them. They held fast to the teachings the apostles and used what they learned in every decision they made for themselves and their community. They were devoted to fellowship which was more than just being friendly and warm to each other but striving to have quality relationships with each other built upon the foundations of love and respect. Most importantly, they prayed!!!!! Through prayer they would lay at God’s feet their needs, their concerns, their joys, their fears and in prayer and ask God to guide them in finding an answer, to give them strength in the darkest of despair so that they can face their fears. Through these things their faith became authentic and because of the effects of their authentic faith, God added to their number. As the church grew spiritually, the church grew in numbers, According to the book of Acts first by 3000 converts, then 5000 converts and now over 2000 years since its beginning we have billions of Christians in the world.

Were the early Christians perfect at becoming a church, well no. We only need to read further in the book of Acts and the letters of Paul to know that they had difficulty in living according to their faith. But the good news is that God was always there to as their shepherd. God continually called each of them by name and led them to where they needed to go so that they may have life abundantly.

As a Christian community we are called to live in the same way that the early Christians did, by sharing what we have with glad and generous hearts, claiming Christ in our midst who is our shepherd and nourishing that which is good in us, all the while praising God and having goodwill for all people. Yes we may encounter times of despair and anxiety wondering some days if we will survive, but if we trust God to guide us down the right paths, God will to lead us to green pastures and restore us to wholeness. All we have to do follow our shepherd’s voice. May it be so. Amen.