"Shepherded and given the Kingdom" - Sermon for Pentecost 12, August 7th 2016

Sermon:

Text:

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who delights in shepherding us.

            I listen to a lot of podcasts. While driving all over the place, while doing chores at home, while trying to get to sleep. Some are devotional messages like the Our Daily Bread devotional, some are sermon prep related, one from a couple pastor’s from Illinois, and another from Luther Seminary. Other’s are just fun, one called Stuff You Should Know all about random topics ranging from all about grass and lawns to mermaids and car crumple zones. The most recent podcast that I’ve started to listen to is called Bunker Buddies, and it’s done by two friends who are really into preparing for “the end of the world.”  They sort of take a humorous look at it. They talk about having a go bag, a backpack or duffle that’s full of supplies for if there’s a major storm or to bring on trips in case you get stuck somewhere. One I was listening to this week was all about could an asteroid or comet hit the earth. Spoiler, yes potentially it could, but there is very slim chance of this occurring, and organizations like NASA are monitoring things like this and would know a very long time in advance, a hundred years or more maybe. So I am not worried about that at all, and I hope that didn’t make you worried. But, it did make me think about everything that scares us.

            We do get worried about things like the “end of the world”, or what if we get caught in a storm or get lost in the wilderness. What if the power goes out? What if we run out of gas far away from a city?

            Or it’s more personal stuff, what will happen with my cancer? How will I deal with my husband’s or wife’s or parent’s death? What is in my future? Do I have a future?

            I want you to hear what Jesus says to you.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

            Do not be afraid. I found this graphic this week. The phrase “Do not be afraid” is written in the bible 365 times. That’s a daily reminder from God to live every day being fearless.”  Now, I’m a skeptical kind of person, so are there actually 365 different times that phrase “do not be afraid” comes up in the bible? No, unfortunately it doesn’t actually work that easily, between Do not be afraid and Do not fear, there are not that many occurances. It doesn’t reach that far. But, if we include things like Do not worry, or don’t be anxious. We can reach even more.

            And in many ways, I think this is even more powerful. Are things like fear, worry, and anxiety similar? Yes, but they’re also different, and the powerful thing is that God knows that. So, no, we don’t really have a nice little phrase like there are 365 fear nots in the bible, instead we have a God who knows who we are and meets us where we are and in the midst of what we are dealing with.

            God speaks to us directly here, and everywhere else. Do not fear, do not worry, do not be anxious. God is with you, God walks with you, God is your shepherd.

            The next line in our text is the well-known little flock. I often think when I start thinking about sheep and shepherds is, well, sheep are so dumb! They get themselves lost so easily! They’re always getting in trouble, doing things they shouldn’t. And therefore they really, really need a shepherd!  And then the thought process is, well, so are we. And it’s because we’re so dumb that we need Jesus, we need the good shepherd to watch out for us.

            But, I don’t think that works with do not be afraid though. It’s not do not be afraid, you dumb stupid little flock who are going to get yourselves into trouble. It’s do not be afraid, you fearful little flock, who is scared by everything happening in your lives and in the world around you. God did not send Jesus to us as our shepherd because we’re dumb. Jesus is our shepherd because God loves us and sees our fear, and wants to take care of us in our fear, our anxiety, our worry.

            Because we fear, God shepherds us, God protects us and gives us the gift of salvation.

            Do not fear, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

            God doesn’t shepherd us because of anything we have to do. God didn’t send Jesus because of anything we have to do. Jesus didn’t die and rise again because of anything we have to do. It’s all because God loves us and it fills God with good pleasure to give us the kingdom. It delights God to come to us. I imagine God almost giddy with joy in saving us. Have you ever seen a small child giving someone a gift that they themselves are really excited about giving? They almost get more excited about the gift than the person it’s even for. God is so happy to bring you to safety, to protect you, to be your shepherd.

            The world is a scary place. There are frightening things everywhere, the future can be worry-some. But, in God we need not fear. Here with God you need not fear. We call churches sanctuaries often times. That sanctuary, that place of safety, is a needed thing.

            It’s why we need worship, why we need prayer with God. In a world full of fear we need to have places of sanctuary, we need to find times to feel the peace of God. We need to connect with God, hearing that we need not fear, hearing that our shepherd delights in watching out for us.

            Go this week knowing that God watches out for you. God is your good shepherd, delighting in all that you do, filled with joy in giving you the kingdom.

            Let us pray,

God of sanctuary, give us peace when fearful, comfort when grieving, strength when worried, calm when anxious. Help us to turn to you, knowing that it gives you good pleasure to be with us, saving us, protecting us. Amen.