Powerful, Personal, Protector, Provider

The First Reading Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; * I have all that I need.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures * and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *and guides me along right pathways for his name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Gospel: John 10:11-18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Sermon: The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor

As our youth reminded us in their reflection, Romans 5:3–5 speaks about hope. Even when we face suffering, God helps us endure, shapes our character, and teaches us that we are never alone. This is the hope of our faith: that God is with us, holding us through whatever comes our way.

We see these same themes in Psalm 23 and John 10, the focus of our sermon. For all young people with the craft, here’s how it works: your sheep has four words on it—Powerful, Protector, Provider, and Personal. As you listen, when I talk about one of those words, draw something to show what it means to you. For “Powerful” you might draw a lightning bolt. For “Protector,” maybe a shield. If you can’t read yet, adults around you can help. At the end of the service, bring me your sheep, and we’ll use them to make a display in the entryway for everyone to see.

Now let’s turn to Psalm 23, which begins with one of the best-known verses in the Bible: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” It’s a simple sentence, but it tells us so much about who God is and what it means to belong to God. Today we’ll slow down and sit with just this one verse, remembering that Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, showing us what these words look like in real life.

1. The LORD is my shepherd – God is Powerful

Think back to school days: would you ever call your teacher by their first name? Probably not. Titles carry weight and show respect. In our Bibles, “LORD” is written in capital letters to remind us this isn’t just any title—it points to the Creator of heaven and earth, the one with authority over all things.

Psalm 23 shows God’s strength:

• “God renews my strength…”

• “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid…”

• “Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me…”

(Hold up a rod or strong stick.) A shepherd’s rod defended the flock from danger—wolves, thieves, or anything that threatened. In the same way, our Shepherd defends us. That doesn’t mean God removes every problem. But it does mean God gives us courage and strength to walk through them.

When life feels overwhelming, remember: the LORD is powerful. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, calmed storms, healed the sick, forgave sins, and defeated death itself. That’s the kind of power we can lean on.

2. The LORD is my shepherd – God is Personal

(Hold up a heart.) Notice the psalm doesn’t just say, “The Lord is a shepherd.” It says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” This isn’t distant or abstract—it’s deeply personal. Jesus says in John 10: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me.” Think about that: God knows you. Your name, your voice, your hopes, your fears. Even in a crowd, God sees you. We often say “God loves the world.”

That’s true. But Psalm 23 reminds us God’s love isn’t just for the world in general—it’s for you in particular. God is not far away. God is close, paying attention, caring for you personally.

3. The LORD is my shepherd – God is our Protector

(Hold up a shepherd’s staff.) The shepherd’s crook isn’t just for decoration, but a shepherd used it to guide the sheep, pulling them back from danger, and rescuing them when they got stuck. Sheep wander easily. We do too. We get distracted, make mistakes, lose our way. But the psalm reminds us: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” We are not promised a life without valleys. We are promised something better: that we never go through them alone. God’s presence protects and guides us, helping us find the path again when we’re lost.

4. I have all that I need – God is our Provider

(Hold up a basket of food or fruit.) What does it mean to say, “I have all that I need”? It doesn’t mean life is perfect or that we always get what we want. It means that with the Lord as our Shepherd, we are never left without what is essential. Psalm 23 paints the picture:

• “He lets me rest in green meadows…”

• “He leads me beside peaceful streams…”

• “He prepares a feast for me…”

• “Surely your goodness and love will pursue me…”

God’s provision doesn’t mean we get everything we want—or even everything we think we need. There are times when food, shelter, and safety feel out of reach. But Psalm 23 reminds us that God never abandons us. God provides strength for weary hearts, courage in fearful times, forgiveness when we fail, and love that never lets us go. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down his life for the sheep. In him, we receive the greatest gift of all—his presence with us, always. That is provision we can trust, no matter what.

So, as we step into fall—with its busy schedules, new beginnings, and unknowns—remember this simple verse: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

• God is Powerful – strong enough to help.

• God is Personal – knowing and loving you by name.

• God is our Protector – guiding and guarding us.

• God is our Provider – giving what we need most.

What difference would it make if you carried this verse with you into the weeks ahead—into classrooms, workplaces, hospital rooms, coffee shops, and your homes? Our Shepherd is with us. Our Shepherd is enough. That is our hope, and that is our strength.

Amen.