Easter 4A

Here are some beginning thoughts for this upcoming Sunday's sermon, although I am not going to be preaching.

This is considered Shepherd Sunday because the lectionary passages focus on the Shepherd.
Acts 2:42-47 This passage is what the early church looked like as it was beginning and growing and understanding what it was to be a community of faith? What if the churches looked this way now?

• Teaching/learning -- they devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching (Acts 2:42).
• Fellowship -- they found it important to spend a great deal of time with each other (Acts 2:42, 46).
• Prayers -- prayer was extremely important to this group (Acts 2:42).
• Breaking bread -- commentaries are unclear about whether the writer meant Eucharist or table fellowship or a combination of both (Acts 2:42, 46).
• Shared possessions and the equitable distribution of goods -- initially, this group pooled its resources and provided for the needs of all who were a part of the new community (Acts 2:45-47).

Psalm 23 (UMH 754 or 137) This is the Shepherd's Psalm, most often used at Funerals, but really has to do with living our lives on a daily basis before we die. I heard a modern day version of the Shepherd is the lifeguard.
1 Peter 2:19-25 This focuses on bearing pain like Jesus did, but then has the passage at the end; For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10:1-10 Jesus is both the gate (verse 9) and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He provides the way for sheep to enter the sheepfold and he shepherds the sheep. And don't forget; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Just what does that mean for our lives today? Is this different than some of the abundant theology we see out there with the focus on financial wealth?

Since I am focusing on what it means to be Easter People. I would focus on What happens when we encounter the Shepherd in our lives?

Image is of Shepherds displaced from Haruba, near Ma'on