July 8, 2007
| Psalm 23:1-6 THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD CHL-10-07 SUBJECT: Christian Living. TITLE: The Lord’s My Shepherd. PROPOSITION: To look at the 23rd Psalm. OBJECTIVE: To learn the lessons it has for us. INTRODUCTION: 1. Read the text. 2. Regarding the text. (1) The 23rd Psalm is one of the most comforting passages of scripture in the Bible. A. It is often read at funerals to comfort those who have lost loved ones. B. It is sometimes read partially in sermons teaching about Jesus, the greatest of shepherd. (2) In this lesson, and the one that follows, we will look at it as a whole. A. We want to take each verse at a time and look at it. B. This way we will get the full import of the passage. (3) A passage study of this lesson will be most beneficial to us. 3. Reference To S.T.P.O. DISCUSSION: IN OUR STUDY LET US NOTICE— I. VERSE ONE. 1. The Lord is my shepherd. (1) Jesus is the good shepherd (Jno. 10:14). A. He is good because he cares for his sheep (1 Pet. 5:7). B. He cared so much that he died for them (Heb. 2:9; Jno. 10:15). (2) He is not an hireling, he cares for his sheep (Jno. 10:11-12). A. The hireling does not care for the sheep, but he leaves them in danger (Jno. 10:13). B. The good shepherd will fight for his sheep (1 Sam. 17:34-36). 2. I shall not want. (1) For what could we possibly want? A. Some want the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). B. There is nothing in this world that is more important than our relationship with Christ (Lk. 14:26). a. Some think that the word “hate” means to detest because that is the English definition: “to have strong dislike or ill will for; loathe, despise” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, p.641). b. The biblical word is “misei” and the meaning in Luke 14:26 is: “in N.T. to regard with less affection, love less, esteem less, Mat. 6:24; Lk. 14:26” (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, p. 270). c. This simply means that we are to love even our own life less than we love Christ. (2) As sheep of the good shepherd we have everything we need. A. We have our material blessings (Mt. 5:45; 6:31-34). B. We have our spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). II. VERSE TWO. 1. The good shepherd makes us to lie down in green pastures. (1) He gives the newborns spiritual milk (1 Pet. 2:2). (2) He gives the full grown the spiritual meat (Heb. 5:14). (3) He does this through our study of the word (2 Tim. 2:15). 2. He leads us beside the still waters. (1) He comforts us in times of trials and tribulations (2 Cor. 1:3-5). (2) His sheep know him and are comforted by his voice (Jno. 10:3,4). (3) In Christ we can be of good comfort and live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11). III. VERSE THREE. 1. He restores our souls. (1) In Christ we are reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:19). (2) We are reconciled to God by the cross (Eph. 2:16). (3) We are saved from wrath through his blood (Rom. 5:6,8-9). 2. He leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (1) His righteousness is revealed in the word (Rom. 1:16,17). (2) He leads us through the word (Jno. 16:13). (3) He does this for his name’s sake (1 Jno. 2:12). CONCLUSION: SUMMARY: We have seen in these three verses 1. The Lord is our shepherd and we shall not want. 2. He makes us to lie down in green pastures, and leads us beside the still waters. 3. He restores our souls, and leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. APPEAL: Let us keep these thing in mind as we continue on with our study. Psalm 23:1-6 THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD CHL-11-07 SUBJECT: Christian Living. TITLE: The Lord’s My Shepherd. PROPOSITION: To look at the 23rd Psalm. OBJECTIVE: To learn the lessons it has for us. INTRODUCTION: 1. Read the text. 2. Regarding the text. (1) In our preceding lesson we looked at the first three verses of the 23rd Psalm. A. We saw that the Lord is our shepherd and that we have nothing to want for. B. We saw that he makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters. C. We saw that he restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (2) In this lesson we want to look at the three final verses of the Psalm. (3) Let us learn what lessons these last three verses hold in store for us. 3. Reference To S.T.P.O. DISCUSSION: IN OUR LESSON LET US NOTICE— I. VERSE FOUR. 1. I can walk through the valley of death and not fear evil, because he is with me. (1) Christ over came death for us and now we don’t have to view death as the end (1 Cor. 15:54-56; Phil. 1:20-22). (2) Whatever happens to us Christ is always with us (Mt. 28:20). 2. His rod and staff gives us comfort. (1) Describe the rod and staff and tell what they are used for. (2) These are reminiscence of God’s word which Christ uses to guide, lead, protect and guard us with (1 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). II. VERSE FIVE. 1. A table is prepared in the presence of our enemy. (1) This table refers to God feeding us and synonymous with “feast.” The meaning is that God has provided for us showing the enemy that he is our God and we are his people (2 Cor. 6:13-17). (2) Our enemies cannot take us away from God because he feeds us with his word and we become full grown to exercise our senses to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:14). 2. Our head is anointed with oil, our cup runs over. (1) Our head being anointed with oil shows that God has provided us with an abundance of spiritual prosperity and joy (Phil. 4:7). (2) Our cup running over again indicates the abundance of what God has given us. III. VERSE SIX. 1. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me. (1) Spiritual goodness will follow us (Rom. 15:14). (2) Mercy shall follow us (Tit. 3:5). (3) These will follow us all the days of our lives. 2. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (1) If we live faithfully to the end we will be saved (Mt. 10:22). (2) Our eternal home will be in heaven (Mt. 25:34-40). CONCLUSION: SUMMARY: We have seen that— 1. Though we walk through the valley of death we have no reason to fear evil for Christ’s rod and staff gives us comfort. 2. God will prepare us a feast in the presence of our enemies, and our cup will overflow. 3. Goodness and mercy shall surely follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in heaven forever. APPEAL: Will you dwell in heaven forever? |
| "Sanctify them through thy truth, they word is truth" (Jno. 17:17) bellecofc@centurytel.net |
Sermon Outline
Belle church of Christ
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