Easter 4, May 11, 2025 The Good Shepherding Continues Text: Acts 20:17–35. Other Lessons: Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9–17; John 10:22–30 Sermon Theme: The Good Shepherd continues to shepherd his sheep. Sermon Goal: That you trust Jesus, your Good Shepherd, to shepherd you continually through your pastor and to use all of them, his sheep, to reach and care for others. Based on a sermon outline in Concordia Pulpit Resources by Rev. Dominic J. Rivkin.
Sermon: Paul was bidding farewell to the pastors of the church in Ephesus. He’d established the church and for three years shepherded it, but now it would see his face no more, and he was deeply concerned for what would follow. It’s Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, established us as his church, but since he ascended back to heaven, we haven’t seen his face. And what’s happened in this world since must cause us deep concern. In our text, though, Paul continues to care for the Ephesian church through the pastors he’s leaving behind, and Paul is only doing what he’d learned from his Lord. We don’t see Jesus here shepherding us, but, through pastors he calls and through his people he equips, The Good Shepherd Continues to Shepherd His Sheep.
The Good Shepherd, who made us his own, continues to gather his sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, sacrificed himself to save us, lost, wandering sheep. He obtained us with his own blood (v 28d). For he is also the Lamb of sacrifice (Rev 7:14, 17). Jesus called Paul to gather countless new sheep of the Good Shepherd (vv 17–21). Paul had evangelized the Ephesian church.
The word that won souls was Jesus’ saving work. Jesus continues to call pastors, such as the Ephesian elders, to gather new sheep of the Good Shepherd. Part of every pastor’s job is to tell nonmembers, “Jesus loves you, died for you, gives you heaven!” Not just “house to house”—but that may be. Jesus calls every believer to gather new sheep of the Good Shepherd. You all have friends, coworkers Pastor doesn’t see. The Good Shepherd shed his blood for them too. The Good Shepherd, who brought us to the truth, continues to protect his sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protected his own from anyone who would snatch them out of the Father’s hand (Jn 10:27–28; 17:12). He taught the truth that saves: his cross (Jn 14:6). He protects from all false teachers (Jn 10:24–26). Jesus called Paul to protect the Good Shepherd’s sheep from wolves (vv 28–32). Paul’s letters warned against false doctrine.
Now he warns the Ephesian pastors to be ready. Jesus continues to call pastors, such as the Ephesian elders, to protect the Good Shepherd’s sheep from today’s false teachers. The wolves have surely come! (Give examples.) Jesus protects you through your pastor’s teaching. Jesus calls every believer both to be vigilant and to protect those of the Good Shepherd’s sheep he places in our care. He guards you as you study his Word faithfully. He guards your families through your teaching.
The Good Shepherd, who cared only for us, continues to nurture his sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was always self-giving, serving our every need. He healed, fed, guided, never serving himself. He surely followed his own words (v 35b). Jesus called Paul to labor selflessly in nurturing the Good Shepherd’s sheep (vv 22–24, 33–35). Paul set the example of selfless service. The congregation was to follow in selfless care. Jesus continues to call pastors, such as the Ephesian elders, to provide spiritual and physical care for the Good Shepherd’s sheep.
Here, too, pastors set the tone for caring. Other workers, like deaconesses, may carry on. Jesus calls every believer to nurture the Good Shepherd’s sheep our congregations can touch. This begins for us in our homes. And then we support our congregation’s work. All this that we do, all that we pastors do, in our various Christian callings as sheep, as shepherds, is because the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has shepherded us, “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (v 28d). In fact, all that we do as Christians is truly a continuation of the Good Shepherd’s shepherding. That will never cease! We’ll even celebrate it when we join those who have come “out of the great tribulation . . . [and] have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). Amen.