“Being Content in a Discontent World!” Psalm 23

All star third baseman for the Kansas City Royals signed a lifetime contract in 1984 for 1.5 million a year… George Brett

Our age is an age of discontentment Our age is an age of discontentment. Everyone wants more – not just professional athletes. Little ones want more attention, toys and TV time. Teenagers want more “freedom” and popularity. Adults want more money and leisure time…

… Without hesitation a man dove in, found the boy, brought him to shore and revived him…

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’”

to learn to be content in a discontent world Purpose: to learn to be content in a discontent world

Obviously the key to understanding this lies in our realizing and trusting in the fact that the Good Shepherd cares for you and me…

I The Good Shepherd Provides Every Need (vv 2-3)

In this book, Keller gives eight points behind the Lord using sheep to describe us and Jesus being called the Good Shepherd…

“All we like sheep have gone astray…” Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray…”

I The Good Shepherd Provides Every Need (vv 2-3) A. He Provides Food (v 2a) B. He Provides Water (v 2b)

Psalm 32:6-7 “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach Him. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with the songs of deliverance.”

I The Good Shepherd Provides Every Need (vv 2-3) A. He Provides Food (v 2a) B. He Provides Water (v 2b) C. He Provides Restoration (v 3a) D. He Provides Direction (v 3b)

“What way should I go. ” “Where do you want to go. ” “I don’t know “What way should I go?” “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know.” “If you don’t know where you are going then one road is just as good as another.”

II The Good Shepherd Protects in Death (vv 2-3) A. What Fear of Death Does

Hebrews 2:15 “… and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

II The Good Shepherd Protects in Death (vv 2-3) A. What Fear of Death Does B. Death is Our Last Enemy

“I’m going to be a lion tamer with lots of fierce lions “I’m going to be a lion tamer with lots of fierce lions. I’ll walk into that cage and they’ll roar…”

III The Good Shepherd Promises Eternal Life (vv 2-3) A. An Anointment with Promise

Remember when Samuel anointed David Remember when Samuel anointed David? David was young and there was quite a span of time between his being anointed and his becoming actual King…

III The Good Shepherd Promises Eternal Life (vv 2-3) A. An Anointment with Promise B. A Blessed Assurance

“Follow” literally means to pursue “Follow” literally means to pursue. In other words, God actively pursues us to be assured of eternal life!

Like the shepherd searching for the lost sheep, God pursues you and me with His mercy, so we will be exempt from punishment on the Judgment Day.

Two marker stones in England illustrate this Two marker stones in England illustrate this. One reads: “She died for want of things” along side this stone another reads: “He died trying to give them to her”

Conclusion and Summary: The Good Shepherd is calling. IF we follow Him in life… IF we follow Him in death… IF we receive His grace and mercy, eternal life is PROMISED. What more could you possibly want?! All of which is made possible because the Good Shepherd Cares!