SMC
May 31, 2026
  • Praise
  • Death Was Arrested
  • Right Response
  • Introduction
    Dog attacks from a leash
    Scripture Introduction
    God rebukes the corrupt leaders of Israel, promising to gather the scattered sheep and provide them with a righteous Shepherd.
    CONNECTION
    God’s promise shows us why we need Jesus to help and save us.
    TAKE HOME
    God wants to be our friend and will never stop looking for anyone who feels lost or alone.
    MESSAGE FOCUS
    Jesus is like the best shepherd—He takes care of us and keeps His promise to help and guide us.

    Scattered Sheep vv. 1-2

    Dog barking when loading the pigs
    Jeremiah 23:1–2 ““Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.”
    Shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep
    Reality of self-seeking leaders
    You have scattered my flock
    Move the sheep
    Not where they ae suppose to be
    Easy pray
    You have not attended to them
    To be concerned for them by focusing on them.
    I will attend to you for your evil deeds
    When there is a bad shepherd, God responds.
    *APPLICATION
    God cares about you and wants you to be safe and well cared for.
    *REFLECTION
    Where does this truth apply?
    Titus 3:9–10 “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,”
    Jude 17–23 “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
    Romans 16:17–18 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

    A Caring Shepherd vv. 3-4

    I didn’t think about the full bag of candy I had in my hand; I thought about the one that got away.
    Jeremiah 23:3–4 “Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.”
    I will gather the remnant of my flock
    Find the sheep
    When humanity sinned- Noah
    When humanity sinned- Abraham (nation)
    When humanity sinned- Holy Spirit
    I will set shepherds over them who will care for them
    Ezra, Nehemiah, apostles, pastors
    Ultimately Jesus.
    *APPLICATION
    God will bring everyone who loves Him close to Him.
    *REFLECTION
    Matthew 18:10–14 ESV
    “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

    A Righteous Shepherd vv. 5-6

    Impossible task
    Jeremiah 23:5–6 ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
    Righteous branch
    Tree chopped down; shoot from the stump
    Zechariah 6:12 “And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”
    The LORD is our righteousness
    Zedekiah’s name means “my righteousness is the Lord”
    Doing what’s right because you trust and love God, knowing that Jesus makes you good when you can’t be good on your own.
    *APPLICATION
    Jesus came as a good and wise leader to help and save us.
    *IMPLEMENTATION
    Philippians 3:9 GW
    . . . I didn’t receive God’s approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God’s approval through faith in Christ. This is the approval that comes from God and is based on faith

    Rescued Sheep vv. 7-8

    As you get older, you start to share your own stories
    Jeremiah 23:7–8 ““Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.””
    Fulfilment of promise
    Abraham- land & descendants
    David- King on the throne
    Jeremiah 3:15 ““ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
    Offspring of the house of Israel
    “sons of” in verse 7. Descendants will include those of faith.
    Provider Song
    The days are coming
    Sometimes we ask why God doesn’t do the same amazing things today that we hear about in the Bible.
    What Jesus has done for us by taking our punishment and making us right with Him is something those of the past would long to experience. Luke 10:23-24
    Jesus’ continual action in leading us to freedom and life.
    *APPLICATION
    God helped His people long ago, but what Jesus did for us on the cross and by coming back to life is even greater.
    *IMPLEMENTATION
    Psalm 96:2 GW
    Sing to the Lord! Praise his name! Day after day announce that the Lord saves his people. 
    Summary
    Text
    Reflection
    Text

      • Jeremiah 23:1–8ESV

      • Jeremiah 23:1–8ESV

      • Jeremiah 23:1–2GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:1–2GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:1–2GODSWORD

      • Jude 17–23GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:3–4GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:3–4GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:3–4GODSWORD

      • Matthew 18:10–14GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:5–6GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:5–6GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:5–6GODSWORD

      • Philippians 3:9GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:7–8GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:7–8GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 3:15GODSWORD

      • Jeremiah 23:7–8GODSWORD

      • Psalm 96:2GODSWORD

  • I Thank God
SMC
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