Marked Sheep
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
John 10:11-15
I stumbled upon an unexpected sight when I was hiking in Ireland last month.
I was taking a break from a steep ascent and noticed two sheep on a craggy meadow not far from the trail. They were a bit grubby. The recent snow and mud had made the critters more barn-like than cuddly-cute. But that’s not what got my attention. The sheep had been painted. Their white wool had been painted with a bright splotch of red paint.
The sheep had been marked. Their owner had branded the sheep as his or her own property. It was clear to everyone who could spot the sheep on the mountain. The sheep were not stragglers or orphans. They belonged to someone who had claimed them. And by the looks of the stone fences that carved up the landscape, they had made arrangements to care for their sheep.
As I caught my breath and sipped from my water bottle, it occurred to me that I found these marked sheep to be an encouraging reminder that I am cared for, as well.
Christ is the Good Shepherd. He knows his flock and they know him. The Good Shepherd will not desert his sheep in their time of need. His love and commitment for his sheep is extraordinary and unusual. The Good Shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep.
Which is absurd, of course. They’re sheep. No shepherd in their right mind would sacrifice their own life for their sheep. Yes, sheep are a valuable commodity. And yes, they represent an investment on behalf of their owner. But to sacrifice one’s self for livestock? Laughable.
Well, not to Jesus.
Jesus used this pastoral metaphor to help his hearers to understand the depth of God’s love and provision for His own. The farmers and shepherds, hired hands and rural, migrant workers would have understood this imagery. They would have understood that a hired hand would have faced the temptation to flee if predators descended upon the flock. Jesus, however, is clear. He is no hired hand. He is the owner of the sheep. He cares for them. His love for them will prompt sacrifice when needed. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he’s not laughing at the prospect of laying down his life for them.
Once I had caught my breath and renewed my hike, I found myself relieved that I have a Good Shepherd. Although I don’t have a splash of red paint on my back to signal my owner’s identity, I can claim my baptism as the mark of my maker. Christ’s love for me in sacrifice helps me to feel the assuring presence of the Good Shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd,” Jesus states. “I know my own and my own know me.”
But it doesn’t always feel that way. In fact, I frequently forget the fact that I belong to someone else. Jesus tells us that he knows his own, and I believe that wholeheartedly. In my better moments, I can confess that I know my owner. When I fail to recall that I do not belong to myself, I make poor decisions and fall victim to feelings of isolation, vulnerability and anxiety. When I don’t know that I belong to the Good Shepherd, I feel the threat of predators too numerous to count. Christ knows that I belong to him. It’s me that forgets about him.
By remembering our baptism, we can recall that the Holy Spirit has been sealed upon our hearts and upon our lives. We belong to the God who has saved us, and whose love for us is beyond our comprehension. We may feel like sheep, but the One to whom we belong is the one who defines our true value. When Christ laid down his life for us, we could see firsthand the depth and measure of God’s love.
Brothers, sisters and fellow sheep, we are valuable beyond belief. We are God’s flock and we belong to Him. He surrounds us with love and encloses us with his warm embrace. God is our Good Shepherd. What should we fear?
Not one thing.
As we reflect on the reality that we belong to the Good Shepherd, please join me in praying this verse from an ancient Celtic prayer:
By Christ this day my strong protector,
Against poison and burning,
Against drowning and wounding,
Through reward wide and plenty…
Christ beside me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ toright of me,
Christ toleft of me;
Christ in my lying, my sitting, my rising;
Christ in heart of all who know me,
Christ ontongue of all who meet me,
Christ ineye of all who see me,
Christ inear of all who hear me. Amen.
Spring Sermon Series
Mission Bite
"The Gospel compels us to bring about a transformation in people's lives and into the communities because all people in all communities have a contribution to make. There are over 3,000 refugees in North Carolina. We look for ways that will seek to be beloved community to those who literally spent years on the refugee highway, unable to work and far away from family. We advocate on behalf of them and look to find ways to help their transition. This ministry of welcoming refugees is all about building beloved community together as we practice radical hospitality by being willing to go outside of our comfort zone. Because in order to truly cultivate beloved community, we need to somehow, some way walk in each other's shoes."
- Marc and Kim Wyatt, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel, Research Triangle, North Carolina
Reflections from Our Pastoral Ministry Intern, Darren Beebe
Darren Beebe is serving as a pastoral ministry internship with us this spring semester. Darren recently graduated from WCU in December of 2017 and is currently a Master of Divinity student at Gardner-Webb University Divinity School. Darren has been observing our Sunday School classes this spring and assisting in worship. He has also been serving as one of our RA leaders to elementary school-aged boys on Wednesday afternoons. R.A.s stands for Royal Ambassadors and provides boys the chance to learn how "To have a Christ-like concern for all people; and To carry the message of Christ around the world.”
The other week during RAs we discussed the order of events during Holy Week that led up to Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. To test the boys on what we learned, I had an Easter egg hunt on the playground. I hid eighteen eggs, and in each egg there was a slip of paper on which a Holy Week event or Bible verse was written. The goal was for the boys to put the events and Bible verses in order of when they occurred. (ex. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, then He cleared the temple, and after that He began to teach in parables to the crowds.) This activity went well, except for one thing… The boys came back with nineteen eggs. I quizzically scratched my head a little, as I knew I had only hid eighteen. After examining their findings more closely, I realized that one of the eggs was hardboiled and dyed blue, not like the other plastic ones. How it came to be on the playground, I do not know. What I do know is that God was speaking through this experience, as He constantly speaks through daily events in our lives if our ears and hearts are open to His voice.
This odd occurrence reminded me of The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27). In this parable, Jesus used the example of a rich man going on a journey and entrusting his wealth to his servants while away. To each servant, the ruler gave a different amount of money according to their capabilities and status. Two servants invested the money and reaped a profit. One servant buried the money in the ground and hid it away, so he did not reap a profit. The ruler came back and was pleased with the two who had generated more wealth. He was not, however, pleased with the third servant.
We are called to be like the first two servants. Through our salvation we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, like the servants in this parable were given part of the master’s wealth. We should not bury our faith and hide it away from others selfishly. We are called to share the love and forgiveness we have received with others, not setting limits and restrictions on God’s grace.
The boys in RAs were given eighteen eggs to find; yet they came back with nineteen. Children, though new to life and in the process of learning many things about our world, are often times great teachers of God’s love and purpose. Jesus himself held children in high regard (ex. Matthew 21:15-16 and Matthew 18:2-6). Perhaps we can learn something from these RAs boys. After all, we have been given the greatest gift of all: God’s love and grace. Let’s share it with all who we encounter through our deeds and actions! Let’s bear good fruit for the kingdom of God! Go and find that nineteenth egg!
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out
Friday, April 6th from 5:30 - 9:00 PM
Dinner will be Pancakes and Hashbrowns. Participants will create shaving cream eggs.
A Note from the Fisher Family
We would like to thank our dear church family for your many acts of love and kindness during Jim's illness and passing. The cards, phone calls, visits, and food offerings were so very appreciated. We are blessed with many wonderful friends.
Diana, Ryan, and Jared Fisher and Family
Mission Bite
Bite 77: That's the heart of Jesus
Food ministry has been part of what we do from the beginning. Mike tells this story of how his bread ministry came to help create Beloved Community at Grace & Main:
"After starting a relationship with Josh, I was working at Walmart and a lady from Grace & Main came up to me and said she needed some bread because she had 3 homeless people living with her. That really got to me. Each week I started delivering bread to her house. One day, they invited me to come in and help fix lunches and I have been with the community ever since. To sit down and have a meal with somebody, to help the marginalized and less fortunate, that's the heart of Jesus, with the forgotten people of the world."
- Jessica Hearne, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel, Danville, Virginia
WMU Events Coming Up!
Circle, highlight, and underline April 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th. WMU has some exciting activities planned for the church on those days.
Hope you'll be in the MFC on Wednesday, April 4th, at 6:00 p.m., when Siv Ashley shares her inspiring story of faith and God's unrelenting love amidst the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia during her teen years. Now living in the United States, she has a passion for missions both home and abroad. Ms. Ashley will have copies of her book for sale that evening.
On the next day, ladies of the church are invited to Ryan's Steakhouse, at 1:00 p.m., to have lunch with Siv and talk further about her life and ministry. Lunch will be Dutch treat. Please let Dee Grantham know if you plan to come by calling her at 828-507-9016 or emailing her at dgranthamsmhs@yahoo.com.
And, by the way, Siv Ashley is the mother of our own church secretary, Tia Ashley!
On Saturday, April 7th, ladies of the church are invited to a special brunch just for them! The event will be held in the Mission and Fellowship Center beginning at 9:30 a.m. The highlight of the morning will be guest speaker Phyllis Elvington. Phyllis is a Christian wife, mother, daughter, speaker, teacher, writer, and coach. She is a servant who loves the Lord and she has spoken at Sylva FBC before. Her inspiring talk on Saturday morning may be just what we need to recharge and reconnect after a hectic week. Please RSVP to the church office at 586-2095 by Wednesday, April 4th to let us know you are coming.
Sunday, April 8th, will be a special event, too. Phyllis Elvington will bring the message (be sure to bring your Bible. She will ask how many brought them!). Our RAs, GAs, and Acteens will help lead the service along with the women of the church. It is sure to be a good day.
Hope to see you there at any or all of these events!
CBF of Western North Carolina Adult Gathering
We will carpool for those interested in going. RSVP with Jennie Hunter by April 18: 399-0623
CBF of Western North Carolina Adult Gathering
Thursday, April 26 Noon
First Baptist Church, Waynesville
100 South Main Street, 828-456-9465
Program: Ed Kilbourne, singer, song-writer, folk theologian
This popular artist is known for his collections of moving music, quirky humor, and insightful monologues. He combines his acoustic guitar and singing with a storytelling style often compared to that of Garrison Keillor. Early on Ed was a Methodist minister. In over 8000 appearances over the past 40 years he has worked in Europe and the US,
(see him at edkilbourne.com)
Menu: chicken breast, scalloped potatoes gratin, mixed vegetables with citrus butter, special spring salad, beverage, rolls, dessert choices
Individual or group reservations by April 18: Call 888-822-1944 and pay by invoice or online: www. cbfnc.org/events, click on this event, click on “register,” complete the form and pay by credit card. Cost $12 per person. On the form please make a note of any special food allergies or requirements.
Ed’s CDs will be sold following the concert.