Sermons 2025

Text: Luke 10:1-9    

Theme: Sheep in Midst of Wolves

    Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My dear beloved flock, the text for our meditation this morning is the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke the tenth chapter verses one through nine.    

    If Children: Boys and girls, I pray that you are doing well today. Have you ever played the game Simon says? There is a leader and everyone else has to do what they say. Simon says jump up and down. Pat your belly, oopse you are out. Much like we have to follow whoever is Simon, so we have to follow Jesus. Disciple means follower. We often think of the twelve disciples. Peter, James, John, and all the rest. Yet, in our text for today, Jesus sends out the seventy out to all the towns where He is going to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near. We might think, “Ok, that’s an easy task, It should be smooth sailing.” Yet, Jesus does not say that it will be easy. He says, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” How does Jesus protect us even being in the midst of wolves? Ponder that question as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you.

1.    Sheep!

If no Children: We often think that it is good to be a sheep. We think of them as safe, fluffy, and cute. Yet, if we are being honest, it is anything but good to be a sheep. Sheep are weak and vulnerable. They have no power to help themselves when they face predators, such as wolves or bears, especially if they are alone. Often, we feel like sheep alone in the midst of our troubles and hardships, especially when faced with the predators of the world and Satan arrayed against us.

That is certainly what our predators would have us believe. That we are alone and weak. We live in a culture that insists we as individuals can do things on our own. We constantly hear that “you only go around once,”, “Pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps” and “There is not enough for everyone. Fight! Grab whatever you can and hold onto it yourselves! We’ve been taught to “look out for number one” and that “the one who dies with the most toys wins.” 

Alone, we do not stand a chance against all of the predators that seek to do us harm. We cannot stand against the constant pressures of this world, against our own sinful flesh, and especially against the assaults and temptations of the devil. Alone and adrift, as sheep away from the Shepherd, we automatically lose. We give in to sin time and time again. It’s not good to be a sheep alone against the wolves. We face death as as result of our sinful nature, because we lie, cheat, steal, and many more sins. We face the constant attacks of Satan as he seeks to do us deadly woe, lead us astray, and away from the faith. We face the attacks of this sinful world as people pressure us not to live as Christians but to satisfy the desires of the flesh. It is not easy to be a lamb. Jake, Christian, Rylie, you will face pressures in this world. Yet, what will you say in just a few short moments? You will promise to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from the faith. How can you do this? In the midst of all of this terror, warfare, and bloodshed, how can you stand?

2.    Shepherd Protection

    You can stand firm against the assaults of the predators. You can withstand all of the assaults of the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh. This is not because you are a good little sheep, nor because you are perfect. Rather, you can stand firm because you are not alone. Your great Shepherd. Jesus Christ is with you.

He as your Good Shepheard has given His very life for you. Jesus shed His blood for you. He suffered, bled, died upon the cross of Calvary, and rose from the dead for you! The Shepherd laid down His life and took it up again. You, as His dear beloved sheep, have the forgiveness of your sins, the salvation of your souls, and life forever with Him. By His death and resurrection, Jesus has defeated all of the wolves that seek to do you harm. He has crushed the head of Satan, Satan no longer has any power. Jesus has borne our sins in His holy flesh, paying the price for all of them once and for all. As He cried out upon the cross, “It is Finished!” Every sin has been paid for, what sin can control you that He has not forgiven? He has defeated death by rising again from the dead. In Holy Baptism, Jesus has called you by His name through water and the Word. He has connected you with His death and resurrection that you may be His dear and beloved sheep, safe and protected by Him. He feeds you with His most blessed meal in Holy Communion, so that even when the wolves attack, you may have His peace that surpasses all understanding. As David says in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

    As sheep, protected by our dear Shepherd, we go forth out into the world, as lambs in the midst of wolves. We depart this rail in the Peace of the Lord, strengthened by His true body and true blood. We go forth to proclaim His message of what our Great Shepherd has done for us, that Jesus has defeated every foe and wolf arrayed against us. He still to this day, guards and protects us from every evil no matter how young or old we may be, until we are in His fold forever and ever.

It is indeed good to be a sheep, guarded, and protected as we are by our almighty Shepherd. Let us rest, safe in His care and protection, until that day when we see Him face to face.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard, and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.