Text: Psalms 23:2-3

The Shepherd (GOD)...

1. ...Makes Me Stop (v. 2a)

   1. Max Lucado “In God’s hands, intended evil becomes eventual good.”

   2. Why can’t you stop? Or Why won’t you stop?

1. …Stills My Mind (v. 2b)

   1. What has been mentally consuming you?

1. ...Fills Me Back Up (v. 3a)

   1. Phillip Keller A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23 “Sheep are incapable of finding good water on their own… if left alone, sheep will drink whatever they stumble upon, even if it is stagnant, filthy, and unfit to drink.”

   2. How do/can you get “filled” by the Lord?

1. ...Sends Me Back Out (v. 3b)

   1. What would people say about your shepherd?

*Notice the progression (Stop, Stills, Fills, Sends)

Where are you right now?

APPLICATION

“You are either a victim of your circumstances or a pioneer of your opportunities”

1. What will you do with your opportunity?

Psalms 23 Challenge

Today and everyday for the next week

Spend at least 30 minutes with the Lord

1. Stop: Stop what you’re doing

2. Still: Find a quiet place

3. Fill: Allow the lord to fill you up

   1. Spend at least 10 minutes in prayer

   2. Spend at least 10 minutes reading and reflecting on Psalms 23

   3. Spend at least 10 minutes working on memorizing Psalms 23 (NIV)

4. Send: Allow the lord to send you back out

   1. Share with others what God is doing in and through you

   2. Do it as family at least 1 this week

Group Discussion questions: 

*Please take a moment and find someone to talk through these questions together

1. What are you most restless/anxious about right now?

2. Why can’t you stop? Or Why won’t you stop?

3. What has been mentally consuming you?

4. How do/can you get “filled” by the Lord?

5. What would people say about your shepherd?

6. (STOP, STILLS, FILLS, SENDS) Where are you right now?

7. What will you do with your opportunity?

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

9And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

9And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”