The Ugly, The Bad, and the Good in Good Shepherd Sermons

He has risen.

He has risen indeed.

In many churches this past Lord's Day the sermons, texts and hymns all revolved around preaching and teaching Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The text pastors used to feed their flocks was John 10:11-18.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing 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.  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Here are some very good, Good Shepherd Sunday sermons where the pastors preach
the ugly - our wretched, sinful condition,
the bad - our inability to do anything about it,
and the good - as in the Good Shepherd whose atoning sacrifice delivers to His flock forgiveness and life eternal.

Rev. Matthew Dent of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Standish, Michigan

Vicar Zachary Marklevitz of Luther Memorial Chapel in Shorewood, Wisconsin 

Rev. Lewis Polzin of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minnesota

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard of Zion Lutheran Church in Gwinner, North Dakota

Rev. Bert Thompson of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Clinton Township, Michigan

Rev. Anthony Voltattorni of Zion Lutheran Church in Marshall, Michigan

These Good Shepherd Sunday sermons are suitable for grazing, feeding and inwardly digesting.