Called by Name: The Good Shepherd Removes Fear

May 03, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Shepherd Who Knows Your Name

Juliet the sheep heard her name through chaos. Chains clanked as thieves dragged her by a car bumper. Her family shouted "Juliet!" across the driveway. She planted her hooves, recognizing familiar voices. The shepherd’s call cuts through noise—not by force, but by intimate knowing. Jesus says His sheep follow because they know His voice. Fear melts when we hear Love speak our true name. [33:09]

Jesus doesn’t shout over your storms. He calls you personally, like a shepherd separating one voice from the flock. Juliet refused strange hands but ate calmly when her people stood near. Safety comes not from circumstances, but from knowing the Shepherd’s presence walks beside you.

Where is fear silencing your hunger for God’s voice? This week, pause when anxiety rises. Whisper “Good Shepherd” aloud. How might naming His presence shift your capacity to receive His peace?

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"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
(John 10:27-28, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to help you distinguish His voice from life’s chaos today.
Challenge: Write down three situations where fear shouts loudest. Recite John 10:28 over each.

Day 2: When Shepherds Feed Themselves

Ezekiel saw fattened shepherds gorging on wool while sheep starved. They clothed themselves in luxury but left the weak untended. God’s anger burned—not at the sheep’s hunger, but at leaders who abandoned their post. Jesus flips this script: the Good Shepherd lays down His life rather than exploit the flock. [36:46]

Bad shepherds take. Good shepherds give. Jesus measures leadership by emptied hands, not full barns. He binds wounds instead of blaming the injured. When our church sorts food donations or serves communion, we enact His upside-down economy—power made perfect in service.

Who depends on your care? Name one relationship where you’ve prioritized self-protection over sacrificial love.

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"Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock."
(Ezekiel 34:2-3, NIV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve hoarded resources meant for others.
Challenge: Fill one grocery bag with non-perishables for Saturday’s food drive.

Day 3: Feeding as Jesus Fed

The disciples found Jesus cooking fish on the beach. He didn’t lecture their failures—He fed their hunger. Our church ladles soup, sorts donations, and extends communion trays because full bellies soften hearts. Jesus multiplies our fish-and-loaf efforts into feasts that outlast fear. [50:19]

Nutrition matters. Sheep won’t eat near predators; anxiety blocks spiritual digestion. But when the Shepherd stands guard, we taste grace freely. Every meal shared at Epworth declares: “You’re safe here. Eat.”

When did someone’s practical care help you trust God’s love?

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"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."
(Matthew 25:35, 40, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three people who’ve nourished your body or soul.
Challenge: Text one person who’s fed you spiritually. Name their specific gift.

Day 4: “If You Don’t Come to Me”

The choir director hid in the back pew, believing her divorce disqualified her. Jesus carried communion down the aisle anyway. She tasted grace and wept—not from shame, but from being relentlessly pursued. The Shepherd leaves ninety-nine to reclaim the one convinced they’re unredeemable. [48:57]

We build walls; Jesus scales them. We whisper “unworthy”; He shouts “Mine.” No pen can hold you when Christ declares Himself your gate. That broken ankle became a holy threshold—a limp transformed into a running embrace.

What barrier have you built between you and communion?

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"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them... [He] goes after the lost sheep until he finds it. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home."
(Luke 15:4-6, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal where you’ve resisted His pursuit.
Challenge: Call someone who’s stepped back from community. Say “We miss you.”

Day 5: God’s Jeweled Dance Floor

Hafiz wrote of heaven’s ballroom where every guest shines as God’s beloved. The baker-turned-mystic saw divinity in crumbs and kings alike. When we feed strangers or sort canned goods, we polish the dance floor—scrubbing away fear’s grime so all can glide in grace. [44:00]

Juliet’s wool, soup kitchen steam, tear-stained communion bread—each thread weaves Christ’s tapestry. You’re not just serving “the needy.” You’re waltzing with siblings on jeweled tiles, the Shepherd humming the melody.

Who have you overlooked as a dance partner in God’s kingdom?

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"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
(Isaiah 52:7, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three “unlikely” people who’ve shown you Christ’s face.
Challenge: Compliment someone’s spiritual beauty today—name how they reflect God.

Sermon Summary

Epworth opens with an insistence on belonging and visible care, inviting each person to be known by name and to join a living community that reaches beyond the sanctuary. The image of a lamb named Juliet anchors a simple, vivid reflection on how sheep recognize familiar voices, refuse to eat when afraid, and thrive when tended with patience and protection. Jesus stands at the center as the good shepherd and the gate, an image rooted in Ezekiel and Psalm 23 that contrasts devoted care with the neglect of hired hands. That shepherd sleeps across the opening, protects the flock, feeds the hungry, seeks the lost, and binds up the injured, revealing the character of God through attentive action.

Mystical poetry by Hephiz reframes longing into a spiritual opening: love encourages the heart to bloom, and encountering divine love melts fear and expands compassion. The preacher connects that inner transformation to concrete practices: feeding the hungry, tending the sick, visiting the lonely, and joining community ministries. Communion becomes both sign and instrument of inclusion, showing that God seeks out those who feel unworthy and offers forgiveness, restoration, and provision. Stories of someone barred by human judgment yet embraced at the table dramatize how divine hospitality reaches beyond human rules.

Practical invitations thread through the liturgy: volunteer opportunities to sort donations, ways to participate in local outreach, and an ongoing call to live into the implications of being known and loved. The liturgy frames these actions as responses to an already received grace rather than attempts to earn favor. Throughout, the text refuses to minimize the real fears of the world, naming threats from violence, injustice, and ecological harm, yet it insists that the presence of the shepherd reorients fear into faithful service. The conclusion issues a simple covenant: be led by the one who feeds, and join the community that follows, so that abundant life and overflowing grace move outward from table to neighborhood and beyond.

Key Takeaways

1. God knows and calls by name Belonging begins with recognition, not achievement. Being called by name signals a personal, sustaining relationship that precedes action. That recognition frees the anxious heart to rest, receive nourishment, and grow into service rather than scramble for acceptance. [06:03]
2. Jesus as the good shepherd The shepherd metaphor reveals God as protector, provider, and rescuer rather than a distant authority. The shepherd sleeps at the opening, places self between flock and threat, and actively seeks the lost. Such leadership models sacrificial presence that heals weakness and restores dignity. [34:01]
3. Love dispels fear and isolation Encountering deep, transforming love loosens the grip of fear and invites the soul to bloom. Mystical poetry shows that when light encourages the heart, people stop hiding and begin to risk compassion. That inner freedom fuels outward acts of mercy and courage in a fearful world. [44:47]
4. Follow Jesus by serving others True discipleship takes shape in feeding, visiting, and advocating alongside the vulnerable. Service becomes an encounter with the shepherd rather than moral duty, a way to see Christ among the hungry and the hurting. Joining in these practices translates received grace into communal witness. [50:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:03] - Sign in, belong, and online welcome
[07:11] - Community outreach invitation
[31:21] - The story of Juliet the lamb
[34:01] - Jesus as the good shepherd explained
[36:16] - Ezekiel and the failed shepherds
[39:00] - Psalm 23 and comfort in danger
[43:11] - Hephiz poetry on love and fear
[48:57] - Communion as inclusion and healing
[50:41] - Call to follow Jesus through service

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 10:11-18 (ESV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.

Ezekiel 34:2-6, 15-16 (ESV)
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them… 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Psalm 23:1-4 (ESV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Observation Questions

In John 10:11-18, what specific actions or characteristics does Jesus use to describe a “good shepherd”? How do these contrast with a “hired hand”?
How does Ezekiel 34:2-6 describe the failures of Israel’s leaders, and what does God promise to do instead (vv. 15-16)?
The sermon shared a story about a lamb named Juliet who refused to eat unless she felt safe. How does this story illustrate the relationship between safety, trust, and nourishment? [33:33]
Psalm 23:4 says, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” What tangible examples of God’s presence and protection were mentioned in the sermon? [39:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize that the good shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11) instead of simply providing food or shelter? How does this redefine leadership?
In Ezekiel 34, God condemns the shepherds who “rule with force and harshness” (v. 4). How does this contrast with Jesus’ leadership in John 10, and what does it reveal about God’s character?
The sermon connected Psalm 23’s “valley of the shadow of death” to modern fears like violence, injustice, and ecological harm. How does trusting God’s presence reorient our response to these threats? [45:50]
The story of the choir director who felt unworthy of communion ended with Jesus saying, “If you don’t come to me, I’m gonna come to you.” How does this reflect the shepherd’s role in seeking the lost? [48:57]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that “being called by name” frees us from anxiety. What practical step could you take this week to remind yourself or others of God’s personal care?
Jesus’ leadership as a shepherd includes feeding, healing, and seeking the lost. Where in your community (e.g., volunteering, advocacy, or relationships) could you join in these acts of care? [50:19]
The story of Juliet the lamb showed that fear can block us from receiving nourishment. What fears or distractions make it hard for you to “rest and receive” God’s love? How might you create space to feel safe in His presence? [33:33]
The choir director’s experience at communion revealed God’s relentless inclusion. Is there an area of your life where you’ve felt “unworthy” of God’s love? How might you accept His invitation to come—or let Him come to you?
The sermon urged serving others as a way to “see Christ among the hungry and hurting.” What local outreach or ministry could you explore to encounter Jesus in this way? [07:11]
Psalm 23 says God “restores my soul.” What daily practice (e.g., prayer, gratitude, or silence) could help you lean into His restoration when fear or exhaustion arises?

Sermon Clips

41s

#JesusFindsYou

“And I thought, uh-oh, maybe it wasn't so cool. Maybe we did something wrong. So afterwards, she came up to us and she said, I had the most beautiful experience. And she said, I've been telling God I don't deserve your love. I'm not coming forward to communion. And when you came and served communion to me, Jesus was saying to me, if you don't come to me, I'm gonna come to you, and I will find you, and I will include you, and I will let you know that I will feed you, I will forgive you, I will protect you, I will provide for you.”

34s

#ShareGodsLove

“So when we experience this amazing love, we long to give something back in return. We long to live in a way that demonstrates that we know this love and that we wanna share it with others. And so I want to, invite you to be a part of this community that shares that amazing love with others in so many powerful ways. Let's follow Jesus wherever he leads, and I guarantee you, you do not have to be afraid.”

34s

#GoodShepherdCare

“So there was an opening for the sheep to go in, and the shepherd would actually sleep across that opening. So the shepherd was the gate. The shepherd would sleep across the opening to protect the sheep from anything that might come in. And so Jesus uses this analogy and says the good shepherd cares for the sheep, but a hired hand runs away when the wolf comes, because the hired hand doesn't care about the sheep. But a shepherd who owns the sheep, loves the sheep, and provides for the sheep, and cares for the sheep.”

42s

#PoetryThatPointsToGod

“And so suddenly, all of this poetry that he was writing turned towards God. And when I read this poetry, it's like I fall in love with God all over again. I won't tell you that this week I was reading it and crying at times because it's just so beautiful. So this one is called I felt love. It felt love. How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty? It felt the encouragement of light in its being. Otherwise, we all remain too frightened.”

45s

#FearlessInGodsLove

“And so we have to remember that God is always with us, that Jesus is always leading us with that immense love and presence, that there is nowhere in this world we can go that Jesus hasn't already gone, that there is nothing that can happen in this world that God can't handle. Remember, even death itself, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not have to be afraid. So how do we get rid of this fear that is just weighing so heavy on our hearts? I think we really have to practice that love of God.”

35s

#LoveMeltsFear

“And so, you know, you read these and you just again, you fall in love with God over and over and over again, and you realize that God's love for you is so deep and indescribable that you can't help but respond with a sense of love, with a sense of wanting to to love others because you've tasted that love, and you felt that love, and it makes all of the fear that we feel just melt away. And I know that that's hard to believe because there's a lot to be afraid of in our world, isn't there?”

40s

#LoveExpandsTheHeart

“Right? So even in death, we do not need to be afraid. Instead, we can trust that even in death, Jesus is gonna provide that kind of safety and that kind of protection so that we do not need to be afraid. And here's the amazing thing, is that once we've tasted that love, once we've gotten a sense of what that love is like, we respond in kind. We respond with love. I mean, think about it. When you have someone who really loves you and shows you that love in beautiful ways, doesn't your heart just expand?”

36s

#SheepKnowTheirVoice

“So my dad heard the commotion, he got up, and in typical fashion, threw on a robe, which I thought was kind of funny, went running out, you know, the typical, like, shepherd garb, went running out and started saying, Juliet. Juliet. At which point, she sat down and, you know, it started actually pulling on the bumper of the car because she was pretty big by then. And so they stopped and let her go and and drove off. But, you know, I thought it was so interesting. Any of us, any of the family could call her by name, and she knew us.”

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Epworth UMC - Rehoboth Beach, DE This sermon · AI assistant

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