One Family Following the Good Shepherd Together

Today, we gathered as one family to worship, to seek God’s truth, and to remember our calling as followers of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In the heart of our community, we find belonging, not because of our backgrounds or our achievements, but because of the love and grace of Christ that unites us. Our journey as a church is rooted in the mission statement: “One family following one shepherd. Welcome to the journey.” This isn’t just a slogan—it’s a way of life that shapes how we see ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

Drawing from Psalm 23 and John 10, we are reminded that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leads, protects, and lays down his life for us. He is the only one truly worth following, and his Word is our guide—not something to be cherry-picked or treated like a buffet, but embraced in its fullness. In a world that often encourages us to follow celebrities or fleeting trends, we are called to follow Christ alone, letting his voice shape our identity and direction.

Being “one family” means we do not walk this journey alone. The church is not a collection of individuals, but a community—a family—where everyone belongs, regardless of their past, status, or struggles. We are made whole in Christ, and together we experience healing, forgiveness, and restoration. Sin breaks and divides, but Jesus makes us whole, and in this family, we confess, forgive, and reconcile with one another, embodying the grace we have received.

Our wholeness is both a gift and a calling. We are made whole by Christ, but we are also sent to invite others into this family, knowing that God’s desire is for all to belong. The journey is ongoing; we are continually being shaped, challenged, and called to grow together. As ambassadors of reconciliation, we care for each other, call each other back when we stray, and go out to share the good news with a world in need. No matter where you come from or what you’ve done, you belong here. Together, we follow the one Shepherd, and together, we welcome all to the journey.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Following the One True Shepherd In a culture saturated with voices vying for our attention, it is easy to be swept up by celebrities, trends, or even our own preferences. Yet, only Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the one who lays down his life for us and leads us with truth and grace. To follow him means to let his Word—not our feelings or the world’s opinions—be our guide, embracing the fullness of Scripture and trusting his leadership above all else. [35:56]
• 2. Wholeness in Christ and Community Sin fractures and isolates, but in Christ, we are made whole—not just as individuals, but as a family. The church is a place where brokenness is met with forgiveness, and where we are continually restored through confession, grace, and reconciliation. Our wholeness is both a present reality in Christ and an ongoing process as we journey together, supporting and healing one another. [42:23]
• 3. Belonging Without Barriers God’s family is radically inclusive—not defined by wealth, background, race, or past mistakes. Everyone is welcomed and valued because Christ’s love knows no boundaries. The call is to ensure that every person who walks through our doors knows they belong, and to actively remove any barriers that might hinder someone from experiencing the embrace of God’s family. [43:54]
• 4. The Call to Reconciliation and Mission As those reconciled to God, we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation—both within the church and beyond its walls. This means not only forgiving and restoring relationships among ourselves, but also reaching out to those who are not yet part of the family, inviting them into the wholeness and hope found in Christ. Our mission is unfinished until all whom God is calling have been welcomed home. [46:14]
• 5. Journeying Together in Transformation God loves us too much to leave us as we are. The journey of faith is one of continual growth, challenge, and transformation, shaped by the Spirit and lived out in community. Together, we celebrate, mourn, correct, and encourage one another, trusting that God is at work making us more like Jesus and using us to bring his light to the world. [44:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [07:25] - Visitor Connection and Announcements
• [08:01] - Family Resources and Nursery Info
• [08:45] - October Sermon Series and Adult Bible Class
• [09:27] - Upcoming Prayer Service and Giving
• [10:43] - Opening Prayer and Call to Worship
• [24:34] - Embracing Community and Belonging
• [27:00] - Family Story: Discovering Wholeness
• [32:27] - Our Mission Statement: One Family, One Shepherd
• [33:44] - Jesus as the Good Shepherd
• [35:09] - Following Christ vs. Celebrity Culture
• [36:46] - Embracing the Whole Word of God
• [40:01] - One Family: Welcoming and Wholeness
• [42:23] - Made Whole in Christ
• [44:25] - The Journey of Growth and Change
• [46:14] - Reconciliation and Ambassadors for Christ
• [47:33] - The Only One Worth Following
• [48:16] - Radical Belonging and Love
• [49:39] - Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness
• [52:08] - Forgiving One Another in Christ
• [53:14] - Closing and Benediction
• [70:17] - Invitation to Next Week’s Prayer Service
• [71:06] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Psalm 23 (ESV) — > The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
> He makes me lie down in green pastures.
> He leads me beside still waters.
> He restores my soul.
> He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
> 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.
> You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
> you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
> Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
> and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John 10:11-16 (ESV) — > 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.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV) — > Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
> All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
> that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
> Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Observation Questions

1. In John 10, what are some differences between the Good Shepherd and the hired hand? What does Jesus say the Good Shepherd does for his sheep?
2. According to Psalm 23, what are some of the ways the Lord cares for and leads his people?
3. In 2 Corinthians 5, what does Paul say happens to someone who is “in Christ”? What new role is given to believers?
4. The sermon said, “Sin breaks us down and it hurts us and it divides us and it messes us up and it tears us apart. But, Jesus, love and forgiveness that you receive over and over and over again in this place with this family that you're reminded you're baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And in that gift, Jesus says, I love you. God the Father says, you're my child. Everything that Jesus has done is for you.” ([42:23])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon emphasized that Jesus is the only one truly worth following, not celebrities or trends. Why do you think it’s so easy to let other voices shape our identity instead of Jesus? ([35:56])
2. The idea of “one family” was described as a place where everyone belongs, no matter their background or struggles. What are some barriers that might keep people from feeling like they belong in a church family? ([43:54])
3. The sermon said, “Our wholeness is both a present reality in Christ and an ongoing process as we journey together, supporting and healing one another.” How can a church community help someone experience both immediate and ongoing healing? ([42:23])
4. 2 Corinthians 5 says we are given the “ministry of reconciliation.” What does it look like for a church to be ambassadors of reconciliation, both inside and outside its walls? ([46:14])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us not to “cherry-pick” the parts of God’s Word we like, but to embrace all of it. Are there parts of Scripture you tend to avoid or struggle to accept? What would it look like to trust Jesus as your Shepherd even in those areas? ([36:46])
2. The pastor said, “You belong here. Whether you've been coming to this church for over 55 years or if it's your first day. Welcome to the family. You belong here.” ([43:54])
3. The sermon described the church as a place where “brokenness is met with forgiveness, and where we are continually restored through confession, grace, and reconciliation.” ([42:23])
4. The pastor said, “God loves you too much to leave you where you are. So I'm going to call for change in your life, and I'm going to work that change into you, and I'm going to do it as a community.” ([44:46])
5. The sermon talked about being “ambassadors for Christ” and inviting others into God’s family. Who is one person in your life who might need to know they belong? How could you reach out to them this week? ([46:14])
6. The pastor led the church in confessing sins together and then encouraged people to speak forgiveness to one another. ([49:39])
7. The sermon said, “We are made whole by Christ, but we are also sent to invite others into this family, knowing that God’s desire is for all to belong.” ([46:14])