St. Paul's Woodstock NB - May 3, 2026 with Rev. Dr. Andrew Human

On a rainy Sunday the congregation gathers in grateful fellowship, reminded that presence in worship springs from love for God as much as from circumstance. After prayers of thanks and a brief confession for missed chances to share faith, the reading of Psalm 23 frames the entire service. The psalm becomes the lens through which God appears as the good shepherd who provides, guides, restores, and blesses. Attention turns from mere familiarity with the words to a personal claim on the text, emphasizing the possessive tone of "my shepherd" and the assurance that the believer will not merely hope but will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Three focal movements emerge from the psalm: haven, highway, and happiness. Haven explores green pastures, still waters, and the restoring work that brings the lost back into safety. Highway highlights the shepherd’s guidance through narrow, difficult paths and the promise of God’s presence even in the valley of the shadow of death. Happiness unfolds in the prepared table, the anointing, the overflowing cup, and the twin gifts of goodness and mercy that accompany the pilgrim through life and into eternity. Practical images anchor each point: sheep that know their shepherd, the antidote of oil against parasites, the table set in the sight of enemies, and the certainty of dwelling forever.

Illustrations sharpen the call to trust. A tightrope performer and his wheelbarrow dramatize the difference between admiring skill and stepping into risk with another. That contrast presses the difference between believing that God can provide and entrusting life to the shepherd’s hand. The sermon refuses to sentimentalize trials; rather it insists that God’s presence equips believers with power to persevere, wisdom to choose the narrow ways, strength to bear burdens, and community to sustain them.

The service moves from exposition into application: a call to internalize the psalm, to find still places that restore the soul, to practice trust, to act in mercy and generosity, and to pray for the world’s brokenness. The final notes return to praise, the Lord’s Prayer, and a benediction that blesses the road ahead. The psalm stands as both comfort and summons: know the shepherd so that the shepherd’s care shapes every step now and into eternity.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Lord is my shepherd Belief becomes substance when the shepherd becomes personal possession rather than a poetic ideal. Claiming ownership over the relationship reframes dependence as intimacy and transforms anxious want into settled provision. This shifts daily decisions from striving for control to following a known guide. [28:51]
• 2. Haven of green pastures and waters Rest and restoration are not optional rewards but core practices of the shepherd’s care. Still waters and fresh pastures indicate rhythms God designs for renewal, not merely escape from trouble. Seeking such havens cultivates resilience and prevents spiritual drift. [35:20]
• 3. Trust goes beyond mere belief Knowing that God can act and stepping into reliance are distinct movements of faith. The wheelbarrow illustration exposes the cost of true trust: vulnerability and surrender to another’s competence. Authentic discipleship requires risk-willing trust that moves with the shepherd rather than merely applauding from a distance. [37:23]
• 4. Goodness and mercy follow always God’s providence supplies earthly needs while mercy repairs the heart; these operate together to lead toward restoration. Goodness convicts and draws the wanderer home; mercy receives and heals. Both guarantee a hopeful trajectory that culminates in dwelling in God’s house. [48:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:40] - Love, weather, and fellowship
• [10:44] - Opening thanksgiving
• [11:02] - Prayer and confession
• [12:33] - Call to repentance and renewal
• [26:48] - Introducing Psalm 23
• [32:13] - The three Hs explained
• [35:20] - Haven: pastures and still waters
• [37:23] - Trust illustrated by a tightrope story
• [43:22] - Highway: valley and guidance
• [47:24] - Table prepared and anointing
• [49:06] - Goodness, mercy, and eternity
• [52:31] - Summary of the shepherd’s care
• [62:10] - Application and intercession
• [74:00] - Benediction and blessing

Bible Reading
Psalm 23 (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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 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 (ESV)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

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Observation questions

1. What repeated possessive language (e.g., “my,” “me”) in Psalm 23 emphasizes the personal relationship between the believer and God?
2. How does Jesus describe His role as a shepherd in John 10:11, and what does this imply about His care for His people?
3. What specific actions does the shepherd take to provide “rest” in Psalm 23:2-3 and Matthew 11:28?
4. In the sermon’s illustration, what did the tightrope performer ask the crowd to do to demonstrate true trust? [37:23]

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Interpretation questions

1. Why does the psalmist’s use of “my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) matter more than a general statement like “the Lord is a shepherd”?
2. How do the “rod and staff” (Psalm 23:4) represent both protection and correction in difficult seasons of life?
3. The sermon contrasts believing God can act with trusting Him enough to “step into the wheelbarrow.” What makes trust riskier than belief? [39:22]
4. What might the “oil” (Psalm 23:5) symbolize in a believer’s life when facing spiritual or emotional “parasites” like doubt or fear?

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Application questions

1. Where in your life do you need to shift from saying “the Lord is a shepherd” to “the Lord is my shepherd”? What practical step could help you own this truth?
2. The sermon warns against treating rest as optional. What rhythms or “still waters” (Psalm 23:2) could you prioritize this week to let God restore your soul? [35:20]
3. Think of a “valley” you’re walking through. How might God’s presence equip you with strength, wisdom, or community instead of just removing the difficulty?
4. The sermon says goodness and mercy “follow” us but also “lead us home.” Who in your life needs to experience God’s goodness or mercy through you this week? [49:24]
5. When have you hesitated to “step into the wheelbarrow” (trust God completely) in a situation? What would surrendering control look like in that area now? [37:23]
6. The psalm ends with “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” How does this eternal hope change how you view today’s worries or frustrations?