Gateway Church of Visalia

Introduction

Psalm 23
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.

“God doesn't always lead us where we want to go, but He always leads us where we need to be.”

1.Knowing the Shepherd means Trusting His
Heart v1

· The premise of Psalm 23
· A shepherd vs MY Shepherd
· Meaning of “I shall not want”

2. Knowing the Shepherd Means Following His Voice v2-3

· To be led you have to follow
A sheep that wanders…

3. Knowing the Shepherd Means Experiencing His Presence v4

· Shift in language

4. Knowing the Shepherd Means walking with Him. V5-6

· Divine Shepherd vs Divine Heart
· Not just for the peace in our lives but also for the chaos “presence of my enemies”
· Goodness and mercy
· Follow me - the meaning of follow me
· peace is a path not a blanket

Do you know the shepherd, or do you just know the Psalm?

John 10:11- “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

John 10:27-28- “

· The path to peace is not just comfort, but a call. An invitation to follow the Good Shepherd.
· What’s the urgency: “My sheep listen to My voice… and they follow Me.”

Game Changers
Gateway Church of Visalia
Pastor Samuel Akin, Psalm 23
July 3

Prayer Requests:



Read Aloud: Psalm 23

1. What’s something in your life that you’ve known about for a long time—but later realized you didn’t really know deeply?

2. What does it mean to say “The Lord is my Shepherd”? How is that different from simply knowing God is a Shepherd in general?


3. What changes in your relationship with God when you move from saying “He is with me” to “You are with me”?

4. The word “follow” can also be translated “pursue.” What does it mean to you that God pursues you with goodness and mercy?


5. In what ways is God pursuing you right now? Are you resisting or responding?