Boulder Creek Community Church

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort meThe “rod” was also used to protect the sheep from other animals. The rod was a club about 2 feet long with a knob on the end of it about the size of one’s fist. It was used to ward off enemies such as a bear or a lion because with one quick blow you could put to death such an animal.The “rod” is also described in the book of Proverbs for discipline (Proverbs 13:24).This “rod” was the shepherd’s symbol of authority, power, discipline and protection from danger.Rod, used for discipline...This is actually a sign of love because love = discipline since the opposite of love is not hate…it is indifference. Hebrews 12:6 says “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” The psalmist declares “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law” (Psalm 94:12) and “that in faithfulness you have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75b) for surely “the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in”

“I will fear no evil… for you are with me”. This is where David stops telling us about God… and starts talking to God! When a kid has a nightmare… he wants to BE WITH his mom and dad… Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place! Why…?We have lost the art of silence and solitude… Both God in the OT and Jesus in the NT assure us that one thing we can always count on… God will be and IS with us! And He’s with us because He’s FOR us! Deuteronomy 4:7 NLT - “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?”Jesus’ most common invitation was “Follow Me”. Come… Learn from me… be with Me… The Christian faith is 1st and foremost, is an invitation to be with Jesus! The first-century Jews had a blessing that beautifully expresses the commitment of a disciple to stay in the presence of the one he followed: “May you always be covered by the dust of your rabbi.” That is, “May you follow him so closely that the dust his feet kicks up is what cakes your clothing and line

One more day in the valley of the shadow of death... dealing with depression holistically is essential! Can may want to use it in your life, but depression is a real battle for many and we MUST learn to partner with God in fighting against it spiritually, psychologically, through good counsel, physically through sleep, diet and exercise and even physiologically through medication if needed.

I’m told there really is a valley of shadows... David probably led his sheep through the valley of the shadow of death as he was growing up. As you look in the Bible, the term “valley” also refers to all kinds of rough times in life.* Joshua talks about the Valley of Calamity* Psalm 84 talks about the Valley of Weeping* Hosea talks about the Valley of Trouble* The reference to a valley in Ps 23 in Hebrew actually means The Valley of Deep DarknessWe all experience this.... it feels like God has abandoned you. You doubt Gods love and faithfulness.... you might even begin to wonder if you did something wrong! You try praying and you get nothing... all the stuff you normally do that gets you out of the funk you’re in doesn’t work. Embrace the Darkness…. Listen to a 15th century monk named John...... God perceives the imperfections in us, and because of His love for us, urges us to grow up. His love is not content to leave us in our weakness, and for this reason he takes us into a "dark night". He weans us from

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His names sake...

The Empty Tomb

A communion Good Friday Service. We'll walk through the Last 7 Words of Jesus.1. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)2. “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)3. “Dear woman, here is your son.” (John 19:26)4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)5. “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30)7. “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46)www.bccchurch.org

Matthew 27 - 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The Soldiers Mock Jesus 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

John 18 - 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

"Take this cup from me..." Cup was a metaphor for God's wrath... we might struggle with that concept... that God gets angry. It doesn't fit our nice, good teacher, image of Jesus in our Western Culture. But if we stop and think about it... we really need and want a God of wrath.

Luke 22 - 9 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

What happened between the "green pastures" and the "still waters"? Life is lived often between these two places... For David, this would probably have been the desert. Desert is a common biblical theme where we are challenged to relate to God through faith... not our feelings.God sometimes leads us to the desert... to make us thirsty.How's your soul? We live in a loud... fast... and distracted world! Sometimes we use distractions to avoid dealing with the deep soul work that needs to be done in our lives?

He leads... The invitation of the Good Shepherd is to be led... That's not as simple as it seems! In fact, it can be risky, dangerous and even unpredictable at times! But... if we trust the good shepherd, and surrender to him, it will be good.

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In the original language, the concept is that the Shepherd causes us to lie down and lean against Him.Only sheep that are full... unafraid... and trust the Shepherd can lie down. This is a picture Where there is both delight and plenty.“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”Hebrews 4:1 NIV“For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.”Hebrews 4:2 NIV

Imagine a life without lack...“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”Psalms 23:1 ESV“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”Psalms 23:1 NLT“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”Psalms 23:1 NIVWhat you have in your shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life. You have grace for every sin... you lack nothing. You have an anchor for every storm... you lack nothing. You have power when your enemy attacks... you lack nothing. You have redemption for your past... you lack nothing. You have God’s approval as you are... because of what Christ has done... you lack nothing. You have His presence when you feel alone... you lack nothing. You have hope when the future seems bleak... you lack nothing. You have freedom.... to live courageously... you lack nothing. You have an Advocate intercedes for us when we’re not sure how to pray... you lack nothing. If God is for us who can be against us? you lack nothing. A Puritan once prayed when he sat down for dinner, “All this and Jesus too!”Max Luca

God is not only his shepherd, he’s a good shepherd. And he is your shepherd! And even more astounding is the fact that the good shepherd became a sheep and sacrificed himself for you. A lot is made of sheep being stupid… And that may be true! Nevertheless your God wants you to see him as your good shepherd. That means he will lead you and guide you provide for you and even hold you close to his heart. Rest and that awareness today… You are loved and you were cared for.

Today we spend a little bit more time looking at who Yahweh is and who he is for you. Today I read Psalm 29 and in 11 versus “LORD” is used 17 times! David wants to remind his people in a time of crisis and in a time of uncertainty that God is more powerful than anything they can imagine. And that power is available to gods people.