The Good Shepherd: A Study of Psalm 23 and John 10 Finding hope and help thorough the loving care, compassion and leadership of Jesus; the one who promises to be our Good Shepherd. What would it look like for you to let Jesus be your Good Shepherd? Join us for the next 6 weeks as we explore Psalm 23 and John 10 together.
Week 4: The Present and Protecting Shepherd – Psalm 23:4 and John 10:10-16 Who or what is your shepherd? Who or what is leading you? When the Lord is your Shepherd, He is present with you to protect you through His protection and provision. The Lord is with us, but we must choose to be present with Him and let Him lead us.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
Can you help with Summer Serve in Kids Ministry? This is a way to serve not only our Live Oak kiddos but also their year-round leaders when they take vacations etc. Head to Sign Up & Events!
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- ICE BREAKER: HIGH, LOW, BUFFALO? Take turns & everyone shares each of the these:
- A HIGH (something great from the past 2 weeks), A LOW (something that was challenging from the past few weeks), And a BUFFALO (something random from the past 2 weeks…it can be anything…the more random the better).
2. What is “your song”…your go to karaoke song or the song that when it comes on the radio you turn it up and sing it loud? 3.
What is something you were afraid of as a child?
- READ: Psalm 23:1-4.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
OBSERVATIONS: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What all changes between Psalm 23:1-3 and verse 4?
- How do you naturally react when dark valleys show up?
- What does “the valley of the shadow of death” mean to you in your current life? Is it a fear, a loss, or a difficult season?
- Doug pointed out that Daivd did the following in Psalm 23:4…(1) David DEFINED REALITY, (2) David DECIDED not to react by how he felt, but respond based on what He believed about the Good Shepherd, and (3) David BELIEVED that the Lord was with him always.
- How would you define reality in your life right now? What is dark or challenging?
- What do you need to decide or pre-decide before the next dark valley about how you will respond?
- What do you think it means that God has promised that He is with you always? And how do you practically rely on that daily?
- The last part of Psalms 23:4 reads, “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” What do you think David meant about “rod and staff”? And how does that translate to the tools and resources that God uses to shepherd us as His sheep?
- READ: John 16:33. What does this verse from Jesus, the Good Shepherd, tells us about the dark valleys? David says “I will fear no evil.” What specific fears do you need to surrender to God, and how can you adopt that same confidence?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we’ve learned. What’s your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Psalm 23:1-4 “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
PRAYER: Encourage your group to pray this prayer often in 2026 & use to close your group time.
A 2026 Prayer for MORE: Ephesians 3:14-21 “Heavenly Father, Help me to engage with you MORE. Work in me to make me MORE like you. Use me to help MORE people know you. Make my story about your glory! Amen.”
Scripture References: John 10:11, 14-15; Psalm 23:1-4; Matthew 28:20; John 16:33; Ezekiel 20:37; Psalm 139:23-24; John 16:13; Psalm 23:1-4; Matthew 28:20; John 16:33; Ezekiel 20:37; Psalm 139:23-24; John 16:13; John 10:10-16; Matthew 9:36; 1 Peter 2:25