Community Group Resources

Discussion Questions

1. Have someone in your group give a brief recap of Sunday’s message, highlighting the primary Scripture points and the main idea of the message. Note: This series is preached live at each campus. If members of your group attend different campuses, be sure to give a 2 minute overview of the message shared at your campus.
2. Was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you? Did you learn anything new about God or yourself this week?
3. When you hear the word "shepherd," what image comes to mind? Where does that image come from (Scripture, culture, personal experience)?
4. Share about a time someone was a good "shepherd" to you: they cared for you, guided you, or looked out for you when you couldn't do it yourself.
5. Read verses Ezekiel 34:11-16. List out every "I will" statement. What does this list tell us about God's character, not just His actions?
6. Read Psalm 23 aloud as a group. Which line of Psalm 23 feels most true in your life right now - green pastures, the valley, the table in the presence of enemies, or goodness and love following you? Which one feels hardest to believe right now?
7. Something is always shepherding us, even when we don't call it that: a job, an image, an outcome, ourselves. What has functioned as your shepherd lately, even without you naming it that way?
8. What would it look like this week to practice listening for His voice daily - in Scripture, prayer, or obedience - rather than waiting for a crisis to send you looking for a shepherd?

Action Step

1. Spend time in prayer. Consider these prompts: 
   • Pray specifically for those in our church who have been wounded by bad "shepherds"; pray that they'd experience the difference of Yahweh Rohi.
   • Pray for eyes to recognize His voice this week among the many competing voices.
2. Scripture Memorization: memorize Psalm 23 this week. Send each other messages this week to remind each other to study this Scripture and encourage each other in your memorization.
3. Care like a shepherd, not a hired hand: In one relationship this week (spouse, kid, coworker, group member), practice showing up for someone's good even when it costs you something, rather than only when it's convenient.