Sermon (April 26) “The Voice of the Shepherd” by Rev. Robert McDowell

April 26, 2026

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

    You might not be aware of this interesting fact, but I ran for president in the 1972 campaign. I ran against Richard Nixon, and he beat me by a landslide.

     Actually, Beth Jones one of the most popular girls in the 5th grade won the election. I was George McGovern in this mock election. Beth was not only the most popular girl, she was also one of the smartest students in our class. I just couldn’t compete with her on the campaign trail. I think that the only demographic group that voted for me over her were my kickball friends.

     Every other demographic group: boys/girls, low income/high income, rural/town, popular/non-popular, you name it, the majority of them voted for Beth. And that landslide victory marked the end of my political career. If only I would have had twitter back, then!

     I’ve been thinking about that 5th grade election because of our Gospel reading this morning. In this reading, Jesus is sounding a lot like a candidate out on the campaign trail trying to get your vote.

     That might not sound very spiritual to us since we often think of Jesus in non-political terms, but this is exactly what Jesus is sounding like in this scripture reading. He’s trying to get the attention of the people by explaining why he would be a much better choice than any of his opponents.

     Listen again to what Jesus is saying in his campaign speech: “I am the gate for the sheep. All of those who came before me are thieves and bandits.”

     Wait, is this Jesus doing some negative campaigning? “My opponents are just thieves and bandits.” Sounds like a tweet to me. Short, concise and hard hitting. “All my opponents are just thieves and bandits.”

     Jesus then adds to his speech and offers this more positive tone, “I am the gate for the sheep. If you elect me, you will have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus is saying to the crowd to choose him and not his opponents who won’t be able to deliver on their campaign promises.

     We don’t often think of Jesus on a campaign trail, but we do get a sense of it here. And it’s not just Jesus’ campaign talk to get people to take notice of him, he also uses what John the Gospel writer refers to as “signs.” In fact, John’s Gospel describes seven signs where Jesus offers glimpses that he truly is the one sent by God to save the people.

     Do you remember his first sign? He turned water into wine. And not just cheap wine, but the expensive kind. With this first sign, Jesus reveals his economic agenda. Think of how this will help grape growers during a severe drought.

     Three other signs were when he healed people. Think of how this will solve our health care problems.

     Another sign was his feeding of the 5,000 with just two fish and a couple loaves of bread. Jesus can end world hunger.

     And then, what was probably his most famous of these seven signs according to John was when he raised his friend, Lazarus from the dead. He raises people from the dead. How can Jesus not win this election?

     Well, spoiler alert. John will later inform us in his gospel, that he didn’t get enough votes. In fact, he was mocked and humiliated and crucified on a cross.

     Of course, Jesus hints at all of this in his campaign speech here in John, chapter ten. Sorry, we didn’t read his full speech when we read this passage earlier, just the first half of it.

     In the very next verse of our Gospel reading for today, Jesus goes on to say, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

     Evidently, Jesus should have hired a speech writer because immediately after that speech, John tells us that he got terrible reviews. The critics were relentless. They were so negative that some even said that he had a demon and was out of his mind.

     But here’s the amazing thing. Even though Jesus lost the election, he won the victory by being raised from the dead. And not only did he win the victory, he continues to reign as the true king over all earthly powers to this day.

     Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus shows us that he truly is the good shepherd, the one sent by God to establish God’s kingdom on earth. The good shepherd who saves us. The good shepherd who offers abundant life. The good shepherd who calls his sheep by name. The good shepherd who helps us to find pasture or as the Psalmist describes it so poetically, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures and restoreth my soul.”

      Why would we not want to cast our vote for this candidate, the one who is our good shepherd and who lays down his life for his sheep?

      During the last couple of presidential election cycles, there were people offering up a 3rd possible candidate. His name? The 1980s singer, Rick Astley. Why vote for him? Because in the words of his famous song, He’s “never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you, never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.”

     And I know that you’re singing that song in your head right now and it’s probably going to stay in your head the rest of the day! You’re welcome!

     Jesus is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down. He is our Good Shepherd, the gatekeeper and the sheep hear his voice, he calls his sheep by name and leads them out. And when he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. Whoever enters by him will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly!

     And by the way, I got all of that from his campaign page that you can find here in John, chapter 10. It is true that he’s never gonna give you up and never gonna let you down.

     And not only is our Good Shepherd never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, our Good Shepherd, the ruler over all the world, invites us to continue his campaign in offering God’s healing love to a broken and hurting world.

     That’s you and me. We are the sheep. We are called to be the visible expression of God’s mercy and love for all people, a people called by our shepherd to live in such a way that always points people to the Good Shepherd.

     And unlike today’s bombastic and ruthless political campaigns, we are called to take an entirely different approach, one of servanthood and sacrificial love. Because remember, our candidate’s campaign symbol is a cross of all things.

     Our Acts scripture reading this morning describes the church as that place where we are to continue to live out Jesus’ mission.

     What does a grassroots campaign look like in continuing Jesus’ mission and ministry here on earth? It looks volunteers learning about their faith. It looks like sharing in fellowship. It looks like praying together. It looks like finding unity within their diversity. It looks like sharing their resources for the sake of the mission. It looks like joyfully worshiping the Good Shepherd. And it looks like always inviting more people to join the movement. Now, that sounds like a wining campaign to me!

     And so it is in this spirit that we are are invited to hear and respond to the voice of the Shepherd.

     The voice of our Good Shepherd who referred to his opponents as thieves but then ended up getting crucified between two thieves.

     The voice of our Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep.  

  

     The voice of our Good Shepherd who is always seeking out the least, the last, and the lost.

     The voice of our Good Shepherd who has a special place in his heart for the marginalized, the poor, and the forgotten.

     The voice of the Good Shepherd who provides us with green pastures and abundant life.

     The voice of the Good Shepherd who invites us to be his church, his authentic and welcoming to all community of faith.

     The voice of the Good Shepherd who when gathered around a table with his disciples said, “This is my body broken for you. This is my blood shed for you.”

     This is the voice who we need to hear above all other voices vying for our attention. It’s the voice that invites us to continue to live out Jesus’ platform of offering sacrificial love for the sake of the world.

     So, join his campaign. Enter through that narrow gate because it will lead to green pastures, still waters, and abundant life. And may it lead us to say with the psalmist, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

Sunday (April 26) Pastoral Prayer

April 26, 2026

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Lord, like today’s Psalmist, we are reminded that you are our Shepherd and we shall not want. We shall not want because with you, we have green pastures and still waters. And even in times of adversity, you restore our souls. Thank you for being our Good Shepherd whose goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives.

 

During this time of prayer, we pray for your goodness and mercy to be with those who are in need of your healing, your protection, your guidance, and your comfort. We pray that they would be able to hear your voice leading them through whatever they may be facing. Thank you for being our Good Shepherd who knows us better than we know ourselves and who promises to be with us always.

 

Teach us to become better listeners so that we can hear your Shepherd’s voice calling our name, your Shepherd’s voice that leads us to green pastures and still waters, your Shepherd’s voice that guides us through even the darkest valleys, your Shepherd’s voice that calls us to live out who you have called us to be.

 

Even now, in these next few moments of silence, we offer to you our our undivided attention so that we can hear your Shepherd’s voice calm our hearts, restore our souls, and continue to lead us to the paths you are calling us to go. [SILENCE]

 

“Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear o hear us when we pray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear o hear us when we pray” … and even now as we pray this prayer that Jesus taught us to say together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sermon (April 19) “The Emmaus U-Turn” by Rev. Robert McDowell

April 19, 2026

Beulah & Oak Grove UMC

    I think that people can be divided into two groups. There are those who ignore “No U-turn” signs, and there are those who don’t. Which group are you in?

     Imagine a life without U-turns. Imagine a life where you’re heading the wrong way in life and it doesn’t feel like there’s any hope to make a change in your life.

     That’s what these two travelers were experiencing during their seven-mile journey on that first Easter Sunday. They were trying to get away from the place where it had all gone wrong and where their hopes and dreams were sealed in the same tomb where Jesus’ body had been placed just a few days earlier.

     And as they were walking down the road, they were recounting all the events that had taken place those last few days…the parade where the crowd had waved palm branches and shouted hosanna to Jesus as he entered the city…the arrest in the garden…the trial…the crucifixion…and now, the wild and crazy rumor that those who visited the tomb earlier that day were told that he was alive.

     To them, they figured that rumor was fake news or wishful thinking. With all of these thoughts swirling through their heads, they were now traveling down the road toward the little village of Emmaus. They were struggling to make sense of all they were experiencing and feeling in that moment.

     And so, they traveled and commiserated with each other about all these things. It’s times like this when you’re all tied up in knots, you’re confused, you’re angry, you’re in grief, and you just need to take a walk, or maybe go workout at the gym. Little did they know as they walked down that dusty Emmaus road, that they would experience a U-turn like no other. 

     Jesus appears to them as a stranger which is an interesting thought in and of itself. We don’t always recognize Jesus right away, do we? It’s only in hindsight where we look back and realize that he was with us the whole time.

     These two travelers, after realizing that the stranger was Jesus said to themselves, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?”

     I love this story because it reminds me of the importance of being alert to those closest to Christ moments, those God moments that happen to us from time to time.

     These two travelers experienced the ultimate closest to Christ moment when they recognized this stranger as the Risen Christ.  Luke tells us that after Jesus left them, they got up right then and returned to Jerusalem to find the disciples and share the good news of Easter with them. What they thought was fake news was actually real news.

     The good news of Easter was how they were able to make a U-turn and head in a new direction of life filled with hope and great joy.

     Emmaus U-turns still happen today, thank God!

     Nationally known Christian author and speaker, Tony Campolo often tells the story of someone who made a U-turn in his life literally and spiritually. It’s a great story.

     Tony tells about the time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. Tony was glad to have the prayer, but each of them prayed a really long time, and the longer they prayed the more they pushed on Tony’s head. And then they even seemed to wander in their prayers.

     One of the men didn’t even pray for Tony. He prayed for some guy he was concerned about. He began to pray and said, “Dear Lord, you know Charlie Stoltzfus. He lives in that silver trailer down the road a mile. You know the trailer, Lord, just down the road on the right-hand side.”

     Tony wanted to interrupt and tell him that God already knew where the guy lived and didn’t need directions, but he just knelt there trying to keep his head upright.

     The prayer went on: “Lord, Charlie told me this morning that he was going to leave his wife and three kids. Step in and do something, God. Bring that family back together.”

     With that, the prayer time ended and Tony went on to preach at the college chapel. Things went well and he got in his car and began to drive home. As he drove on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he saw a hitchhiker and felt compelled to pick him up.

     Tony said, “We drove a few minutes and I said: ‘Hi, my name is Tony Campolo. What’s yours?’ He said, ‘My name is Charlie Stoltzfus.’ I couldn’t believe it! I got off the turnpike at the next exit and headed back.

     He got a bit uneasy with that and after a few minutes he said, “Hey mister, where are you taking me?’ I said, ‘I’m taking you home.’ He narrowed his eyes and asked, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because you just left your wife and three kids, right?’ That blew him away. ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s right.’

     With shock written all over his face, he plastered himself against the car door and never took his eyes off me. Then I really did him in as I drove right to his silver trailer.

     When I pulled up, his eyes seemed to bulge as he asked, ‘How did you know that I lived here?’ I said, ‘God told me,’ which I guess he kind of did, right?

     When he opened the trailer door Charlie’s wife exclaimed, ‘You’re back! You’re back!’ He whispered in her ear and the more he talked, the bigger her eyes got. I said with real authority, ‘The two of you sit down. I’m going to talk and you two are going to listen.’ Man, did they listen…that afternoon I led those two young people to Jesus Christ.”

     Charlie Stoltzfus experienced an Emmaus Road U-turn that day on the turnpike.

     God specializes in U-turns.

     Good Friday leads to Easter. Death leads to New Life. Grief leads to Hope. Sadness leads to Great Joy!

      When I was a freshman in college, I was really struggling with what I was supposed to do with my life. I wasn’t happy with my major, and so I decided to put all of my focus on playing baseball in college. When baseball was no longer fulfilling my happiness, I started to feel really, really empty.

     I didn’t know what to do with my life. I was headed down a road without any clear direction or purpose in life.

     That changed one day, when I stumbled upon an old cassette tape that included a sermon in which the preacher challenged the people to make Jesus the #1 priority in their life. It was a powerful message that hit me like a ton of bricks

      I had nothing to lose so I dropped down to my knees and told Jesus that from that point on, he was going to be #1 in my life. After I prayed that prayer, it was like this huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. That dark cloud that had been hanging over my head disappeared and I just new that my life was never going to be the same.

     And the first thing that Jesus wanted me to do was to not worry about what my future career path was going to be, but to focus instead on getting good grades and from there, God would lead me in the right direction. And that’s what happened! One thing led to another and then in my junior year, I felt called by God to become a pastor. My life did a 180 that day when I surrendered my life to Jesus.

     The other wonderful thing about Emmaus U-turns is that they appear all along our faith journey. Jesus is always present with us and invites us to follow him in new and life transforming ways.

     The gospel writer, Luke, is very clever in the details he gives us on how these two travelers were finally able to recognize that the stranger who had been walking with them was Jesus. Luke tells us that it wasn’t until they were about to eat together, that they figured it out.

     It was when this stranger broke bread that they finally had their “aha!” moment. Think about this for a moment. How did Jesus keep a straight face for that long?? There is no way that I would have been able to hide my expression. Jesus must have taken some pleasure in watching their facial expressions when they finally realized it was him.   

     The other thing I like about this story is that Jesus doesn’t force himself on these two travelers. He becomes their traveling companion and invites them to think about their faith in a new way.

     So, Luke tells us that it was when Jesus broke bread that they figured it out. “Breaking bread” is Luke’s code phrase for what we refer to as the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

     Luke is reminding us in this story that if we want to follow a new direction of faith that includes the hope and promise of resurrection and new life, the Sacrament of Holy Communion is a great place to encounter the Risen Christ in our lives. He also emphasizes the importance of the scriptures since that’s an important part of his story as well.

     The sacrament and the scriptures – both are important ways for us to encounter the Risen Christ and get us back on the path that leads to hope and new life.

     Thanks be to God!