Throughout Vacation Bible School, Psalm 23 was the focus for the children how to how to cross from worry to peace, from fear to faith, and from uncertainty to a firm foundation in God’s Word through a relationship with the Good Shepherd. Pastor Kevin’s message is on how King David’s early life as a brave shepherd boy shaped his deep understanding of God’s character. Psalm 23 demonstrates how God works in our lives to transition us from Lost to Found, from the Wrong Path to the Right Path, from Fearful to Peaceful, from Grumbling to Faithful, and from Shaky to Sure.
Lost to Found: God is Our Shepherd
David begins with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). As a former shepherd, David understood how dependent sheep are on the one caring for them. Sheep can wander, become vulnerable, and struggle to find their way back on their own.
Pastor Kevin explained that people are much the same. We are prone to wander spiritually, make poor choices, and find ourselves in situations we cannot fix alone. But God is not a distant observer. He is an active Shepherd who seeks, protects, guides, and cares for His people.
Wrong Path to the Right Path: God is Our Leader
Pastor Kevin contrasted David’s heart for God with King Saul’s spiritual decline. Saul had drifted onto the wrong path, but David was described as a man after God’s own heart. This serves as a reminder that God’s Word is a trustworthy guide for life. When the world is full of conflicting messages, Scripture remains true.
God leads His people toward what they need, not simply what they want. Like sheep that need still waters to drink safely, believers need the steady leadership of God to find spiritual peace and direction. (Psalm 23:2-3)
Fearful to Peaceful: God is Our Comforter
We live in a broken, sin-stained world where bad things happen and anxiety runs high. However, as our Comforter, God uses hard times to solidify our foundational faith.
Life includes valleys, uncertainty, loss, and moments that feel beyond our control. Pastor Kevin reminded the church that faith does not mean believers will never face difficult seasons. Instead, it means they do not walk through those seasons alone. (Psalm 23:4)
Grumbling to Faithful: God is Our Provider
Pastor Kevin pointed to David’s years of waiting as an example of faith in difficult circumstances. Though God had declared David would become king, David spent years running from Saul, who wanted to kill him. David had opportunities to take matters into his own hands, but he chose to wait on God rather than respond with bitterness or revenge.
Believers face the same choice. They can grumble over difficult circumstances, or they can trust that God is still working. Even in the presence of enemies, trials, and uncertainty, God prepares a table. He provides what His people need. (Psalm 23:5)
Shaky to Sure: God is Our Promise Keeper
The psalm closes with a promise: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
God is our Promise Keeper. Believers do not have to live with a shaky or uncertain faith. God’s goodness and mercy are not based on luck or temporary circumstances. They are rooted in His character.
Throughout Scripture, God has shown Himself to be faithful. After the flood, He gave the rainbow as a reminder of His promise to Noah. In the same way, Psalm 23 reminds believers that God’s care, mercy, and faithfulness continue throughout their lives.
Hope For Brazil Ministries
Our upcoming mission trip this October to the Amazon River is an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel while meeting vital physical needs in remote, isolated villages. While our church’s children have been faithfully praying and learning about this mission all week, we want to invite you to step into this mission with us.
There are 4 ways you can make a tangible difference today:
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- Pray: This is our most important need. Join us in praying for the safety of our missionaries and that hearts will be opened to the message of Jesus.
- Provide Clean Water: Many families drink directly from the contaminated Amazon River. A gift of $30 funds a complete water purification kit and a locally purchased bucket, providing a family with clear, safe drinking water.
- Donate Hygiene Supplies: We are collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, and bars of soap. In these remote areas, a single toothbrush can cost up to $10, forcing entire families to share just one.
- Support the Team: You can give directly to the mission trip fund to help offset travel costs for the missionaries making the journey.
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How to Give
If you feel led to support this ministry, you can use this secure link to make a donation. Use the drop-down menu to select either Mission Trip or Water Filtration. Alternatively, you can put your gift into an offering envelope at the church and be sure to mark it as Mission Trip or Water Filtration
Questions
If you have any questions about this upcoming missions outreach please email (info@tbclakeland.org) or call the church office (863) 709-1009.
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