12/03/2023
December 3, 2023

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Ezekiel 34:1-24

34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? 3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. 6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. 8 As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—because my flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal, and because my shepherds do not search for my flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

10 “‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds. I will demand my flock from them and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue my flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

11 “‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, the Lord God says this: Look, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and goats. 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Yet my flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.

20 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Since you have pushed with flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you scattered them all over, 22 I will save my flock. They will no longer be prey, and I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will establish over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd. 24 I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.

Notes

Tap the blue square to the right to take notes.

Welcome Recap

Imprint is using the metaphor of travelling partners to think about discipleship to Jesus and how we organize as a community. Following Jesus includes daily travelling partners as well as more occasional travelling partners. Some companions on the road stay together for a long time (Imprint Groups are a great example), while other travelling partners gather for a shorter period of time (Men’s and Women’s Bible studies) or for a specific purpose (Practicum). No disciple can commit to everything always, but every disciple needs to be in regular relationship with others as they follow Jesus. Discipleship is about relationship. Here are a few of the contexts we talked about this week:
1. WOMEN’S MINISTRY GAME NIGHT - Join us for a night of games and fellowship. We will meet for one hour at Imprint Church in Woodinville to play games, have treats and fellowship with one another. Bring on the competition! Sign up here Here, on the app, or website.
2. CHRISTMAS EVE GATHERINGS - We are less than a month away from Christmas and just over a month away from 2024. Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year. To celebrate the occasion, we will have slightly different worship gatherings with more songs, scripture readings, and a message in three parts. Think of it as a take on “lessons and carols.” This will be a family style gathering, meaning we will only have kids ministry for beginnings and the service will be more interactive. We hope you’ll pray about who you can invite to experience the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ.
3. COOKIES FOR GOATS! - Last week we told you about our advent generosity project to benefit ANLM. We also mentioned that there are far more goats involved than any other year. To help raise money, our Kids Ministry is once again hosting Christmas Treat Sunday. While the main giving campaign will focus on the farm and infrastructure, our Kids Ministry is going to buy the goats! Here’s how it works: Families with kids will bake treats together. They will bring these treats to church on Sunday, December 10.
You enjoy the treats and donate! While the treats don’t have to be goat themed, we definitely won’t stop you!
3. YOUNG ADULTS DINNER It was awesome. There will be another one on December 30th. It will be awesome. Sign up here.

Imprint Woodinville Sermon Recap

Read Ezekiel 34:1-24 and spend a few minutes recapping the sermon.

The Big Idea in the sermon is: Jesus came to into the world because we need a Good Shepherd.

Some Key Points
1. In this passage, God brings an accusation against the leaders and the people of Israel.
2. The Accusation against the leaders is corruption and apostasy. They have exploited and abused the people. But the people are not innocent victims. They too have abandoned God, turned on eachother, and ignored God’s rule.
3. The Verdict is guilty. Because the leaders of Israel have failed to serve under YHWH’s rule and have instead served themselves at the expense of the people, the leaders are guilty and will be removed from office.
4. The Sentence is a surprise. YHWH declares He Himself will make things right. He will rescue the people, bring them back into the Garden Land, Bless them, and cause them to flourish.
5. He will do this by wise judgment between those who are loyal to Him and those who abuse the sheep, purging the community from exploitative leadership. And He will establish his rule through “David”, his servant.
6. This “David” is not the literal David, but the promised Messiah, the Son of David the entire Old Testament points to. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, Son of David, Seed of the Woman, who has liberated Humanity from sin, death, and The Powers.
7. He frees us, not so that we can be lead by ourselves, but so that we can recognize Jesus as living King, and follow him in the way of Life.

Imprint Bothell Sermon Recap

Read Ezekiel 34:1-24 and spend a few minutes recapping the sermon.

The Big Theme in the sermon is:

Some Key Points
1.

Sermon Discussion Questions

  1. Discuss some of the reasons Jesus came? Think Biblically - where do you find these reasons?
  2. Why will Jesus come again?
  3. How does Jesus’s return give you hope on a daily basis?
  4. God charges the leaders of Israel of failing to do several things (Ezekiel 34:4). How is God’s Kingdom actively engaged in these areas? Which are you most drawn to?
  5. Solomon is an example of a bad leader. He abandons God and his people and instead pursues money, sex, and power. Which of these temptations is God currently liberating you from?
  6. How does God liberate people from bondage to sin, death, and the Powers?
  7. How are you using your freedom in Jesus?
  8. How is Jesus currently shepherding you?
  9. What does your neighbor, co-worker, classmate, or friend find compelling about your life and lifestyle?