But before ending this description of the good shepherd, Jesus adds one more quality. The good shepherd, the true shepherd, realizes that there are other sheep besides the ones that are most visible. There are other sheep … for if we are of Jesus’ flock, we too have other sisters and brothers.
How shall we struggle to identify what keeps us rooted and grounded in our shared covenant even when we are not in agreement? How shall we “hang in there” with each other – not in spite of, but because of our different views? We share deep roots. Our Wesleyan heritage is rich and grounds us deeply in the love of God and love of neighbor. We share deep roots and from what I’ve noticed over the last fifteen months, our branches spread wide.
There aren’t many times in the life of the church where people sit down and say, “Please teach me doctrine.” As a theology nerd, I wish it would happen more. But it just doesn’t happen that much.
Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, preached this sermon at Taylor University Chapel in 2009. An outline accompanies the podcast. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon – Healing a Broken World
Today, in Houston, Texas, friends and family of Bishop Sarah Frances Davis are gathered in sorrow, thanksgiving and joy. They are gathered in sorrow, because they are mourning the loss of a sister in Christ.
Find more Wesleyan Accent voices from a variety of Wesleyan Methodist denominations at https://www.wesleyanaccent.com/ I love to read and I love to read almost anything—so my interests include informational reading as well as fiction and history
This sermon was preached at the 2012 Ordination Service of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before
