In the late 1990’s I was a youth group leader. One Sunday, the sermon was about sheep and shepherds and the different ways the shepherds tended to their flocks. Now days most shepherds go behind the flock and use trained herding dogs to help keep the flock in line and move them to different pastures. In the past-and still today in remote areas-the shepherd lived with the flock. He knew each sheep and they knew only his voice. The sheep knew they could trust him and he would keep them safe. So, they responded to his voice and his commands. When moving his flock to a new pasture, the shepherd walked in front of the flock, talking to them and leading them.
After hearing this sermon, one cynical old man, a shepherd himself on a very small scale, commented, “No matter what the sheep will follow you best if you are carrying a bucket of grain.”
Upon hearing the sermon and then the old man’s comment, some youth began a conversation with one of their leaders that night during their youth group meeting :
Youth: So, what is in the bucket?
Leader: “Food” – everything you’ll ever need.
Youth: Everything?
Leader: Yes, everything.
Youth: What if there is yucky stuff in the bucket the shepherd is carrying?
Leader: There is only good “food” in the bucket.
Youth: What if you eat from the bucket and it makes you sick?
Leader: Then you were not ready for what you consumed. Go back to the bucket and consume something lighter. In time, you will be ready for that which you first couldn’t stomach.
Youth: What if the bucket becomes empty?
Leader: The bucket will never be empty. There will always be something in it for you.
Youth: What if a sheep from a different flock or a stray sheep that doesn’t even belong to a flock comes and tries to eat out of your bucket?
Leader: By all means, let them eat! They are probably hungry for what is in the bucket and you will be amazed at how their lives will be changed.
It was a simple discussion and the kids “got” it; the bucket was the Bible and the “food” inside the bucket was the word of God.
The day after the discussion the youth leader delivered small buckets to the schools of each of the youth group members who had been involved in the previous night’s discussion.
My Patio 