Field guide · Terrain · “You prepare a table before me… my cup overflows”
Us with Godand Ministry
Forecast: a full calendar of good causes, with scattered burnout by Sunday night.
Four tired ways to walk
Each has some truth in it. None of them is the whole story.
Under GodSheep that hide from the Shepherd
If I stop serving, God will start wondering what I’m doing with my salvation.
Over GodSheep that know the way
With the right systems, best practices, and metrics, this ministry will run itself.
From GodSheep that follow the grass
I serve where it feels good, and I move on when the feeling fades.
For GodSheep trying to be the sheepdog
There’s too much to do for God to spend time sitting with God.
Our cup overflows at his table, and ministry is what spills over.
Jesus chose the twelve first “that they might be with him,” and only then sent them out (Mark 3:14). The order matters. Branches bear fruit by staying connected to the vine (John 15:5). When the seventy-two came back thrilled with their results, Jesus pointed them to a deeper joy: their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:17–20). We get to serve as people who are already loved, so the work can be given away freely.
Where the Shepherd isHe never sends us ahead alone. When the Shepherd brings his sheep out, he goes on ahead of them (John 10:4).
Before your next act of service, take one quiet minute with him and ask to do it together.
Jesus, would you still delight in me if I did nothing for you today?
Fellow travelers
People in Scripture who walked this ground before us.
- Martha opened her home to Jesus and got lost in the preparations, and he answered her worry with tenderness (Luke 10:38–42).
- Peter heard Jesus ask “Do you love me?” before he ever heard “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17).
Keep walking
- With God: Sheep that know his voicethe posture every entry points to
- Which Way Are You Walking?a short self-check
- The Field Guideevery entry, by terrain, weather and crossing