Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast · Crossway Christian Church

The Green Pastures and Still Waters of God

·30 min·1 clip

Four conditions keep sheep from lying down: fear, friction, pests, and hunger.

1. Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast features Dave Ripper preaching on Psalm 23:2, 'green pastures' and 'still waters,' outdoors in southern New Hampshire. 2. Dave Ripper is the lead pastor of Crossway Christian Church, and his role matters because he frames the sermon as both teaching and pastoral care. 3. The sermon asks what it means for God to help restless people 'lie down' and find calm in Psalm 23. 4. The episode starts with an inspection-related delay and a shift to an outside gathering, which the speaker treats as fitting weather for Psalm 23:2. 5. Dave says he planned this sermon in May for September 28, then noticed the day matched the passage about 'green pastures' and 'still waters.' 6. He describes a previous outdoor sermon in Pittsburgh where wind blew his notes into the woods, which explains why he jokes about preaching outside again. 7. He draws on a friend's advice that he needed 'shelter' and 'the green and the blue,' meaning New Hampshire hills and lake water. 8. He argues that greens, blues, and softer colors in creation can lower anxiety and bring calm to the soul. 9. He cites Dallas Willard's line that 'we live in a God-bathed world' and Psalm 90's prayer, 'let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.' 10. He reads all of Psalm 23 aloud and asks the congregation to stand, making the text itself part of the sermon. 11. He says the phrase 'He makes me lie down' matters because many people resist rest and keep moving. 12. He lists four conditions sheep need before lying down: freedom from fear, friction, pests, and hunger. 13. Under fear, he says sheep need a shepherd's presence to feel protected from predators and relates that to human worry and news-driven anxiety. 14. He references John 16 to say Jesus told disciples they would have trouble, but they can take heart because he has overcome the world. 15. Under friction, he says sheep can become territorial and competitive, just like people who compare themselves and create conflict. 16. He says reconciliation begins with forgiveness and with remembering how God has forgiven more than people deserve. 17. Under pests and hunger, he says small annoyances can gnaw at people, and he contrasts spiritual nourishment with 'sugar of life' like achievement, possessions, and pleasure. 18. He says still waters means 'waters of rest' and compares dew-covered grass to quiet time or daily devotional time with God. 19. The sermon has an informal, conversational energy, with humor, crowd interaction, and a repeated invitation to pray and reflect. 20. People who want Psalm 23, pastoral teaching, and practical calm will like it, while listeners wanting a short topical message may skip it.

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