April 26, 2026 | Fourth Sunday after Easter @ Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY
Scripture References
John 10:1–10
To Live in Safety?
When I lived in Virginia, I lived on 7 acres and had 20 chickens.
I built a coop for the chickens even though I hadn’t built anything of significance in my entire life. It turned out well, though. It was very secure. The coop itself could be completely closed off. It was surrounded by a chicken run where the chickens could be outside and still protected by an 8-foot-high screen fence and a lockable gate.
Each morning, I opened the coop so they could get out and do their chicken things in the safety of the run. Then, at night, I made sure they were all safely back inside the coop.
From time to time, I let them go outside the protection of the chicken run. Outside the run, life was much more dangerous.
They had access to a much larger—and unprotected—space to roam. They could all go in different directions, get lost, get taken by a fox or perhaps a hawk. I could ensure their safety better if they stayed inside the safety of the coop. I could prevent intruders and control their environment.
But outside the coop? Outside the coop their protection shifted from the structure of the coop … to their own defenses … and to me.
Then hens and I had to work together to be aware of the dangers and the opportunities around us.
Jesus the Gate—and More Than Safety
When I imagine Jesus telling his disciples that he is the gate for the sheep and that the sheep know his voice, images and experiences with my chickens come to mind.
When Jesus said he was the gate, do you hear him taking on that protective role?
Shepherds would do anything to keep their sheep safe. They could keep their sheep in a pen for the night, even serving as the gate themselves—laying down in the opening so they would be aware of anyone or anything trying to enter.
But…
Is the life-purpose for sheep to live completely within the structural confines of their pen?
Is the life-purpose for chickens to live completely within the structural confines of their coop?
Is the life-purpose for honeybees to live completely within the structural confines of their hive? If so, where would they get pollen and nectar?
Is it our life-purpose to live, love, and serve completely within the structural confines of this congregation?
Is remaining inside what is structured and controlled really “having life and having it abundantly?”
Abundant Life Happens Beyond the Fence
A shepherd doesn’t gather everything the sheep need and bring it back to the pen.
Outside it is risky … it is dangerous.
But outside … that’s where the still waters flow and green grasses grow.
Life—abundant life—happens outside what is safe,
outside of what is structural and controlled,
outside the confines of the pen … the coop … the beehive …
and even the confines of the church.
Learning the Voice by Watching the Wake
You and I are not livestock, but we do learn the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Over time, we experience more and more of who Jesus is. We don’t literally learn his voice, but we learn his values, his priorities—what he stands for, and what is inconsistent with his message.
We get to know Jesus by observing his wake.
If you’re familiar with boating, as you move across the water, the boat leaves a wake—waves that spread outward, affecting other boats, birds, water skiers, even the shoreline.
Jesus’ life—and our lives—leave a wake. We all impact other people.
Jesus’ wake included abundant life. We hear it in his words and see it in his actions. And we are called not only to be shaped and affected by his wake, but to live in such a way that our wake reflects his.
Living the Gospel Out Loud
Both inside and outside the walls of this building, we are called to be aware of our wake—aware of our impact on people around us.
We are called both inside and outside the coop … the pen … the hive … the church.
We are called to live the gospel out loud.
The goal is not that people simply hear our voice—
but, by observing our wake,
they come to know the voice of Jesus … the voice that invites all of us into abundant life.
An Invitation to Awareness
As an experiment, I’ve included a graphic with three areas: green, yellow, and red.
This is an opportunity to observe your own wake—your own impact on other people.
We all have the best of intentions, but sometimes we mistake our voice for the voice of Jesus … we mistake our values for the values of Jesus.
This is not easy work.
But I invite you to notice … to be aware.
Notice the impact of your wake as you risk living the gospel out loud—
inside the church, and outside…
especially outside, where it is less safe and more uncertain.
I’d love to hear what you discover—your insights, your challenges, your joys.
This is about growing in faith.
This is about awareness.
This is about the wake of our lives that affects other people.
This is about growing in Christ Jesus—
growing as a community—
so that together we continue to live the gospel out loud, here, near, and far so that everyone may live abundantly.
Reflection Questions
- When have you seen or experienced “abundant life” outside of your comfort zone?
- Where in your life do you feel most “safe”—and how might God be inviting you beyond that space?
- What kind of “wake” do your words and actions leave in your relationships and community?
Epicurious Lutheran 
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