Shepherded | Paths of Righteousness for His Name's Sake - Psalm 23 - Clint Leavitt

This 4th week of our Shepherded series, Clint draws from the ancient wisdom of Homer's Odyssey, where we're reminded that even Odysseus, known for his cunning and brilliance, recognized he couldn't trust his own instincts when facing the sirens' call. He had himself tied to the mast because he knew his judgment would fail him. How much more do we need guidance in our own lives? The sermon walks us through Psalm 23's declaration that God leads us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake, unpacking what it truly means to be shepherded. We learn about the devastating reality of being 'sheeped to death' - how our habitual self-direction wears ruts into our lives until the once-green pastures become wastelands. The cultural lie of our age tells us to follow our hearts, trust our instincts, and do what feels right. Yet statistics on unhappiness, anxiety, and depression reveal this self-directed approach is failing spectacularly. The teaching challenges us to see that righteousness isn't about religious duty but about right relationships - disadvantaging ourselves to advantage others. This is the way of the cross, the path Jesus walked and calls us to follow daily. When we allow the Good Shepherd to lead us, we discover that dying to our self-oriented pride is actually the doorway to the life we've been searching for all along.