Fourth Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri — Good Shepherd Sunday — On April 26, 2026, the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church gathered to hear the voice of the One who calls Himself the Door of the sheep. Pastor Christopher Ramstad — shepherd’s staff in hand — preached on John 10:1–10, exploring what Jesus means when He says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” DCE Jason Glaskey brought a toy sheep for the children’s talk and reminded God’s people that the Good Shepherd knows every one of us by name.
Fourth Sunday of Easter in Joplin Missouri: The Abundant Life of the Good Shepherd
The 10:30 AM Divine Service on this Fourth Sunday of Easter — also known as Good Shepherd Sunday — was a joyful celebration at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri. This was also New Member Sunday, as the congregation welcomed brothers and sisters who have joined Immanuel in recent months. Pastor Ramstad opened with a shepherd’s staff in hand, setting the tone for one of the most beloved Sundays of the church year.
Mr. Glaskey’s children’s talk brought a toy sheep and asked the kids what they know about sheep and shepherds. The children offered that sheep are soft, fluffy, need protection, and that if one gets lost, the shepherd goes to find it. Mr. Glaskey pointed to John 10 — the Good Shepherd knows every sheep by name, their personality, which one is fast, which one runs away, which one “baas too much.” From 1 Peter 2:25, he reminded the congregation: “You were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” And from Psalm 23: “I shall not want” — everything we need, the Good Shepherd provides.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:9–10, ESV
Scripture Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
The readings for Good Shepherd Sunday painted a picture of the abundant life in Christ. In Acts 2:42–47, the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer — selling possessions, sharing with those in need, and gathering daily with glad and generous hearts. In 1 Peter 2:19–25, Peter described Christ as the Shepherd who bore our sins on the tree that we might live to righteousness: “By his wounds you have been healed.” And in John 10:1–10, Jesus declared Himself both the door and the Good Shepherd — the one way into the safety of the Father’s fold.
Theological Reflection: Abundance That Looks Different Than We Expect
Pastor Ramstad opened with a lesson on Jewish sheepfolds — built from large stones in various shapes, but always with one defining characteristic: a single door. One way in, one way out. He compared it to coming home: your neighbors won’t think twice if you walk through the front door, but if you crawl through the doggy door or go down the chimney, “it’s going to raise some red flags.” Those who enter by another way, Jesus says, are thieves and robbers — like the Pharisees in John 9 who cast out the man born blind simply for being healed.
A personal story brought the sheep-and-shepherd relationship to life: on his first call in Columbus, Nebraska, a farmer friend took Pastor Ramstad to see his cattle herd. “They know me, but they don’t know you,” the farmer said. “If you go in first, it’ll spook them.” Just as those cattle knew their farmer’s voice, the sheep know the voice of their Shepherd. Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb heard just one word — “Mary” — and recognized the risen Lord.
The sermon then turned to a challenging question: what does the “abundant life” Jesus promises actually look like? Pastor Ramstad pushed back on the American version of abundance — Super Walmart with unlimited choices, houses that have doubled in size since 1950 with more bathrooms than people, garages too full of storage to fit the cars, and doom scrolling through unlimited digital content. The prophet Amos warned: “Woe to you who live at ease in Zion.” That’s not the abundance Jesus is talking about.
Instead, Pastor Ramstad pointed to Acts 2: the early Christians devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. They gave away possessions. They had less stuff but more of what matters — more brothers and sisters in Christ. “The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” On New Member Sunday, that truth was lived out as Immanuel welcomed new members who heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and followed Him here.
“Have no fear, little flock; have no fear, little flock, for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom. Have no fear, little flock.”
“Have No Fear, Little Flock,” LSB 735, st. 1
About Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. We gather for worship every Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Martin Luther School serves children from preschool through 8th grade, and Curiosity Camps runs all summer. Sunday School and Youth Group meet weekly for all ages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Good Shepherd Sunday?
Good Shepherd Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, celebrated every year in the Easter season. The readings focus on Jesus as the Good Shepherd from John 10 and Psalm 23. It is one of the most beloved Sundays of the church year.
What does Jesus mean by “I am the door”?
In John 10:9, Jesus calls Himself the door of the sheepfold — the only way into the safety of the Father’s fold. Just as ancient sheepfolds had a single entrance, Jesus is the one way to salvation. Those who enter through Him “will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
What does “abundant life” mean in John 10:10?
Jesus says He came that His sheep “may have life and have it abundantly.” This abundance is not material wealth but life in Christ — forgiveness, fellowship, the means of grace, and eternal life. Acts 2 shows what this looks like: a community devoted to God’s Word, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, and generous love for one another.
What is Psalm 23 about?
Psalm 23 is David’s beloved confession of trust in God as his shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” It describes God’s provision (green pastures, still waters), His presence in suffering (the valley of the shadow of death), and His promise of eternal life (dwelling in the house of the Lord forever). Lutherans hear this psalm as a picture of life in Christ through baptism, Word, and Sacrament.
Where is Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri?
Immanuel Lutheran Church is located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. Sunday worship is at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. All are welcome.