Select Words

Need fresh material for your sermons? Select Words provides short messages about what God is doing around the world through His Word. Click the links below to read the articles. Any comments or questions? Email us at selectwords@wycliffe.org.

Cyprus Shepherd

Leif Engkvist was serving as a UN peace-keeper in Cyprus when an old shepherd came to the base camp and asked for permission to enter the no-go area between Greek and Turkish lines. He was determined to rescue one of his sheep who had strayed there. The captain in charge refused him entrance, but went with Leif to try to rescue the sheep. The peacekeepers jumped out of their Jeep and ran after the frantic sheep while the Greek and Turkish soldiers looked on, laughing. For all of their best efforts, they couldn’t catch the scared animal.

They returned to their post, and the shepherd again asked to go after the lost sheep. The captain agreed finally. The pair drove out towards the sheep, and the shepherd got out and called for him. Immediately the sheep ran to his master and practically leapt into his arms.

“You could never catch him,” the shepherd told the astonished soldiers. “You see, he is my sheep. He knows me and will only respond to my voice.”

Years later, Leif is now a Bible translator who knows firsthand what Jesus meant in John 10: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27, NLT)

A Nose for a Good Lesson

A Wycliffe language worker in Togo listened in distress as a local French-speaking translator accidentally gave his own version of the sermon. The preacher asked the congregation, “Who knows?!” “Whose nose?” asked the translator. “Nobody knows,” the preacher declared. “Nobody’s nose,” echoed the translator. “Only God knows,” the preacher answered. “Only God’s nose,” said the translator confidently.

The congregation must’ve left church that day wondering what lesson they were supposed to learn from all this talk about noses. But the Wycliffe worker left with a great lesson: why careful translation is so important.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20, NLT)

Quechua Dinner Plans

The Quechua people are poor, subsistence farmers in the highlands of Peru. Maria, a tiny, elderly Quechua lady, had a surprising question when she learned during Bible study that Jesus would come again. “What if I don’t have any money when He comes?” she asked. The Bible translators told Maria that Jesus would take her to Heaven where she wouldn’t need money, but this answer didn’t seem to satisfy her. Finally the translators realized Maria wanted money so she could invite Jesus to come have dinner with her in her little abode hut. After all, that’s how Quechuas show hospitality. For many Quechuas, guinea pig is a delicacy—the best dinner they could ever serve someone, so Jesus might be feasting on it with Maria when He returns.

A Daughter’s Trust

In one country of Southeast Asia there are many unhappy arranged marriages, and cruel mothers-in-law rule supreme over their sons’ wives. So it was surprising when Niva didn’t seem worried about becoming a bride. “My parents know me and love me. I trust them to choose my husband,” she said. A Wycliffe missionary who heard her felt challenged by Niva’s faith in her parents. “Do I trust God that way with my life?” the missionary wondered.