John 10:1-21

"I am the good shepherd"
In John 10, Jesus clearly tells us one of the missions of his earthly visit; Jesus is gathering a people who respond to his voice, so he can give them life and life more abundantly. He is both the "good shepherd" and the "door" to the sheep fold. He both leads us to green pastures and guards us from wolves and false shepherds. Jesus teaches us that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. We are left with a challenging question about our lives, who's voice are we following?
1) "He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but enters some other way, the same is a thief and robber"."(Jesus is the door we must enter through)"
a) Is there any one influencing your life's decisions that is not a follower of Jesus?

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33 –“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.”
  • Proverbs 6:27 – “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?”

b) Is there any religion/secular mindset that is influencing your life’s decisions other than Jesus & the

Bible?

c) Do you look for guidance from astrology? tarot cards? fortune tellers?

  • Deutoronomy 18:10-14 – “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.”

d) How do we recognize thieves and robbers?

  • 2 Peter 2:1 – “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”
  • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
  • Ezekiel 34:2-4 – “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.”

e) Do you look for theology in the Bible or in what popular modern preachers say today?
f) How do we enter the sheepfold through Jesus? What must we do to be saved?

  • The Bible teaches that the only way to be saved is by being born again of the Spirit. We must repent of our sin and we must place our faith and trust in the work during the life and death of Jesus Christ in order to gain acceptance from God.
  • John 3:3 –“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
  • John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
  • The only person who can save you is Jesus. John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

2) "He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep, he calls them by name, he goes before them and they follow him, for they know his voice"..(paraphrased John 10:2-4)
a) Who are you following? music? politicians? actors? news? false religions?
b) Do you recognize Jesus voice?

  • One way to know if you belong to Jesus is if you recognize his words. In other words, if you can hear him speak to you through the Bible and through his own teachings in the Bible. We will never in this life follow him perfectly, that is without sin or some disobedience, but our lives will demonstrate consistent obedience to his word.

c) What are some signs of you recognizing Jesus voice?

  • 1 John 2:3-4 – “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”
  • 1 John 5:1 – “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”
  • John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
  • 1 John 5:18 – “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
  • 1 John 5:18 does NOT mean that if we ever sin after being saved we are not saved. The phrase is translated “keep on sinning” meaning you continue to dwell in some habitual sin. There is no improvement, there is no inner struggle. You just continue to do it over and over and over again. So if we claim to be saved but continue to persist in blatant sin, that may be an indicator that we have not been truly saved at all.

d) Are you willing to follow Jesus out of your comfort zone?
3) "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy"
a) Is there anyone in your life right now that fits that description?
b) Is there any relationships that are keeping you from following Jesus?

  • Even good relationships such as relationships with spouses, children, parents, grandparents, etc. can keep you from following Jesus. Not because these types of relationships are inherently bad but because these relationships consist of people like us who are inherently bad. We corrupt the good things that God has given us to enjoy with boundaries.

c) Are you aware of the "wiles" of the devil? Can you name some of them?

  • Satan deceives and lies – John 8:44
  • Satan opposes the word of God – Genesis 3:1-5
  • Satan casts doub on God’s goodness and character – Genesis 3:1-5
  • Satan hinders the work of missions – 1 Thessalonians 2:18
  • Satan distorts the effective gospel ministry – Acts 13:8-9
  • Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers –2 Corinthians 4:4
  • Satan misuses Scripture – Matthew 4:6
  • Satan imitates signs and wonder – 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Mark 13:22
  • Satan tempts with sexual desires – 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Timothy 5:15
  • Satan promotes pride – 1 Timothy 3:6

d) How does Jesus protect us from the enemy?

  • John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
  • When you belong to God, you are eternally secure. Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

4) "I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly"
a) What is an "abundant life"?

  • Some have taken this verse to mean that God wants you to have a comfortable and even luxurious lifestyle. They interpret this verse to mean God wants you to be happy, rich, and healthy all of the time. This is false teaching.
  • Read Ezekiel 34:12-15 – What do you think abundant life is after reading this?

b) What are some of the blessings of a born again child of God?

  • We are children of God – John 1:12
  • Jesus is our shepherd – John 10
  • Eternal life
  • Freedom from bondage of sin
  • Fellowship with God
  • Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us
  • Worshiping God and it is acceptable to him.
  • True Purpose in life
  • Add some of your own

c) Do you trust Jesus with every area of your life?
d) Is Jesus working in you? what are some of the signs of the holy spirit living inside of you?

  • Some have taken this verse to mean that God wants you to have a comfortable and even luxurious lifestyle. They interpret this verse to mean God wants you to be happy, rich, and healthy all of the time. This is false teaching.
  • The fruit of the Spirit is in you. See Galatians 5:22-24 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”.Notice FRUIT is singular to describe different attitudes of the heart. Meaning all of these are at work in you to a certain degree. Which of these attitudes do you think you need to submit to the Holy Spirit more to bear more rich fruit?