Introduction

Friends, some words settle us. Some words steady our steps and still our storms. John 10 is filled with those words. The scene is simple and strong: a Shepherd, His sheep, a door, a field, a wolf, and a promise. If your week has been loud, hear this: the Good Shepherd speaks in a voice that cuts through the clamor with kindness. If your heart feels hurried, listen: He calls you by name, and that name sounds like home on His lips. If you have been wondering where real life is found, take heart: He does not offer a trickle; He pours out abundance. If fear has been your frequent guest, lean in: the Shepherd lays down His life, and He takes it up again, holding your days inside His nail-scarred hands.

Do you ever strain to recognize His voice among so many others? He says, “My sheep hear my voice.” Do you ever wonder where the secure place is—the place where your soul can breathe? He says, “I am the door.” Do you ever question if your future is truly safe? He says, “I lay down my life… I have power to take it again.” What leader talks like that? Only the One who loves you enough to bleed for you and strong enough to rise for you. He leads before He commands. He guards before He guides. He knows you fully and loves you completely.

You may be weary, worried, or waiting today. The Good Shepherd meets you in all three. He sees your midnight moment and your Monday morning. He counts every tear and carries every care. He is not far. He is here—tender in tone, mighty in mercy, lavish in love. He calls, and the call carries courage. He opens, and the opening ushers in green pastures and still waters. He lays down His life, and that life becomes your life—life to the brim and spilling over the brim.

Hear this heart-lifting reminder from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship) The Good Shepherd’s call empties us of fear and fills us with forever. In His pasture, surrender is not loss; surrender is finding the arms that refuse to let go. He gave Himself for you, and He gives Himself to you. He knows how to lead you out, how to bring you in, and how to keep you near.

Before we read, ask a simple question of your soul: Am I ready to listen for His voice, step through His door, and trust His care? If your answer feels small, that is all right. He delights to take small faith and give strong assurance. Let His words wash over you now.

Scripture Reading: John 10 (KJV) 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.

Opening Prayer Good Shepherd, we are here and we are listening. Tune our ears to Your voice that calls us by name. Open the door of our hearts to Your saving presence. Lead us beside Your still waters and feed us with Your living Word. Calm our chaos, quiet our questions, and steady our steps. Thank You for laying down Your life for us and taking it up again with authority and victory. Give us grace to trust, courage to follow, and joy to rest in Your care. In Your strong and tender name, Jesus, amen.

His Voice Recognized by the Sheep

The scene is simple. A shepherd speaks. The flock hears. That hearing is not casual. It is close. It comes from life together. It comes from long days and steady steps. The voice becomes familiar. The sound means safety. The name spoken means belonging.

This is how it works with the Lord. Hearing Him is not a trick. It is a way of life. It forms over time. It is shaped by nearness. It is shaped by trust. It is shaped by His words entering the heart again and again.

He speaks, and His own hear. Scripture says He calls His own by name and leads them out. Names are personal. Names carry story. When He names you, He is not guessing. He knows. He knows your fears. He knows your longings. He knows where you have wandered and where you are weak. Recognition grows when we keep showing up to be known in that way.

We learn the sound of His voice by staying near His words. The pages of Scripture train the ear. The Psalms tune our prayers. The Gospels show His tone. His tone is steady. His tone is true. His tone is full of grace. His tone brings a clean kind of conviction that helps us turn. His tone brings peace that lasts through the night. Over time this sound becomes familiar. The heart starts to say, “I know that voice.” The will starts to answer, “I am ready to follow.”

This recognition also forms through daily habits. Small prayers across the day. Quiet moments before the rush. Reading slowly. Speaking honestly. Confessing quickly. Thanking often. These habits teach the soul to listen. The heart learns to wait for His word. The mind learns to sift its thoughts by His truth. The conscience grows tender again. In this way, hearing becomes a pattern and not a guess.

Another part of recognition is this: hearing moves our feet. The sheep do not only hear. They go after Him. Verse 4 says He goes before them and they follow. Following confirms the voice. We test what we think we heard by walking it out with humility. When the step matches His character, the fruit shows soon enough. There will be gentleness. There will be faith. There will be love. There will be a holy courage that serves others well.

Think of how simple this can be. You sense a nudge to forgive. You make the call. You feel drawn to set aside bitterness. You lay it down in prayer and then you bless the person by name. You feel a pull to give and to do it quietly. You let go of the money and do not ask for praise. These are ordinary paths. Yet they sound like Him. They line up with what He has said. As you obey, the sound grows clearer.

The same is true with hard choices. You face fear and feel called to stand firm in truth. You choose honesty when a shortcut sits near your hand. You speak with kindness when anger presses for control. None of this is easy. It is simple and strong. Each step leaves a trace of His way. Over time, the pattern is plain. The Shepherd’s voice has led you.

Recognition is also sharpened when life is loud. Many sounds press on the heart. Many opinions fill the air. In that setting, the flock learns to turn toward the One who knows them. They learn to keep their eyes on Him and their feet near Him. Verse 5 says they do not go after a stranger. The ear can tell when a tone does not match the Shepherd. That skill grows with practice.

We can make room for this skill. Build pauses into the day. Sit in silence for a few minutes. Ask, “Lord, speak from Your word.” Then read a small portion. Listen for what shows the Lord’s heart. Look for what points to His cross and His life. Write one clear sentence and carry it with you. Let it steady your thoughts as choices and news and needs pull at you.

We do not listen alone. The flock listens together. Wise friends can help us test what we think we heard. Pastors and mentors can ask good questions. The church’s historic teaching keeps us near the center. Communion and baptism preach the gospel to our senses again and again. Singing truth lodges it in our memory. Community gives guardrails for our hearing. Together we keep to His path.

There is more. His voice does not end at the fence line of our lives. Verse 16 speaks of others who will hear. He gathers them as well. The same voice reaches beyond our circle. The same call brings many into one family. When the Shepherd speaks, people from different places answer together. The sound is the same across languages and cultures. The fruit is the same too.

This means our hearing always stretches outward. When He speaks, He forms a people who listen and love. He forms a people who lay down pride and take up service. He forms a people who learn the way of the cross and the power of the resurrection. Where His voice is heard, old walls fall. Where His voice is heard, mercy rises. Where His voice is heard, hope takes hold and stays through the night.

This also means His voice guards us. Verses 28 and 29 speak of hands that hold. Hearing is wrapped in keeping. The Shepherd gives life that does not run out. He keeps those He calls. He holds them with strength that does not fail. This gives courage to listen again tomorrow. This gives rest when emotions sway. This gives confidence when decisions pile up and strength feels thin.

So we keep our ear toward Him. We keep our Bible open. We keep our prayers honest. We keep our steps responsive. We keep our friends close who love His word. In all these ways the sound grows familiar. The path grows clear. And our hearts learn to say with ease, “I know that voice.”

The Door to Abundant Life

Jesus stands before the fold and speaks with clarity: I am the door ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO