Recognizing The Shepherd’s Call Series

Every day we are surrounded by countless voices. Some come from our family, friends, coworkers, and leaders, while others come from the world around us—through media, culture, and society. These voices influence our decisions, shape our thoughts, and direct our actions. But amidst all these voices, there is one voice that stands above the rest: the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Jesus tells us in John 10:4, "the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." This statement is both simple and profound. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, speaks to His sheep, and they know His voice. But in the noisy world we live in, recognizing His call isn’t always easy. With so many distractions, temptations, and influences competing for our attention, it can be challenging to hear and distinguish the Shepherd’s voice.

As believers, recognizing the Shepherd’s call is essential for living a life of faith, obedience, and purpose. But how do we recognize His voice among the many? How do we know when He is speaking to us, guiding us, and calling us to follow Him? In this sermon, we will explore how to develop spiritual discernment, grow in intimacy with Jesus, and cultivate a life that is sensitive to the voice of the Shepherd.

We will examine five key aspects of recognizing the Shepherd's call: its personal nature, its consistency with Scripture, its gentle authority, its peace, and the intimacy required to know it. By the end of this message, my prayer is that you will be more equipped to hear and recognize the voice of Jesus, so you can follow Him with confidence and trust.

1. The Shepherd's Voice is Personal

The relationship between a shepherd and his sheep is deeply personal. In biblical times, shepherds didn’t just oversee their flocks from a distance. They walked with them, lived with them, and cared for them individually. The sheep weren’t just numbers in a herd—they were known by name, and each one had a unique relationship with the shepherd. Jesus draws on this imagery to describe His relationship with us. He is not a distant, detached leader who barks orders from afar. He is the Good Shepherd who calls each of us by name and knows us intimately.

John 10:3 says, "The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." Jesus knows your name. He knows everything about you—your struggles, your victories, your fears, and your dreams. His voice is not some generic command that applies to everyone in the same way. When He speaks, He speaks to you personally, with full knowledge of your situation and heart.

Think about how amazing that is: the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, knows you by name. He speaks to you as an individual, not as part of a crowd. Just as a shepherd knows each of his sheep, their personalities, tendencies, and needs, Jesus knows everything about you and speaks to you in a way that is specific to your life. He knows what you need to hear, and He speaks in a way that is designed to lead you personally.

Psalm 139:1-3 reminds us of this deep, intimate knowledge that God has of each of us: "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." God knows us inside and out. He understands us better than we understand ourselves, and His voice reflects that intimate knowledge.

Recognizing the Shepherd's call begins with understanding that Jesus speaks to us personally. It’s not a matter of whether He is speaking—it’s a matter of whether we are listening. Many of us struggle to hear His voice, not because He isn’t speaking, but because we haven’t tuned our hearts to listen. When we open our hearts to Jesus, when we make time to sit in His presence, we will hear His voice clearly, not as a distant command, but as a loving, personal call.

Furthermore, Jesus doesn’t just call us by name; He knows what we’re going through. He knows the burdens we carry, the questions we have, and the decisions we’re facing. His voice is full of compassion and wisdom. When we come to Him with our concerns, He speaks to us with clarity, leading us in the way we should go.

His voice is also one of protection. Just as a shepherd protects his sheep from danger, Jesus calls us away from the things that would harm us. He leads us on safe paths, and He warns us when we are straying into dangerous territory. The more we listen to His voice, the more we will recognize His gentle guidance and trust Him to lead us in the right direction.

2. The Shepherd's Call is Consistent with Scripture