The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-16

May 01, 2005

Luke 10:1-5 (NLT)

“I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice.”

The Good Shepherd Calls His Sheep

 A person becomes a Christian when he both hears and responds to the call

– The Holy Spirit calls him – Revelation 22:17

Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let each one who hears them say, “Come.” Let the thirsty ones come-anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge.

The Good Shepherd Calls His Sheep

 A person becomes a Christian when he both hears and responds to the call

– The Holy Spirit calls him – Revelation 22:17

– God’s word calls him – Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17

Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news – the Good News about Christ.

The Good Shepherd Calls His Sheep

 A person becomes a Christian when he both hears and responds to the call

– The Holy Spirit calls him – Revelation 22:17

– God’s word calls him – Romans 10:17

– God’s people call him – Romans 10:14

Romans 10:14 (NLT)

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear bout him unless someone tells them?

The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

 To Life – Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

 To Life – Romans 6:23

 To Light – 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

 To Life – Romans 6:23

 To Light – 1 Peter 2:9

 To Love – John 15:13

John 15:13 (NIV)

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

The Good Shepherd Feeds The Sheep

 Spiritual food – Matthew 4:4

Matthew 4:4 (NLT)

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’”

The Good Shepherd Feeds The Sheep

 Spiritual food – Matthew 4:4

 The word of God – 1 Peter 2:2

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk…

The Good Shepherd Feeds The Sheep

 Spiritual food – Matthew 4:4

 The word of God – 1 Peter 2:2

 He feeds them in the presence of their enemies – Psalm 23:5

Psalm 23:5 (NLT)

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies…

The Good Shepherd Died For His Sheep

 Who?

– The unrighteous – 1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous…”

The Good Shepherd Died For His Sheep

 Who?

– The unrighteous – 1 Peter 3:18

 Why?

– To reconcile – Romans 5:10

Romans 5:10 (NLT)

For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life.

The Good Shepherd Died For His Sheep

 Who?

– The unrighteous – 1 Peter 3:18

 Why?

– To reconcile – Romans 5:10

– To deliver – Galatians 1:4

Galatians 1:4 (NLT)

He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep

 Where they are – John 1:47-48

John 1:47-48 (NIV)

“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Phillip called you.”