The Way In

THE WAY IN

John 10:1-21

S: Jesus as Shepherd

Th: The watch care of our Shepherd

Pr: WE REJOICE IN OUR SHEPHERD!

?: Why?

KW: Reasons

TS: We will find in our study of John 10:1-21 six reasons why we rejoice in Jesus our Shepherd.

The _____ reason is that Jesus…

I. CONNECTS (1-6)

II. COMPLETES (7-10)

III. COVERS (11-15)

IV. COMBINES (16)

V. CONTROLS (17-18)

VI. COMES BETWEEN (19-21)

Version: ESV

RMBC 22 June 03 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Notebook: Listen (Youth or Consequences)

Youth or Consequences

Bille Strong’s four-year-old son, Jamal, spotted a cheap water pistol at the supermarket and pleaded with her to buy it. She pointed out that the gun was so flimsy it was sure to break easily, and finished up her argument by suggesting that they could find a much better one elsewhere.

Unconvinced, Jamal continued to beg and wheedle, so mom took the easy way out and bought the toy for him.

They were just getting out of the car at home when the plastic gun fell to the pavement and shattered. "See, what did I tell you?" she said, annoyed.

Jamal looked up at his mom and said, "You shouldn’t listen to me. I’m just a kid."

How are you when it comes to listening?

I know many of us probably wish we were better listeners.

Perhaps it is an area that you can improve on.

In fact, you can practice right now as we study God’s Word together.

TRANSITION:

Two weeks ago, we studied the ninth chapter of John.

1. During our last study we gave consideration to a man that recognized the voice of Jesus.

We refer to him as the man born blind.

The text tells us that Jesus saw him, rubbed mud in his eyes, and sent him to the Pool of Siloam to wash.

And the most amazing thing happens.

The man washes out the mud and he can see!

But what should be n event of joy, turns into controversy.

The Jewish leaders start questioning the man and they are not getting the answers they were looking for.

So then they go to his parents and they are fearfully defensive.

When the leaders return to this former blind man, he is clearly is up for their game and asks them if they want to believe.

This, of course, infuriated them.

They excommunicate him from the temple.

They throw him out.

It is then that Jesus returns to him and asks if he believes in the Son of Man.

The man asks Jesus to tell him who it is and he will believe.

When Jesus answers with, “You are looking at Him,” the man’s response is immediate and appropriate – he bows down and worships Him.

So not only are his eyes healed, so is His soul.

Not only does he have physical sight, he also has spiritual sight as well.

When we put our most recent study together with today’s, we discover this good news…

2. We have a Shepherd that speaks to us.

Jesus, as our Shepherd, does for us what He did for the blind man.

He knows our real and deepest needs, better than we know them ourselves.

When we acknowledge that Jesus is our Shepherd, we also acknowledge this truth about ourselves.

We recognize that we are the sheep.

And in case you didn’t know it…

3. As a matter of record, sheep are not known for their high achievement.

Sheep, by nature, are stupid.

They are utterly helpless with limited intelligence.

They are prone to get into danger with their habitual listless wandering.

They are defenseless.

One scholar has noted that they give the clearest evidence against the theory of evolution.

How would they ever survive?

Sheep need a shepherd.

And today…

4. WE REJOICE IN OUR SHEPHERD!

That which we need most, we have in Jesus.

So, as we look at our passage today, we are going to see why we can rejoice.

5. We will find in our study of John 10:1-21 six reasons why we rejoice in Jesus our Shepherd.

OUR STUDY:

I. The first reason is that Jesus CONNECTS (1-6).

Jesus connects us to Himself.

He puts us in relationship with Him.

[1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. [2] But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” [6] This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.