Following the Good Shepherd: Sharing Our Faith Journey

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Jesus

The early New Testament believers were so transformed by their experience with Jesus that they couldn't keep it to themselves. This challenges us to reflect on the difference Jesus has made in our lives and to share that transformation with others, influencing them to come to Christ. The early Christians were not content to keep their faith private; their lives were so radically changed that they felt compelled to share the good news with everyone they met. This same transformative power is available to us today. When we truly experience Jesus, it should naturally overflow into our interactions with others.

Reflect on how Jesus has changed your life. Think about the moments when you felt His presence most strongly and how those experiences have shaped who you are today. Sharing these personal stories can be a powerful way to witness to others and invite them to experience the same transformation.

John 4:39 (ESV): "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the transformative power of Jesus? How can you share your personal experience with them today? [37:24]

Day 2: Personal Experience in Faith

The New Testament was written because people experienced Jesus and wanted to pass that down. This calls us to reflect on the difference Jesus has made in our lives and to share that with others. Writing down our experiences can help us see the impact of Jesus in various areas of our lives. Personal testimonies are powerful because they are unique and authentic. They provide a tangible example of how Jesus works in individual lives, making the abstract truths of the Gospel concrete and relatable.

Take some time to write down your own experiences with Jesus. Reflect on how He has guided you, comforted you, and transformed you. This exercise can deepen your faith and provide a resource for sharing your story with others. Remember, your testimony is a living testament to the power of Jesus.

1 John 1:3 (ESV): "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What specific experiences with Jesus have had the most significant impact on your life? How can you share these experiences with others in a way that is authentic and relatable? [38:34]

Day 3: The Shepherd and the Sheep

The imagery of the shepherd and the sheep is powerful; the shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know his voice. This relationship is a model for our relationship with Jesus. He leads us, not by force, but by walking ahead of us, guiding us through life's challenges. This metaphor illustrates the intimate and caring relationship Jesus has with His followers. He knows each of us personally and calls us by name. In turn, we are called to recognize His voice and follow His lead.

Reflect on how you can better recognize and respond to Jesus' voice in your daily life. Consider the ways He has guided you in the past and how you can be more attuned to His leading in the future. This relationship requires trust and a willingness to follow, even when the path is uncertain.

John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of Jesus' voice in your life? What steps can you take to ensure you are following His guidance more closely? [50:57]

Day 4: Importance of Liturgy and Ritual

Practices like Holy Communion and baptism help us remember and internalize the truths of Jesus' death, resurrection, and return. These rituals, along with the metaphors Jesus used, help us understand and communicate the profound mysteries of our faith. Liturgy and ritual provide a tangible way to connect with the spiritual truths of our faith. They serve as reminders of God's promises and help us to internalize the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and victory over death.

Engage more deeply with these practices by reflecting on their meaning and significance. Consider how they help you to remember and celebrate the core truths of your faith. These rituals are not just symbolic; they are means of grace that can deepen your relationship with Jesus and strengthen your faith.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV): "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Reflection: How can you engage more deeply with the rituals of Holy Communion and baptism? What do these practices mean to you personally, and how do they help you to remember and celebrate the core truths of your faith? [46:25]

Day 5: Jesus as the Good Shepherd

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply. He leads us to places of safety and provision, and we are called to listen to His voice and follow Him closely. This relationship is not just for our benefit but for His glory, as He demonstrates His love and care through us. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd emphasizes His personal care and guidance. He knows each of us intimately and is committed to leading us to places of safety and provision. Our response is to listen to His voice and follow Him closely, trusting in His care and guidance.

Reflect on how you can better listen to and follow Jesus in your daily life. Consider the ways He has demonstrated His care for you and how you can respond by living for His glory. This relationship is a two-way street; as we follow Him, we also become conduits of His love and care to others.

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV): "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Reflection: How can you better listen to and follow Jesus in your daily life? In what ways can you demonstrate His love and care to others, reflecting His glory through your actions? [55:08]

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound truths found in the Gospel of John, particularly focusing on the seven "I Am" statements of Jesus. We delved into the imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Gate for the sheep, emphasizing that He is the only way to enter into the heart of God. The early New Testament believers were so transformed by their experience with Jesus that they couldn't keep it to themselves. This is a challenge for us today: to not keep our faith private but to share it with others, influencing them to come to Christ.

We also discussed the importance of personal experience in faith. The New Testament was written because people experienced Jesus and wanted to pass that down. This is a call for us to reflect on the difference Jesus has made in our lives and to share that with others. The imagery of the shepherd and the sheep is powerful; the shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know his voice. This relationship is a model for our relationship with Jesus. He leads us, not by force, but by walking ahead of us, guiding us through life's challenges.

We also touched on the importance of liturgy and ritual in our faith practices, such as Holy Communion and baptism, which help us remember and internalize the truths of Jesus' death, resurrection, and return. These practices, along with the metaphors Jesus used, help us understand and communicate the profound mysteries of our faith.

Finally, we were reminded that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply. He leads us to places of safety and provision, and we are called to listen to His voice and follow Him closely. This relationship is not just for our benefit but for His glory, as He demonstrates His love and care through us.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Transformative Power of Jesus: The early New Testament believers were so transformed by their experience with Jesus that they couldn't keep it to themselves. This challenges us to reflect on the difference Jesus has made in our lives and to share that transformation with others, influencing them to come to Christ. [37:24]
2. Personal Experience in Faith: The New Testament was written because people experienced Jesus and wanted to pass that down. This calls us to reflect on the difference Jesus has made in our lives and to share that with others. Writing down our experiences can help us see the impact of Jesus in various areas of our lives. [38:34]
3. The Shepherd and the Sheep: The imagery of the shepherd and the sheep is powerful; the shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know his voice. This relationship is a model for our relationship with Jesus. He leads us, not by force, but by walking ahead of us, guiding us through life's challenges. [50:57]
4. Importance of Liturgy and Ritual: Practices like Holy Communion and baptism help us remember and internalize the truths of Jesus' death, resurrection, and return. These rituals, along with the metaphors Jesus used, help us understand and communicate the profound mysteries of our faith. [46:25]
5. Jesus as the Good Shepherd: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply. He leads us to places of safety and provision, and we are called to listen to His voice and follow Him closely. This relationship is not just for our benefit but for His glory, as He demonstrates His love and care through us. [55:08]
### [55:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:09] - Giving and Helping Others
[35:12] - The Seven "I Am" Statements
[36:14] - The Gospel of John and Personal Experience
[37:24] - The Early Believers' Passion
[38:34] - Reflecting on Jesus' Impact
[39:53] - The Infinite Life of God
[40:43] - Sharing the Joy of Christ
[41:47] - Influencing Others for Christ
[42:38] - Living for Christ
[44:33] - Liturgy and Ritual in Worship
[46:25] - Holy Communion and Baptism
[47:32] - Jesus as the Bread of Life
[48:33] - Jesus as the Door and Good Shepherd
[49:19] - The Shepherd and the Sheep
[50:57] - Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice
[55:08] - Jesus' Sacrificial Love
[59:37] - The Good Shepherd's Care
[62:08] - Listening to the Shepherd's Voice
[63:56] - The 23rd Psalm
[67:24] - Jesus as the Way In and Through
[68:58] - Responding to the Shepherd's Call
[72:04] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 10:1-18 (NIV) — > "Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Observation Questions

What are the two roles Jesus describes Himself as in John 10:1-18?
According to the sermon, how did the early New Testament believers respond to their experience with Jesus? [37:24]
What does Jesus say about the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep in John 10:3-4?
How does the sermon describe the way Jesus leads His followers? [50:10]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for Jesus to be the "gate" for the sheep, and how does this imagery help us understand our relationship with Him? [48:33]
How does the personal experience of the early New Testament believers challenge us in our faith today? [37:24]
In what ways do the practices of Holy Communion and baptism help us internalize the truths of Jesus' death, resurrection, and return? [46:25]
How can the imagery of the shepherd and the sheep guide us in recognizing and following Jesus' voice in our daily lives? [50:57]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt Jesus leading you through a challenging situation. How did you recognize His voice, and what was the outcome? [50:57]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of sharing our faith with others. Identify one person in your life who you can share your experience with Jesus. How will you approach this conversation? [37:24]
How can you incorporate the practices of Holy Communion and baptism into your personal faith journey to deepen your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection? [46:25]
Think about the different "voices" you hear in your life. How can you better discern and follow the voice of Jesus amidst these competing influences? [50:57]
The sermon mentions the transformative power of Jesus in the lives of early believers. Reflect on the changes Jesus has made in your life. How can you share this transformation with your community? [37:24]
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep intimately. How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus in your daily life? [55:08]
The sermon talks about the importance of liturgy and ritual in remembering Jesus' sacrifice. How can you make these practices more meaningful in your worship experience? [46:25]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The infinite life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it. We heard it. And now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us. The experience of communion with the father and his son. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this. We want you to enjoy this too." [39:53] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you've ever influenced anyone to faith in Jesus Christ, wow. Is there anything better than that in this life? Influencing someone to make a decision for Christ. If you've never influenced anyone to make a decision for Christ, perhaps you do not really know the Christ of the New Testament." [41:47] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So for the person in Christ, whatever you do to make a living, you do Christ to make a life. Whatever you do to make a living, you do Christ to make a life. And your ultimate goal, your top priority, is not primarily to feed your family or to take care of your family." [42:38] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we follow the good shepherd, he takes care of us. When we go out on our own. We're responsible for consequences. We're responsible for events when we're following him. We can put it in his hands." [01:06:25] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He's the only one that has the answer. And in him, we discover answers and we discover ways through very difficult times." [54:24] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "You might take some time along the way somewhere and begin to write down what, if any difference, Jesus Christ has made in your life. What if any difference has Christ made in my life? What if any difference is Christ made in my home? What if any. What if any. is God made in my life in my employer employment what difference in my life of recreation does the life of Christ make the the life of Christ to these individuals was so powerful they were completely revolutionized and changed." [38:34] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The shepherd knows his sheep. The shepherd knows his sheep. I used to go visit our grandparents with my parents in Oklahoma and I'm a horse lover. My big dream. My was to have a little piece of land and horses and cows. That's my ideal life. To be able to do that. I never got the opportunity to do much of it. But we would herd up the cattle a lot for shots and other procedures in the summer when I was there." [56:57] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The shepherd often served as the gate. I'm not sure how wide every gate was. Some of the sheepfolds that I've seen, a gate would have been as wide from that altar bench to this, maybe a little narrower. And at night, the shepherd would lie down. That's where he would sleep. So anything that came into the sheepfold had to go by him and they wouldn't get by him. He would fight to death. Anyone who tried to sell the sheep, you can read in the Old Testament again and again." [55:08] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The other thing is that the sheep know the shepherd. They know the voice of the shepherd. Do you know his voice? Do you know the stirring? Is he ever, has he ever spoken into your life in a way that was transformational? Do you make decisions based on his will? Do you think about job opportunities as to how they would impact your life in Christ? Do we take all of these things in consideration as we're moving through life?" [01:00:47] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. When everybody's trying to take me down, he's going to build me up. He will. He'll build me up. He'll build you up in his own way. He'll build you up. You keep following the shepherd and he'll build you up. And goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever." [01:05:36] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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