Following the Great Shepherd: Embracing God's Guidance
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. It's wonderful to see both our in-person and online community here today. I want to extend a special welcome to our TC Alaska campus. Today, I want to talk about the unique work God is doing among us and how we can discern and respond to His call. We are a diverse group, but together we form an incredible family, and God is doing something special with us.
I want to share a personal story about Coach Teague, a high school coach who saw potential in me and invested in my life. His mentorship had a profound impact on me, and it made me reflect on how Jesus, our Great Shepherd and Teacher, invests in us. Jesus is the ultimate shepherd who guides, provides, and protects us. He knows us intimately and loves us deeply, even when we don't fully understand His plans.
Jesus is not just a shepherd but also a teacher. He uses every situation in our lives to teach us about Himself. Sometimes, we may not like the lessons or the circumstances, but Jesus is always there, guiding us through. He wants us to be so in tune with Him that we can recognize His voice and follow His lead.
In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the gate for the sheep, the only way to a relationship with God. He warns us about the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but assures us that He has come to give us life abundantly. We must place ourselves under His care and not be swayed by the world's distractions.
As we walk through life, we must remember that Jesus is our Great Shepherd and Teacher. He knows us, loves us, and wants to guide us. We need to be open to His teaching, even in difficult times, and trust that He has good plans for us. Let's commit to following Him closely, learning from Him, and sharing His love with others.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Unique Work in Our Community: God is doing something special and unique within our faith family. We may not fully understand it yet, but we are called to discern and respond to His guidance. This requires us to be attentive and open to the ways God is moving among us. [22:56]
2. The Impact of Mentorship: Just as Coach Teague invested in my life, Jesus invests in each of us as our Great Shepherd and Teacher. His guidance and love have the power to transform our lives. We should seek to be mentors to others, sharing the love and wisdom we have received. [25:23]
3. Jesus as the Gate and Shepherd: In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the gate for the sheep, the only way to a relationship with God. He warns us about the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but assures us that He has come to give us life abundantly. We must place ourselves under His care and not be swayed by the world's distractions. [34:28]
4. The Importance of Being In Tune with Jesus: We need to be so in tune with Jesus that we can recognize His voice and follow His lead. This requires us to spend time in prayer, scripture, and fellowship with other believers. When we are in tune with Jesus, we can experience His guidance, provision, and protection in our lives. [38:28]
5. Learning from Life's Circumstances: Jesus uses every situation in our lives to teach us about Himself. Even in difficult times, He is there, guiding us through. We must be open to His teaching and trust that He has good plans for us. By embracing His lessons, we can grow in our faith and become more like Him. [46:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[20:10] - Introduction and Online Community
[21:07] - The Importance of Community
[22:11] - God's Unique Work in Our Community
[25:23] - The Impact of Mentorship
[27:27] - Jesus as the Great Shepherd and Teacher
[34:28] - Jesus as the Gate and Shepherd
[38:28] - Being In Tune with Jesus
[46:53] - Learning from Life's Circumstances
[56:02] - Upcoming Initiatives and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 10:6-10 (NIV)
> "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.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He describes Himself as the "gate for the sheep" in John 10:7? How does this metaphor help us understand His role? [34:28]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three main roles of a shepherd or pastor? [33:51]
3. How did Coach Teague's mentorship impact the pastor's life, and how does this relate to Jesus' role as our Great Shepherd and Teacher? [25:23]
4. What does Jesus warn us about in John 10:10, and how does He contrast His purpose with that of the thief? [36:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does Jesus guide, provide, and protect us as our Great Shepherd? How can we recognize His guidance in our daily lives? [33:51]
2. How can we discern the unique work God is doing in our community, as mentioned in the sermon? What steps can we take to be more attentive to His movements? [22:56]
3. The pastor mentioned that Jesus uses every situation in our lives to teach us about Himself. How can we be more open to learning from difficult circumstances? [46:53]
4. What does it mean to be "in tune" with Jesus, and how can we cultivate this in our spiritual practices? [38:28]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt guided, provided for, or protected by Jesus. How did this experience strengthen your faith? [33:51]
2. How can you actively participate in the unique work God is doing in our faith community? What specific actions can you take to be more involved? [22:56]
3. Think of someone who has mentored you in your faith journey. How did their investment in you make a difference? How can you pay it forward by mentoring someone else? [25:23]
4. Jesus warns us about the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. What are some distractions or influences in your life that you need to guard against to stay under Jesus' care? [36:04]
5. How can you make more time for prayer, scripture reading, and fellowship to be more in tune with Jesus? Identify one specific change you can make this week. [38:28]
6. Share a difficult situation you are currently facing. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity for Jesus to teach you something about Himself? [46:53]
7. Jesus knows us intimately and loves us deeply. How does this truth impact your daily life and decisions? How can you remind yourself of His love and care regularly? [38:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Discerning God's Unique Work in Our Community
God is doing something special and unique within our faith family. We may not fully understand it yet, but we are called to discern and respond to His guidance. This requires us to be attentive and open to the ways God is moving among us. God often works in ways that are beyond our comprehension, and it is our responsibility to seek His will and follow His lead. By being attentive to His movements, we can better understand the unique work He is doing in our community and how we can be a part of it. [22:56]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you felt God was moving in your community. How can you be more attentive and open to discerning His guidance in your daily life?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Mentorship
Just as Coach Teague invested in my life, Jesus invests in each of us as our Great Shepherd and Teacher. His guidance and love have the power to transform our lives. We should seek to be mentors to others, sharing the love and wisdom we have received. Mentorship is a powerful tool for personal and spiritual growth. By investing in others, we can help them realize their potential and grow in their faith. Jesus' example of mentorship shows us the importance of guiding and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys. [25:23]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV): "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Reflection: Identify someone in your life who could benefit from your mentorship. How can you invest in their life and share the love and wisdom you have received from Jesus?
Day 3: Jesus as the Gate and Shepherd
In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the gate for the sheep, the only way to a relationship with God. He warns us about the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but assures us that He has come to give us life abundantly. We must place ourselves under His care and not be swayed by the world's distractions. Jesus' role as the gate and shepherd emphasizes the importance of relying on Him for guidance, protection, and provision. By placing ourselves under His care, we can experience the abundant life He promises and avoid the pitfalls of worldly distractions. [34:28]
Ezekiel 34:31 (ESV): "And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have been swayed by worldly distractions. How can you place yourself more fully under Jesus' care and guidance?
Day 4: Being In Tune with Jesus
We need to be so in tune with Jesus that we can recognize His voice and follow His lead. This requires us to spend time in prayer, scripture, and fellowship with other believers. When we are in tune with Jesus, we can experience His guidance, provision, and protection in our lives. Developing a deep connection with Jesus allows us to discern His voice and follow His direction. By prioritizing prayer, scripture, and fellowship, we can strengthen our relationship with Him and be more attuned to His guidance. [38:28]
John 15:4 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
Reflection: Consider your daily routine. How can you incorporate more time for prayer, scripture, and fellowship to become more in tune with Jesus?
Day 5: Learning from Life's Circumstances
Jesus uses every situation in our lives to teach us about Himself. Even in difficult times, He is there, guiding us through. We must be open to His teaching and trust that He has good plans for us. By embracing His lessons, we can grow in our faith and become more like Him. Life's circumstances, both good and bad, are opportunities for spiritual growth and learning. Jesus' presence in our lives ensures that we are never alone, and His teachings can help us navigate through challenges and grow in our faith. [46:53]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think about a recent difficult situation you faced. How can you see Jesus' guidance and teaching in that experience, and what lessons can you take away from it?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You chose wisely, not just TC because we believe in what God's doing here, but you chose wisely to involve yourself in the body of Christ. That is a very wise decision, especially in this day and age when you can just kind of do whatever you want." [21:07] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Clearly God is doing something in each one of our lives. And then when you put us together, we always say that we're kind of this misfit, ragtag group of people. When you put us together, we make the coolest, the best family ever." [22:11] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus has these incredible plans for us. And so when you think about a coach, when you think about a coach, and the amount of time coaches spend on each of their players, and if someone's a choir director, each voice matters and how they place them, and then each instrument in the orchestra, like everything matters if you're the person in charge." [30:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus knew you and saved you. And what he wants to do is he wants to shepherd you. He wants to pastor you. He wants to protect you and guide you and come alongside and build you up and encourage you and comfort you. And he wants to do all these things. Why? Because he knows you." [40:46] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I wish I had the words to convince you right now that every situation you're in, even if it's a bad one, you got yourself into something tricky. I wish I could convince you that Jesus has something amazing as your pastor, as your shepherd, the one who's shepherding your soul, wants to shepherd your life, and he wants to teach you something about himself." [49:16] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think that the Lord is doing something. Our pastors talk a lot about this. The Lord is doing something really, really unique. And we don't talk about it enough because we can't quite put our finger on it yet. But I want you to know, many of you are talking about the same thing where you're saying the same thing, where God is doing something really unique, where he's inviting us into something that's just different." [22:36] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Too often, we're more impressed by luck than we are the divine work of Jesus. The happenstance oftentimes will have much more a sigh of relief than when Jesus demonstrates the fact that he really was in control the entire time." [33:11] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you do not believe that he is the perfect pastor and perfect shepherd, you will keep trying to find one. And then you will moan and groan. You will whine and complain. And you will try to take over or you will try to fix it because you're looking at another human and thinking they're supposed to be the great pastor or great shepherd." [42:11] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I just don't think we can call him pastor and teacher and shepherd personally if we're not going where he's going saying what he says saying and doing what he's doing because believing is not enough we have to follow through we have to count the cost we have to put our money where our mouth is our feet where our mouth is we say we believe something we've got to step into it." [54:04] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I want you to go make disciples and then I want you to teach them immediately about obedience because I want you to baptize them. I want them to understand what they're really coming into so they need to know obedience right away by being baptized and then I want you to teach them that commission is every one of us that wasn't just the original apostles that's every one of us." [54:59] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
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