Who's voice are you following? Part 2 - Pastor Joe Franco

John 10 sets the voice of the shepherd against a world full of competing voices. Social media tells people who they should be. Culture tells them what to believe. The news feeds fear, the past puts labels on them, and circumstances insist that nothing will ever change. But those voices do not have the final say. Jesus is the shepherd, and his sheep are not left to figure out life on their own. Even in the eye of the storm, strength comes from Christ rather than human effort.

The sheep need a shepherd because they get themselves into trouble and cannot always get themselves out. Jesus calls his sheep by name, goes before them, and leads them through the door. His voice becomes familiar through the Word of God, prayer, worship, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that voice means refusing to let worry, comparison, doubt, or counsel shaped by culture take his place.

Jesus is also the door of salvation. The world offers many doors, but only Christ laid down his life and took it up again. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus comes to give abundant life. Unlike the hireling who runs when the wolf appears, the good shepherd stays. He did not come to use the sheep. He came to save them. His sacrifice gives believers reason to trust him through hardship, sickness, and death.

Following this shepherd also means joining his mission. Jesus gathers other sheep into one flock under one shepherd, bringing Gentiles into his saving purpose. The church cannot settle into comfort while the neighborhood needs Christ. Consistent worship, renewed first love, service, invitation, and room for the next person belong to that calling. Christ is alive and coming again, so his people are called to follow with courage and commitment, not be caught napping.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Shepherd’s Voice Must Become Familiar. Competing voices gain influence when fear, comparison, and old labels begin to sound like truth. Familiarity with Christ’s voice grows through Scripture, prayer, worship, and attention to the Holy Spirit. Discernment requires giving God time rather than allowing every other voice to set the direction of life. [1:23:30]
• 2. Only Jesus Opens Salvation’s Door. The claim that many roads lead to heaven runs against Jesus’ declaration that he is the door. His claim rests alongside his sacrifice: he laid down his life, rose again, and promised not to leave his people alone. Entering through Christ means trusting the Savior who gives salvation, freedom, and abundant life rather than treating every offered door as equally safe. [1:25:51]
• 3. The Good Shepherd Does Not Run. The hireling leaves when danger comes because the sheep are not his own. Jesus does not use the sheep or abandon them when following becomes costly; he lays down his life for them. His sacrificial love gives believers reason to trust his presence in the storm, even when hardship remains and strength runs thin. [1:30:30]
• 4. God’s Heart Exceeds The Comfort Zone. A church can become so comfortable with familiar faces and familiar seats that the next person has no place in its vision. Christ’s gathering of other sheep calls believers to recover the first love that wants someone else to know him. Making room includes inviting neighbors, serving where help is needed, and leaving space for another generation to carry the work further. [1:34:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [58:04] - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• [1:01:17] - Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice
• [1:03:09] - Competing Voices and the Storm
• [1:11:00] - Sheep Need a Shepherd
• [1:12:01] - The Shepherd Calls His Sheep
• [1:16:11] - Jesus the Door and Good Shepherd
• [1:21:29] - Consistency and Putting Christ First
• [1:23:30] - Knowing His Voice and Entering His Door
• [1:26:32] - Trusting the Shepherd Who Died
• [1:31:59] - Following the Shepherd’s Mission
• [1:34:25] - Making Room for the Next Person
• [1:38:03] - Courage and Readiness for Christ’s Return
• [1:39:01] - Serving and Building a Shared Vision
• [1:43:53] - Prayer for Provision and Unity

Bible Reading

John 10:1-18
“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. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” [01:12:49]

John 10:27-28
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” [01:13:11]

2 Timothy 1:7
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” [01:04:34]

Observation questions

1. In John 10:1–5, what details show how the shepherd leads his sheep and how they respond differently to him than to a stranger? [01:13:11]
2. What practices help believers become familiar with Jesus’ voice, and what place does the Holy Spirit have in that relationship? [01:23:52]
3. In John 10:10–15, how do the actions of the thief, the hireling, and the good shepherd reveal their different intentions toward the sheep? [01:17:08]
4. In John 10:16–18, whom does Jesus intend to gather, and what authority does he have over his own life? [01:18:42]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus’ sheep recognize his voice and follow him. Why does recognizing his voice involve more than having a strong feeling, and how can Scripture help a believer evaluate advice that sounds appealing? [01:23:52]
2. How does Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life help explain why he alone can be trusted as the door of salvation, rather than simply one option among many? [01:26:01]
3. How does the good shepherd’s sacrificial care help explain abundant life? Why should abundant life not be confused with a life free from sickness, hardship, or death? [01:28:34]
4. Jesus gathers people into one flock under one shepherd. How does that purpose challenge a church that welcomes familiar people but makes little room for newcomers or another generation? [01:35:43]

Application questions

1. Which competing voice has been especially influential in your life lately—fear, comparison, an old label, or something else? How has it affected a recent decision, and what truth from Scripture could help you respond differently? [01:07:56]
2. Familiarity with Jesus’ voice grows through time with him. What currently helps or interrupts your time in Scripture, prayer, and worship? What manageable change would you like to try this week? [01:24:15]
3. Jesus is the door of salvation. Where do you notice yourself looking for security or acceptance apart from him—perhaps in being good enough, gaining approval, or staying in control? What would trusting him look like in that area? [01:26:32]
4. The good shepherd does not abandon his sheep when danger comes. If you are comfortable sharing, where are you finding it difficult to trust his care right now? How could this group support you while the hardship remains? [01:31:07]
5. Who is one neighbor, friend, or coworker you would love to see come to know Christ? What respectful next step could you take toward that person—a conversation, an offer of help, or an invitation—and what makes that step difficult? [01:34:45]
6. Making room for the next person can mean loosening familiar routines or sharing responsibility. Where could you help someone new or younger feel welcome and become involved? Is there a practical way to serve that fits your gifts and current capacity? [01:37:02]