I AM THE DOOR & THE SHEPHERD | WHO IS JESUS?! Part 3 | Legacy Church AZ

 

Summary

In John 10, Jesus calls Himself both the Door and the Good Shepherd, painting a vivid picture of His relationship with us. Like sheep, we often make foolish choices, wander off, and find ourselves in need of rescue. Yet, Jesus doesn’t shame us for our weakness—He invites us to recognize our need for Him and to trust in His care. The Door is not a barrier to keep us out, but an invitation to abundant life, safety, and belonging. Anyone can enter, regardless of their past or present, and find true home in Him.

The difference between an owner and a renter is authority and care. Jesus, as the Owner, claims us as His own, having paid the price for our lives. But He never forces us; He gives us the dignity of choice. We can walk through His door, or we can choose other doors—doors that may lead to pain or even death. True freedom, purpose, and peace are found only in Him. He is not a warden locking us in, but a loving Shepherd who offers us access, safety, and the opportunity to flourish.

Many of us carry “boxes” from our past—contingency plans in case God doesn’t work out. But Jesus calls us to unpack, to settle in, and to trust that He is our true home. Our sense of belonging isn’t tied to a physical place, but to the presence of the Shepherd who knows us and loves us. He protects us with His rod, defending us from dangers we may not even see, and He guides us with His staff, gently correcting and leading us back when we stray.

Even in our darkest moments, when shame and regret threaten to overwhelm us, Jesus meets us with compassion, not condemnation. He calls us by name, not by our failures. His correction is not a guilt trip, but a loving redirection toward life. The Shepherd’s voice is always calling, always inviting us to return, to trust, and to walk forward in hope. No matter how far we’ve wandered, He is ready to lead us home.

Key Takeaways

- Recognizing Our Need for the Shepherd
We are all like sheep—prone to foolishness and in need of guidance. Admitting our need is not a sign of weakness, but the first step toward experiencing God’s grace. The Shepherd’s care is not reserved for the perfect, but for those humble enough to follow. [05:19]

- The Door Is an Invitation, Not a Prison
Jesus as the Door offers us access to abundant life, not restriction. The freedom He gives is rooted in love and choice, not compulsion. True safety and purpose are found when we choose to enter and remain in Him, rather than keeping backup plans or other doors open. [10:31]

- Unpacking Our Spiritual “Boxes”
Many of us keep parts of our lives packed away, hesitant to fully trust God with everything. Jesus invites us to make our home in Him, to let go of our escape plans, and to find our true sense of belonging in His presence. Spiritual fruitfulness comes when we surrender completely, not when we hold back “just in case.” [15:46]

- The Shepherd’s Correction Is Loving, Not Condemning
When we stray, Jesus doesn’t shame us—He gently guides us back. His correction is an act of love, not a guilt trip, and He always points us toward restoration, not punishment. Our willingness to listen and respond to His voice determines the path of our healing and growth. [24:47]

- Known by Name, Not by Failure
Jesus knows us intimately—our laughter, our tears, our dreams, and our fears. He calls us by name, not by our mistakes or our past. Even when we hide in shame, His voice seeks us out, offering us a new identity as beloved sons and daughters. [39:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:01] - Sheep and Our Need for a Shepherd
[06:47] - Admitting We Need Help
[07:30] - Jesus as the Door
[08:25] - The Owner’s Authority and Our Choice
[09:14] - The Door That Leads to Life
[10:00] - Access for All
[11:34] - The Door Provides Safety
[13:36] - Finding Home in Jesus
[17:09] - The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life
[18:48] - The Shepherd’s Rod: Protection
[22:13] - The Shepherd’s Staff: Correction and Guidance
[25:03] - Personal Story: Shame and Redemption
[35:14] - Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice in Darkness
[39:19] - Known by Name, Not by Failure

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “The Door and the Good Shepherd” (John 10)

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### Bible Reading

- John 10:1-18, 27
(Jesus as the Door and the Good Shepherd; “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”)

- John 8:3-11
(The woman caught in adultery; Jesus responds with compassion and redirection, not condemnation.)

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 10, what are the two ways Jesus describes Himself, and what do these images mean for His relationship with us? [07:30]
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between an “owner” and a “renter” when it comes to caring for the sheep? [08:11]
3. What does Jesus say about who can enter through the Door, and what does that mean for people with a difficult past? [10:17]
4. In the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8), how does Jesus respond to her accusers and to her? [37:34]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the image of sheep to describe us? What does this say about our need for guidance and help? [05:19]
2. The sermon says Jesus gives us the “dignity of choice” and doesn’t force us to follow Him. Why is this important for understanding God’s love? [11:00]
3. The pastor shared about “spiritual boxes” we keep packed just in case God doesn’t work out. What do these boxes represent in our spiritual lives? [15:46]
4. When Jesus corrects us, the sermon says it’s not a guilt trip but loving redirection. How is this different from how we sometimes experience correction from others? [24:47]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says we are all like sheep—prone to foolishness and in need of guidance. Can you think of a recent time when you made a “sheep-like” decision? How did you respond, and did you turn to Jesus for help? [05:19]
2. Jesus as the Door offers us access to abundant life, not restriction. Are there “other doors” in your life you are tempted to walk through instead of trusting Jesus? What are they, and what would it look like to close them? [09:14]
3. The pastor talked about keeping “boxes” packed as backup plans. Is there an area of your life where you’re holding back from fully trusting God? What would it look like to “unpack” and settle in with Jesus as your true home? [15:46]
4. When you think about God’s correction, do you tend to feel shame or see it as loving guidance? How can you start to recognize His correction as an invitation to restoration instead of punishment? [24:47]
5. Jesus knows us by name, not by our failures. Is there a label or mistake from your past that you still let define you? How can you begin to embrace your identity as a beloved son or daughter instead? [39:19]
6. The pastor shared a personal story about shame and regret, and how Jesus met her with compassion. Have you ever experienced God’s compassion in a dark moment? How did it change you? [35:14]
7. What is one practical step you can take this week to listen for the Shepherd’s voice and respond, especially if you feel far from Him right now? [35:49]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you recognize His voice, trust Him as your Shepherd, and find your true home in His presence. Invite Him to help you unpack any “boxes” you’re holding onto and to lead you forward in hope.

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Door—Our Only Way to Life and Safety
Jesus describes Himself as the door, the only true entryway to abundant life, freedom, and safety. Just as a door provides access and protection for a home, Jesus offers us a place of belonging, security, and purpose if we choose to enter through Him. He does not force us, but lovingly invites us to walk through, leaving behind the other doors we may have opened in our lives—doors of past hurts, unhealthy choices, or false hopes. The peace and fulfillment we long for are found only in Him, not in the temporary security of our own making. Will you trust Him enough to close the other doors and find your true home in Him? [09:44]

John 10:7-10 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: What is one “door” in your life—an old habit, relationship, or mindset—that you need to close today in order to fully walk through the door Jesus offers?


Day 2: The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life and Protects
Jesus is not a distant or indifferent caretaker; He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He knows each of us intimately and stands guard over our lives, providing protection from dangers we may not even see. His rod defends us from the enemy’s lies, shame, and fear, and His presence is our ultimate security. Even when life is uncertain or we feel vulnerable, we can rest in the assurance that Jesus has already won the victory and nothing can reach us without passing through Him first. [17:09]

John 10:11-15 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust Jesus’ protection instead of relying on your own strength or control?


Day 3: The Shepherd Corrects and Guides with Love, Not Condemnation
Jesus, our Shepherd, uses His staff to gently correct and guide us back when we wander. His correction is not about guilt or shame, but about lovingly redirecting us toward the path of life. Like the woman caught in adultery, we may fear condemnation, but Jesus meets us with grace and a call to “go and sin no more.” He does not label us by our mistakes, but invites us to listen to His voice, accept His guidance, and walk in newness. His correction is an act of love, not punishment, and He desires that we respond by choosing a different path, not returning to old patterns. [37:34]

John 8:3-11 (ESV)
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you sense God’s gentle correction? How can you respond today by choosing a new direction instead of returning to old patterns?


Day 4: Jesus Knows You by Name and Calls You His Own
You are not just another face in the crowd to Jesus—He knows you by name, with all your laughter, tears, fears, and dreams. Even when you try to hide or feel unworthy, He calls you “son” or “daughter” and invites you to recognize His voice above all others. Your identity is not defined by your past, your mistakes, or your achievements, but by the love and belonging you have in Him. He sees you, knows you, and wants you to follow Him, trusting that you are fully known and fully loved. [39:19]

John 10:27-28 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: In what ways do you need to let go of labels or voices from your past and embrace the truth that Jesus knows you by name and calls you His own?


Day 5: Following the Shepherd Means Leaving the Past Behind and Trusting His Leading
To truly follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, means leaving behind the “boxes” we keep packed just in case—old wounds, backup plans, or the urge to run when things get hard. He invites us to unpack, settle in, and trust that He is our true home, no matter our circumstances. When we try to control our own lives or hold onto the past, we miss out on the fullness and fruit He wants to bring. Today, He asks: Are you willing to leave it all behind and follow Him wholeheartedly, trusting that He will lead, protect, and provide every step of the way? [16:30]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one “box” from your past—an old hurt, regret, or backup plan—that you need to finally unpack and surrender to Jesus today?