Work with others to understand what he says and do it.
Follow where he leads.
Following implies obedience - Mat 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49
It's not enough to: follow a pastor, be religious, be a good citizen
You have to know the Lord and allow him to know you!
You must be led by God's Spirit - Rom 8:12-14
Mind the things of the Spirit - Rom 8:5-6
Put to death the misdeeds of the body - Rom 8:13-14
Sexual immorality - 1Thes 4:1-8; Eph 5:3
God wants truth in the inner parts - Psalm 51:6
Submit to spiritual authority - 1Thes 5:12-13; Heb 13:17
God won't lead you contrary to what he tells your leaders!
Submit to secular authority - Rom 13:1-5
The man who loves his life will lose it. - John 12:25
My food is to do the will of him who sent me. - John 4:34
Put the big rocks in first.
Don't follow strangers
The stranger's voice doesn't line up with God's Word.
Don't be unequally yoked - 2Cor 6:11 - 7:1
Don't associate with immoral believers - 1Cor 5:1-13
New Material
Preparation
Main Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Exegetical Idea
Subject
Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
Complement
Developmental Questions
Explain It: What does this mean?
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
Homiletical Idea
Purpose of the Sermon
Make it plain
Use accessible language and modern parables
Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.
Take the Land; Speak the Word (cont)
The Good Shepherd - John 10:1-21 (continued)
Application
Jesus is the gate
The gate is where the shepherd accounts for the sheep.
The gate is where the shepherd inspects the sheep.
The gate is the place where you allow Jesus to inspect you.
Why do I need to let him know me - doesn't he know everything?
Knowing speaks of relationship
You must deliberately communicate with the Lord.
If you're looking for pasture follow the shepherd.
The thief has a goal
Steal
Kill
Destroy - render useless
Jesus is the good shepherd
People without a shepherd are harassed and helpless - Mat 9:36; Mark 6:34
Hired Hands and Wolves - John 10:11-13
Wolves attack in the pasture.
The Pharisees were "hired hands"
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 - Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
Who's your daddy?
Do you hear his voice, and hearing it, do you follow him?
You have to let him mark you - ASLAP23 p10
I shall not want
David does not necessarily have material hardship in view.
You will never lack the diligent care of the shepherd.
Phillip 4:19;
The rebellious ewe - pp. 20-22
He makes me lie down in green pastures
Requirements for sheep to lie down (pp 23-26):
freedom from fear
freedom from friction with other sheep
freedom from pests
freedom from hunger
Jesus addresses these - Mat 6:25-34; pp 35
He leads me beside still waters
Rise early to get the dew-soaked grass.
He restores my soul
Cast sheep - pp 50-54
Sheep shearing - p 57
He leads me in paths of righteousness
migrating to new pastures - pp 63-64
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your rod and staff comfort me
You prepare a table before me
You anoint my head with oil
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Discussion Questions / Topics
Reflect on John 10:1-21
Describe some of the ways in which you've experienced the Lord's voice.
Describe some of the ways in which the Lord has led you.
Do the people in your life see you as someone who follows the shepherd?
Describe your experience of having the Lord inspect you.
Have you allowed other believers to inspect you? Why or why not?
What steps have you taken to hear the Lord better?
Considering vs 10 - How has "the thief" affected your own life?
Considering vs 10 - How has "the shepherd" given you full life?
Reflect on Psalm 23
Can the people in your life tell that the Lord is your shepherd?
Have you ever doubted that the Lord would take care of you?
Describe some of the "green pastures" and "still waters" that the Lord has led you to.
Have you ever found yourself in a spiritual difficulty that you couldn't get out of by yourself? What did you do? How did the Lord help you? Did the Lord use any of your brothers and/or sisters in Christ to help you?
Have you ever encountered any obstacles in following a "path of righteousness" on which the Lord was directing you"
Have you ever "walked through the valley of the shadow of death"?
Has God ever disciplined you with his rod? In what ways?
Describe ways in which God has prepared a table for you, anointed your head with oil, or caused your cup to overflow.
Are you experiencing goodness and mercy following you?
In what ways do you "dwell in God's presence" now? How do you plan to "dwell in the Lord's house" in the future?
Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
Review the current prayer partnerships in your life group.
Make sure that everyone has someone to pray with on a weekly basis.
These can be long-term assignments or your can rotate them.
If you rotate them, the assignments should last at least one month.
Review the list of people you are praying for in your life group.
Make sure that everyone knows who to pray for and how to pray for them.
Make sure that the people who need salvation are getting prayed for every day by the members of the group.
Review each person on the list of people you are reaching out to.
Has anyone invited him/her to lunch/dinner or some other informal activity along with at least one other life group member?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group fun event?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group meeting?
