Who Brings Fullness to Our Lives?
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 10:1-21 (ESV)
1 “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. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Sermon Outline
What matters for being full of life (v10)?
1. Who You Listen To
v3 “the sheep hear his voice”
vv2-3 “he who enters by the door… the gatekeeper opens”
v1 “a thief and robber”, v10 “comes only to steal and kill and destroy”
2. Who You Follow
vv3-4 “calls… leads them out… goes before them… the sheep follow him”
v9 “I am the door… enters by me… saved… finds pasture”
3. Who You Know
v14 “I am the good shepherd”
vv3-5 “his own sheep… a stranger”
v13 “a hired hand… cares nothing for the sheep”
v14 “I know my own”
v17 “the Father loves me”
vv15-18 “I lay down my life”
Prayer of Confession
Lord, you are our shepherd. Like sheep that have gone astray, we need your help, your mercy, your patience, your forgiveness. Forgive us for listening to voices contrary to you and your ways. Forgive us for failing to listen to your voice. We recognize the fruit of our sin and folly. Pardon us for all our wrongdoing. We thank you that we have a good shepherd, one who has laid down his life so that through him we have life. May your work in us grant that we have life in abundance. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What kinds of “emptiness” do you feel and what do you seek to fill it with? What do you believe would bring fullness to your life? What do you spend most of your time filling your life with?
How can you discern if someone offering you something that promises to be life-giving is actually misleading you? What kinds of things should you look for?
What does it mean to recognize the voice of Jesus? How does Jesus call and lead people?
Why should we follow Jesus? Of the various reasons Christians would list, what do you find most compelling?
Who are you drawn to following? What draws you to them?
Why is it important that God knows us? How is God’s love for us crucial in experiencing greater fulness in life? How is can awareness that God knows us as particular individuals be a help and encouragement when our lives don’t feel full?
Why is it important that we know God? How does the shift from knowing about God to God being personal make a difference in experiencing fulness in life?
How does the pattern of God’s people gathering on the first day of the week and then going out into the world align with the imagery of the shepherd gathering his flock in a pen, and then sending them out to pasture? What rhythms can you discern in how Jesus ordinarily shepherds his people?