INTRODUCTION

1. The Lord Jesus taught many glorious truths

a) He is the Bread of Life John 6

b) He is the Light of the world John 8

2. The contexts of His ministry

a) Not all believed in Him

b) Some rejected Him

c) Some others actively spoke against Him

d) Still others would not rest till they had killed Him

e) Such was the darkness that lived in the hearts of people

 

THE MULTITUDES AND THE DISCIPLES

1. The Multitudes

a) Multitudes came to the Lord Jesus

b) They came because He had the power to help them

i) To heal

ii) To cast out demons

2. The Disciples

a) There were some who took the nest step

b) They responded to the Invitation

i) To believe in the Lord Jesus

ii) To follow the Lord Jesus as His Disciples

 

CHALLENGING LESSONS TO LEARN

1“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door,

but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. John 10:1-6

1. An explanation about the shepherd and the sheep

2. There were false shepherds

a) They are “robbers”

b) They are “thieves”

c) They are “strangers”

d) They do not enter by the door

e) They climb the walls of the sheepfold

f) They try and steal sheep

g) But the true sheep would not respond to them

h) Not all understood what the Lord Jesus said

3. The True Shepherd

a) He enters by the door

b) The doorkeeper opens the door to the true shepherd

c) He calls His sheep and they respond to His voice

d) He calls them by name

e) The sheep will follow their Shepherd

 

A WONDERFUL EXPLANATION

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear 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 does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep,

sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring,

and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:7-18

1. The Public Sheepfold

a) Walls

b) Doorkeeper

c) The Shepherd

2. The Open Pastureland

a) The work of the Shepherd

b) Much is needed and expected of the true Shepherd

i) He has to go before the sheep

ii) He has to be the Door

iii) He has to protect the sheep

iv) He has to be prepared to lay down His life for the sheep

3. The False shepherds

a) The robbers and thieves

b) The hireling

c) He will not risk his life for the sheep

d) He will run away if there is danger

 

OBTAINING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

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 does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:9-11

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

1. Entrance must first be obtained

a) Through the Door

b) Through the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Relating to the Shepherd

a) Knowing His voice

b) Heeding His word

c) Following Him

d) Appreciating the Shepherd

i) His love

ii) His sacrifice

 

CONCLUSION

1. To relate better

2. To rely on the Shepherd more

3. To be refreshed continually