The Good Shepherd – John 10:1-21

1. In a noisy world, Jesus

A. God speaks through

B. God speaks through

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

C. God speaks through

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:29-30)

D. God speaks through

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

2. In a world of false promises, Jesus

“None of us wants to be merely safe. We were not created merely to be safe. The human heart wants infinitely more than safety. Oh yes, safety is basic and necessary. We want to be protected from what can destroy us. We want life. Life. But we want more than mere life. We want abundant life. Overflowing life. Deep life. Weighty life. Joyful life. We don’t just want to survive. We want to thrive at every level of our human being. We were made for this…The sheepfold itself represents safety and protection. But sheep don’t want to stay there. In fact, they will die if they stay in the safety of the fold. They want green pastures and still waters…Abundant life is not about having stuff. It’s about having peace, having joy, having God.” (John Piper)

Have you trusted Jesus in faith for forgiveness and life? What voices have you been following that you need stop following? Have you been walking closely with God and creating space to hear His voice? What has God been saying to you? What is He saying to you right now?

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.(Psalm 23)