“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
(John 10:11-13closeJohn 10:11-13 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. (ESV) closeJohn 10:11-13closeJohn 10:11-13 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. (ESV) 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. (ESV) ; from the Gospel reading for 4.29.12)
“The Good Shepherd”
Get To Know Your “Neighbor”
+ If you were to die tomorrow, what would you want people to remember as your most important accomplishment? _________
God’s Blueprint
+ Genesis 48:15closeGenesis 48:15
15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, (ESV)
closeGenesis 48:15closeGenesis 48:15
15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, (ESV)
15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, (ESV)
says that Jacob blessed his children by calling upon God to be their Shepherd, even as He had been Jacob’s shepherd. How had Jacob seen the guiding hand of God in his life? ____________________________
+ 1 Samuel 17:20close1 Samuel 17:20 20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. (ESV) close1 Samuel 17:20close1 Samuel 17:20 20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. (ESV) 20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. (ESV) says that when David went to fight Goliath, he left his flock with another shepherd. Jesus is our Shepherd; but while we wait for Him to return, who has He left as our shepherd? ____________________________
+ Psalm 23:1closePsalm 23:1 The Lord Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (ESV) closePsalm 23:1closePsalm 23:1 The Lord Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (ESV) The Lord Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (ESV) says, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” What is your testimony regarding God’s care for you? ____________________________
God’s Best
+ Isaiah 61:5closeIsaiah 61:5
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; (ESV)
closeIsaiah 61:5closeIsaiah 61:5
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; (ESV)
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; (ESV)
says that “foreigners will shepherd your flocks”, that is they will do the work for you. Jesus is the ultimate foreigner to us; He came from Heaven! His perfection is completely alien to our track record. Jesus came to find the lost sheep; to comfort the anxious sheep; to guide the flock. How does Jesus feed His flock today? ______________________________
+ Zechariah 10:2closeZechariah 10:2
2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV)
closeZechariah 10:2closeZechariah 10:2
2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV)
2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV)
says the people are “… oppressed for lack of a shepherd…” What oppression does Jesus free us from today? _____________________
+ Matthew 9:36closeMatthew 9:36 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (ESV) closeMatthew 9:36closeMatthew 9:36 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (ESV) 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (ESV) says Jesus had compassion on the people because they were as “sheep without a shepherd”. Jesus’ emotion resulted in what? _________________________
God’s Blessed
+ John 10:14closeJohn 10:14 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (ESV) closeJohn 10:14closeJohn 10:14 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (ESV) 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (ESV) says that Jesus’ sheep know Him. When did you come to know Jesus? _______________________
Jim Buckman
