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The Blue Letter Bible

Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for John 10:11

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"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD."
Intro: Background: Healing of blind man. The religious authorities excommunicated him, so Jesus excommunicated their whole system.
I. THE SHEPHERD AS THE DOOR.
A. A sheepfold was an enclosure.
1. No roof, just walls.
2. Just one opening into it.
a. No gate or hinged door.
b. The shepherd would lay across that opening at night.
1. The sheep must go over him to get out.
2. The wolf must go over him to get in.
B. To seek to enter the fold by any other way was the mark of a thief and robber.
1. The thief had only evil designs for the sheep.
a. Rob, kill, destroy.
b. Jesus' reference was to manmade religious systems.
1. Those who would declare that the only entrance to heaven was in following their system.
2. So ready to excommunicate any man who fails to march to their beat.
3. These systems unfortunately have proliferated in Christian body.
c. Jesus said to the man excommunicated, do you believe in Me?
1. You have entrance, I am the door.
II. THE SHEPHERD'S DESIRE FOR THE SHEEP IS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT MORE ABUNDANTLY.
A. His desire was always to provide the best possible pasture for his sheep.
1. A sheep has about the least self-preservation instincts of any animal.
a. Defenseless against the wolf or other predator.
b. Cannot instinctively find water or food.
2. The sheep are very dependent upon the shepherd for their welfare.
B. Now there are hirelings.
1. Their primary concern is for their welfare.
a. When a crisis arises they forsake the sheep.
b. They really do not care for the sheep.
2. Many hirelings today whose chief desire is fleece the flock.
a. They have a constant emphasis on giving.
b. Seeking to develop techniques to extract an extra buck.
3. Jesus said to Peter, "If you love Me, feed My sheep."
4. True Christianity does not emphasize what you can give to God, but what God has given to you.
5. Many people are burned out with church and rightfully so. They have been fleeced and if they dare challenge are excommunicated.
III. JESUS SAID, "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD."
A. He knows His sheep.
B. He loves His sheep.
C. He desires the best for His sheep.
1. "Life more abundantly."
D. He laid down His life for His sheep.
E. He will defend and keep His sheep.
F. That's the kind of shepherd I want.
1. That's the kind I need.
2. How can I become one of His sheep?
a. Can I join the church?
b. Can I make a pledge? Not here! That wouldn't get you into the fold anyway.
c. Can I subscribed to the Apostles Creed? Sure, or to Reader's Digest or Time. They won't save you.
d. Do you believe on the Son of God?
Sermon Notes for John 10:11 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for John 11:25 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Luke 1:5 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Acts 1 Next Book →
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