“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant,7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
19 When he said these things, the people[c] were again divided in their opinions about him.20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?”
The Unmistakable Claims
1. I am the ____________, the only way to be rescued. ● An ____________ claim.
● An ____________ invitation.
2. I am the ____________.
● A competent ____________ for your life. ● A willing ____________.
●Apersonal ____________.
A sheep’s response to the shepherd is to ____________ and ____________.
Some things to think about:
● What’s keeping you from hearing God’s voice today? ● What step do you need to take to hear God’s voice?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Jesus compares us to sheep. Which fact about sheep (helpless, defenseless, easily lost, easily influenced or a follower) do you most identify with and why?
2. The door to a sheepfold was a concept everyone in Jesus’ day would’ve been familiar with . It perfectly illustrates the idea of Him being the only way to God. Can you think of a modern day illustration that might help a friend better understand Jesus is the only way to God?
3. The exclusive claim Jesus made has the potential to make people uncomfortable. It’s an offensive and unfair claim in our culture. How would you lovingly respond to someone making this argument?
4. What keeps you from hearing God’s voice? (Share at least 5 things)
5. Take two of the barriers you just gave for not hearing the voice of God. How would you help a friend overcome these barriers? What Scripture would you use to help them?