Sermon Study Guide

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Finding Life Like You’ve Never Known It “Learning Jesus” (The Gospel of John) John 10:1-21 May 5, 2019

BIG IDEA Jesus said: “I am the gate.” In our day religious systems and false teachers will sell you a lie. They don’t care about you. You are not safe with them. Only Jesus offers a doorway to safety and to life like you’ve never known it.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: This is the third “I Am” saying of Jesus that proves that He is who He said He is. The “I AM” Statements of Jesus:       

I Am the Bread of Life I Am the Light of the World I Am the Gate I Am the Good Shepherd I Am the Resurrection and the Life I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life I Am the True Vine

Shepherding was a way of life in the time of Christ. This metaphor points to the difference between the self-serving Pharisees and Jesus – the gate that leads to the safety of His sheepfold.

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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John 10:1-21 I Am the Good Shepherd “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to 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 comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 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. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. The Doorway is Safe for You Because Jesus Guards it With His Life John 10:7-10 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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The shepherd would hire someone to guard the door of the sheepfold. Therefore, when the shepherd wanted to enter, the gatekeeper opened the door for him. If someone wanted to steal or harm the sheep he would have to climb over a wall or get in another way. The shepherd loved his sheep deeply, often naming them. The hired gatekeepers apparently weren’t nearly as committed. Thieves and robbers could do harm. In this metaphor, they are the wayward leaders of Israel. a. The Pharisees were not safe. They cared only for themselves. What comparisons can you see between the false security provided by the Pharisees and the culture that we live in?

b. Why are people willing to forsake their spiritual safety for the momentary pleasures of sin?

c. Can you think of a way to remind yourself that Jesus is the only safe place for you? Is there someone that can help you?

2. The Doorway is the Sole Means of Safety John 10:17-18 – “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Jesus knows His sheep. The sheep know His voice. If you are a Jesus-follower, you are safe with Him. You can be content and at peace with Him. He has already given His life to open a doorway for you to be forgiven and saved.

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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a. Social media gives us a false sense of connection, but when real trouble strikes, we are often left on our own. Jesus is the shepherd that has opened a door to safety. How can you trade in the false safety nets of the world for the safe gate of Jesus?

b. Have you ever been asked to give your life for someone? Would you? Jesus gave His life for the sheep. What does this say about how safe you are with Him?

c. The Pharisees were leading people into unsafe places but Jesus is a wonderfully safe place for His children. Find scripture that will help you reinforce this truth.

3. These Are Practical Ways to Walk Through the Door to Safety and Life If we’re not careful, the truth of Christ’s protection can be lost in theory or theology. This is such an important truth that it must be worked out in real life. a. Find the door and walk in. Obviously, you can’t walk through the door until you find it. Maybe you have never walked through the Door into the sheepfold of God. You remain outside of it. Your soul is in danger. Now is the time to find it and be safe forever. b. Reconnect With the One Who Guards the Door It is good to be known by the Good Shepherd. When we connect with Him we are transformed.

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

c. Live a Life of Gratitude A life of gratitude will be attractive to others and will help you to navigate your world when life is difficult. It will help you to see the blessings that you have instead of wishing for things that you don’t have. You’ll find the door to life will swing wide open: 1 Timothy 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain…

d. Help Others Find It This is really important stuff. Others claim that you can walk through their door and find life. But they aren’t safe. They preach false theology or offer religions of works. We want everyone to experience safety in the sheepfold.

PRAY Dear Lord, thank you for being a safe place. In a world that is so scary, I am glad that I can depend on you. Teach me to live a life of gratitude. Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week: 

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 – a book from Phillip Keller

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The Assurance of Our Salvation (Studies in John 17): Exploring the Depth of Jesus' Prayer for His Own – a book from Martyn Lloyd- Jones

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA The “I Am” Sayings of Jesus; Saying #4: I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10:1; 4)

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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