Is He Your Good Shepherd
Discipleship Questions for
Sunday April 13, 2008
Scripture Readings
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm Reading: Psalm: 23
Second Reading: 1Peter 2:20b-25
Gospel: John 10:1-11
Acts 2:14a,36-47 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 36"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. -- NKJV
Psa. 23:0
A psalm of David.
Psa. 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psa. 23:5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
1Pet. 2:20
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1Pet. 2:22
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
John 10:1
“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
John 10:7
Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
My good shepherd provides for me - 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He draws me to rest and quietness and peace - 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He redeems me from my moral lapses – my sins - . 3 he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. He restoreth my soul.
He comforts me and draws the poison of fear out of my soul - 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (The rod was a club which was used to drive off wild animals. It was never used on the sheep but was a heavy instrument used to protect the sheep from marauding predators. The staff was a slender pole with a little crook on the end. It was used to aid the sheep. The crook could be hooked around the leg of a sheep to pull him from harm. Or it could be used as an instrument to direct, and occasionally to discipline the sheep, with taps on the side of the body.)
He even shows my enemies His love and provision for me - 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Because He is my Good Shepherd I can have the absolute soul comforting certainly that all will ultimately go very very well for me - 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Jesus my Good Shepherd guides me by His voice which He has taught me to
recognize – John 10:4b – 5 . . . and his
sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will
run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Jesus, my Good Shepherd will stop at nothing to demonstrate His love for me: John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
4. Please read the following and discuss: In the crowded marketplace the voice of Jesus keeps saying the same thing it’s been saying for two thousand years.
· Happiness is found in giving ourselves away to others!
· Deep inner soul-rest is found by being faithful and loving in all our relationships
· Sublime inner freedom is found by surrendering our freedom to the service of His kingdom of justice and peace.
This is sheep-fold that our Good Shepherd is calling us all to!
5. Please read the following and discuss: There are at least 2 critical times when we respond immediately to the sound of a loving voice: as a baby and in old age.
Watch a crying child almost immediately calm down at the gentle reassuring voice of his or her parent. Look at how a screaming child calms down as a mother nurses it. And look at how a loved one’s voice comforts and gives confidence to an older person when they’re distressed or disoriented.
In this life our Good Shepherd is drawing us ever closer to Him! And finally at the moment of our death, in the midst of all of the other sounds we hear as we leave this world we will most certainly hear Christ’s voice – soothing, reassuring, comforting, and confident. And at that moment we will do what we have tried to do throughout our lives – we will walk straight towards it and our Good Shepherd will lead us into Glory everlasting! May we begin that confident today and not wait until the end! Amen and Amen!