A Flock
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Imagining the Church
John 10:1-18 (ESV)
1 “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.”
Sermon Outline
The church is a group of people committed to following Jesus.
1. Do you need a guide?
v3-4 “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
v6 “they did not understand what he was saying to them”
2. What kind of leader do you need?
v12 “the wolf snatches them and scatters them”
v7-8 “…All who came before me are thieves and robbers”
v12 “a hired hand and not a shepherd”
v10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
3. Are you with the people following Jesus?
v9 “I am the door… enters by me… will be saved”
v11 “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”
v16 “I have other sheep… there will be one flock, one shepherd”
Prayer of Confession
O great Shepherd, you call, but we resist. We have wandered, thinking we could navigate life on our own. We have been deceived by the thief who appealed to our cravings and corrupt desires. We have done what we should not do; we have failed to do what we should. Thank you that you are a good shepherd, and that in laying down your life you offer forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgive us. Do not leave or forsake us; lead us in the way of abundant life. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
In what ways is the church like a flock of sheep?
Do you need a guide in life? How are you guided, or who guides you?
How do you recognize the voice of Jesus? How can you tell when he has called you? How can you follow his lead?
How do our corrupt desires make us vulnerable to thieves and false shepherds?
How are you influenced by others? How do the habits, desires, and goals of people around you shape you?
What has Jesus said or done that evidences he is a leader worth following?
How does Jesus lead the church? What role do human leaders play? The Bible? The Holy Spirit?
What in the metaphor of the church as a flock of sheep helps us understand why Christians are not meant to live their own personal lives of faith in isolation from one another?