Topical Sermons - Jesus Our Shepherd

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                          "JESUS OUR SHEPHERD"


INTRODUCTION

1. Foretold in Old Testament prophecy is the promise of a Shepherd...
   a. It would be glad tidings for the cities of Judah - Isa 40:9-11
   b. He would gather Israel as a shepherd does his flock - Jer 31:10
   c. He would feed them, a type of David (who would be his ancestor)
      - Ezek 34:23

2. Revealed in the New Testament is that Jesus is that Shepherd...
   a. He is the Good Shepherd, who will bring other sheep into His fold!
      - Jn 10:1-16
   b. He is the Chief Shepherd, who has other shepherds watching His
      flock! - 1Pe 5:4
   c. He is the Great Shepherd, who through His blood makes us complete!
      - He 13:20

3. The motif of a shepherd is revealing...
   a. It pictures the blessings enjoyed by those who follow Jesus
   b. It should remind us of the duties we have as His sheep

[What can we glean from the Scriptures concerning "Jesus Our Shepherd"?
Certainly there are...]

I. THE BLESSINGS OF JESUS OUR SHEPHERD

   A. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US...
      1. He laid down His life for His sheep
         a. As foretold in the Old Testament - Zech 13:7; cf. Mt 26:31
         b. As Jesus told His disciples He would do - Jn 10:11,15
      2. Thus He is able to offer eternal life to His sheep - Jn 10:28;
         cf. 1Jn 5:11-13
         a. Offering security to those who continue to believe
         b. Such that none can snatch them from the hand of God
         c. Though one can fall from God's hand through neglect - He 3:
            12-15; cf. Re 2:10

   B. HE NOW CARES FOR US...
      1. Having called us (through the gospel) - Jn 10:3; cf. 2Th 2:
         13-14
      2. Having gathered us into His one fold (even Gentiles!) - Jn 10:
         16; cf. Ep 2:11-22
      3. As our Good Shepherd:
         a. He knows us - Jn 10:14,27; cf. 2Ti 2:19
         b. He feeds us - Jn 10:9; cf. Ps 23:1,2
         c. He guides us - Jn 10:3,4; cf. Ps 23:3
         d. He cherishes us tenderly - Isa 40:11; cf. Ep 5:25-29
         e. He protects and preserves - Jer 31:10; Jn 10:28-29; cf. Jude
            28-29

[Wonderful are the blessings of Jesus our Shepherd!  Such blessings are
prefigured in that most beautiful of psalms (Psalms 23).

But what does the Shepherd expect of His sheep...?]

II. OUR DUTIES TO JESUS OUR SHEPHERD

   A. HEED HIS VOICE...
      1. His sheep hear His voice - Jn 10:2-3
      2. His sheep follow Him, for they know His voice - Jn 10:4
      3. Thus Jesus expects His sheep to heed His voice
         a. As proclaimed during His earthly ministry - Lk 6:46
         b. As stated in the Great Commission - Mt 28:18-20
      4. Which we do today by heeding the words of His apostles
         a. To receive them is to receive Him - Jn 13:20
         b. Thus the early church continued steadfastly in their
            doctrine - Ac 2:42
         c. For they taught the commandments of the Lord - 1Co 14:37
      -- Are we following the Shepherd by heeding His voice?

   B. HOLD TO HIS FLOCK...
      1. There is one flock (or one body) - Jn 10:16; cf. Ep 4:4
      2. We should strive to maintain the unity of that flock
         a. For which Jesus prayed - Jn 17:20-23
         b. For which Jesus died - Ep 2:13-16
      3. Which we do today by:
         a. Not heeding the voice of "strangers" (false teachers)
            - Jn 10:5,8b; cf. 2Jn 9,10
         b. Maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
            - Ep 4:1-3
      -- Are we doing our part to preserve the oneness of His flock?

   C. HELP HIS SHEPHERDS...
      1. The Chief Shepherd has shepherds to guide His flock
         a. They are the elders in a local congregation - 1Pe 5:1-4
         b. Their duty is to oversee and pastor the flock - Ac 20:17,28;
            1Pe 5:1-3
      2. Jesus expects His sheep to respect His shepherds
         a. To submit to their oversight, make their duty a joyful one
            - He 13:17
         b. To esteem them highly in love, being at peace - 1Th 5:12-13
      -- Are we helping or hindering the work of the Lord's shepherds?

CONCLUSION

1. Wonderful are the promises for those who follow "Jesus Our Shepherd"
   - cf. Re 7:13-17

2. Yet Jesus warned of some who...
   a. Are not His sheep, for they did not heed His voice - Jn 10:26-27
   b. Though in His flock (kingdom), will one day be cast out - Mt 13:
      41-43; cf. also Jn 15:1-2,6

Yes, He described a Day in which the sheep and goats will be parted (Mt
25:31-34,41).  What side will we be on?  It depends on whether we
fulfill our duties as His sheep...
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