The Sheep and Their Shepherd

John 10:1-30 – Jesus the door of the sheepfold

Luke 15:1-7 – The 99 and the sheep gone astray

The Warnings to Guard and Protect The Sheep

Acts 20:17-18, 25-31 – Paul warns the elders (shepherds) of Ephesus

1 Peter 2:25, 5:1-11 – Peter teaches about shepherds and the flock

Points we can glean from our readings:

• Jesus is the door to the sheepfold.
• Entrance to the flock is through Jesus.
• His sheep hear His voice.
• His sheep can stray away and become lost.
• Shepherds seek out lost sheep.
• Flocks must be on guard against wolves and lions.
• Satan wants to take sheep from Jesus.
• Local shepherds will answer to Jesus.
• Sheep need to be clothed with humility. 

Some teach that once one becomes a child of God (or one of the Shepherd’s sheep), they can never be lost (“no one will snatch them away” from John 10:28-29).

Please notice some conditions. To be kept safe:

• Sheep must stay in the sheepfold.
• Sheep must listen to the Shepherd.
• Sheep must obey the Shepherd.
• Sheep must not stray away from the Shepherd. 

Applications to our Local Flock:

• Without local shepherds yet, we still have a Chief Shepherd who provides nourishment, protection, forgiveness, encouragement, wisdom, safety, salvation, and eternal life.
• Without local shepherds, we all must look out for one another in the local flock of God.
• We need to seek those of our flock who have lost their way.
• We need to encourage those of our flock who are struggling.
• We need to encourage the lost to enter through door of Jesus (Acts 8:4, Jude 22-23)! 

Notice Jude 22-23 in the NAS - And have mercy on (convince) some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

A warning signal is when one misses on Sunday or Wednesday. This could be an indication that one of our sheep is drifting away from the fold.

When one chooses to miss on Wednesday or Sunday:

• We are not with the flock and the Chief Shepherd (Matthew 18:20).
• We could be in serious danger from temptation and sin (Hebrews 10:24-27).
• We do not receive spiritual nourishment and encouragement (Col. 3:12-16).
• Our priorities may have changed (Colossians 3:17). 

We have read warnings from the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter that we must be on guard because Satan will use our temptations and sins to lure us away from the sheepfold of God. If this happens, sheep could become lost forever.

What about those of us who are Christians (sheep) this morning? Are we following the Shepherd as we should? Are we watching out for our brothers and sisters as we should? Are we trying to bring the lost into the fold of God? We can determine right now to be more faithful sheep to the Lord.

What about you who are not Christians (sheep) this morning? You need your sins forgiven so you can live for eternity in Heaven. But you must come in through Jesus (the door) to become one of his sheep. Believe in Him, confess that He is the Son of God, repent of your sins, be baptized to wash away your sins, and then be a faithful follower of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. What a wonderful blessing it is when one decides to come into the safety and salvation of Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7)!

Please come forward if we can help you in any way as we stand and sing.