First United Methodist Church
Stafford Springs, Ct.
5/03/2020
4th Sunday of Easter
Hymn-#2140—Since Jesus Came into My Heart
Good Morning Everyone,
Call to Worship:
Do you need a guide?
The Lord is our Shepard.
Do you need a doorway to new life?
The Lord is our gate.
Do you need rest?
The Lord restores our souls.
Do you need care?
The Lord is our shepherd.
Come, let us worship.
Let us begin with pray:
Loving Shepherd, we feel the wolves close at hand. Gather us to yourself, that we might dwell secure in your ways. Deliver us from evil, that we might build a community where all may dwell secure. Mark our fellowship with study, prayer, communion, and the sharing of our possessions with those in need. Amen.
Today’s Scripture: John 10: 1-10
“I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the strangers voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.
So, Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.
From my book—Christ-centered Exposition—Introduction to John 10
God pictures his care of His people through the image of a shepherd and His sheep (Ps 23: 1-4). In Psalm 80:1 God is called the “Shepherd of Israel.” In Isaiah 40:11 God promises to bring His people back from exile in Babylon like a shepherd gathering his lambs in his arms. God wanted his people to understand His grace, His mercy, and His love.
One of the ways God cared for Israel was by appointing human shepherds, leaders who were supposed to serve as God’s representatives, demonstrating God’s care for His flock. But those who were supposed to lead the Israelites— who were in positions of religious influence and who were to be God’s representatives to His people—were not caring for the sheep. They were hurting the sheep. Instead of leading them to encounter and obey God, they were leading the people away from God and into empty religious ritual. Instead of bringing the people of God to graze in pastures of God’s grace, the religious leaders were loading them up with the weight of religion and man-made requirements and making them plow the barren fields of legalism. Instead of guarding the flock of God, they were goading them to turn from God to their own efforts. Instead of leading them to the overflowing fountains of grace, they were leaving them distressed, diseased, and spiritually dead.
In Ezekiel 34 God condemned the religious leaders of Israel for the mistreatment of His sheep (34:1-10). He says the shepherds have left the sheep exposed. They’ve forced them to fend for themselves. They’ve even killed the sheep for their wool and meat. In response, God will set up “one shepherd” over the flock—His servant David (34:22-24. At the time of this prophecy, King David was dead and had been for a long time. We understand this promise refers to a King who would come from the line of David, It’s a promise about the Messiah.
All of this is background to help us interpret Jesus’s words in John 10. In the previous chapter Jesus healed the blind man. When the man who had been healed would not denounce Jesus, he was kicked out of the synagogue. The religious leaders left Him to wander alone, fending for himself, but he didn’t remain alone for long. Jesus found him.
Jesus fulfills Ezekiel 34. The shepherds of Israel neglected the sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for God’s people.
Sermon: Windows and Doors
My Thoughts:
Every time I read this passage about the sheep and the shepherd; I think of Leslie Nutting—my dad’s cousin who lived up the street from us. He had sheep. As kids we would go up to his place and hang out with him. Butchered my first cow, pig, and sheep with him. It always struck me funny that when Leslie called his sheep, they would come a running. When I called them with the same words he did—they didn’t even look in my direction.
Today Jesus is talking about the shepherd of the sheep. Everyone who does not come in by the gate is a thief and robber. I believe Jesus words are about the sheep knowing the Good Shepard and also Jesus being the gate that leads us to heaven.
First as the Good Shepard, Jesus calls to His sheep (People) and they respond because of their relationship with Him. We know Him because we feel His presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. When I read scripture, do Bible Study, pray, I feel Jesus calling me and I respond—Because I know Him. I come into His presence and go out because of our relationship.
When I think of Jesus as the gate—I am reminded of John 14. Where Jesus says He is the way and the truth, And the life, no one can get to heaven except through the gate way which is Jesus, and only because of His sacrifice.—–Read I Stand by the Door—–
The Scripture says He is the door. The door William Shoemaker describes as the door that only opens to the persons own touch. I believe he is talking about faith, as the touch. So today are you coming to the people of God as one using the door of faith to not only have eternal life, but to be able to come in and out of the pasture of God—the peace of God new to us each day.
I also like the part about going in to far and staying to long, our places are closer to the door. Or may I say the doors and windows of God which the world views God by.
So how are you doing or being the door and windows of God. This is a very necessary part of faith. To live your faith in front of the world. So, another question might be what are you doing to shine forth the love of God in this world? Not only when it’s popular, but every day. Good days and bad days. Days of health and days of trials and temptations, days of Pain? When mourning
or experiencing suffering. You see God is a God that is always with us and asks us to shine His love for us on a dark world. So usually we think of doors and windows as the way God lets us in. Today I’m asking you to think of yourself as a doorway, or a window that God let’s His light shine out t5hrough. Remember Jesus is the Good Shepard of God’s sheep (People). And the only way in is through the gate (Door) that only opens to your touch of faith. And once inside—Don’t stay in to lone but come back out that you may be the doors and windows which shine forth God. May His light shine through you daily. Amen.
Let Us Pray:
Our heavenly Father, in the after-mass of Jesus resurrection allow us to focus on the fact that for the believer, death is only the doorway to new life in your Son our Lord. Help us to serve the world with gladness and justice that all may feel your love now and always, and here in this world hear our prayers for those in need: Amen.
Please meditate and pray for all the prayer concerns on the list included—Amen.
Please recite Lord’s prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn # 2112—Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley