NTCCgirls
John 10
Before you get started: Take some time to find a quiet place in your home, or outside (if it's nice out!) spend a little time praying and thanking God for His word. Ask him to lead you through this text and help you to know Him more.
Lord, You are worthy of my time. Thank you for stepping into this world to save me. Help me to hear Your voice through Your word. Thank You for loving me. Amen.
Read John 10.1-5
Who is "the thief" v.1 _____________________________
Who is "the shepherd" v.2 ______________________________
Read John 10.6-10
What does Jesus say He is in v.7 __________________
What happens to those who enter through Him v.9 _______________________
What does "the thief" come to do v.10a _____________________________
What does Jesus come to do v.10b ___________________________
Read John 10.11-13
Make a list comparing "the good shepherd" to "the thief" using these verses and any of the previous verses in chapter 10.
The Good Shepherd + The Thief
Similarities
Which of these two men is Jesus? ______________
Your Story: Has your opinion of Jesus changed as you've read this text about "the good shepherd"? Why or Why not? ______________________________
Read John 10.14-18
Just so you know: Jesus tells us in v14 that HE is the good shepherd he's been talking about in this passage. He says that like the shepherd he will lay his life down for his flock (that's us).
Is your relationship with God like the relationship the sheep had with the Shepherd?
God never intended for us to be alone and wondering where to go, He sent Jesus to lead us through this life and most importantly to lead us back to himself.
Read John 10.18-21
What are the people in the crowd saying/thinking about Jesus now?
______________________________
Read John 10.22-30
Just so you know: The feast of dedication (v.22) is Hanukkah, or the Feast of Lights.
What do the Jews tell Jesus to do in v.23?_________________________
Jesus says, "I've already told you, but you don't believe..." Why don't they believe? (v.26) _________________
What two things do sheep do according to v. 27?
1.
2.
What does Jesus give to his sheep according to v.28? ______________________________
Read John 31-33
How do the Jewish people respond to Jesus plainly telling them that He and the Father are one? (v.31)________________________
What is their reason for stoning him? v.33 ___________________
Read 10.34-39
Dig into the text: v.34 is a reference to a verse in Psalms 82.6-- flip to Psalms and read that verse.
This word "gods" in v.34 is translated from the Greek word "Theos" This word is used of Divinely appointed judges in Israel, as they are representing God in His authority. John 10.34 as quoted from Psalms 82.6 indicates that God sits in judgement on those whom he has appointed (Vines, blueletterbible.org).
NOW, what that all means is this: the Jewish people are getting upset about the claim of a man to be God (10.33) and Jesus is reminding them, again, of their own recorded history when men were called gods because God had appointed them to representhim.
In verse 37, Jesus says, "Don't believe me unless ______________________________
Why do you think he said that? ______________________________
Your story: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and his actions proved it. If you claim to be a Christian, what kinds of actions will back up your claim? Use scripture in your answer if you can. ______________________________
How do the people respond to Jesus in v.39? _____________________________
Read John 10.40-42
Just so you know: When Jesus goes across the Jordan, he is legally safe from the authorities in Jerusalem where he was just attacked. He is free to teach without fear of being arrested.
What happens in the place where John had been baptizing in the early days of Jesus' ministry? v.42 ______________________________
BE ENCOURAGED
How sweet is it that our Lord refers to himself in this passage as a “Good shepherd?” I love it. I think sheep are really cute, but I’ve heard that up close they’re not really that cute… they’re really super stinky and dirty and dumb. I’ve HEARD that on top of being stinky and dirty and dumb, they’re also vulnerable. They get attacked by other animals, and sometimes wander off from the flock of sheep and get lost or even hurt. I was reading Mark Moore’s commentary over this text and He said that most shepherds treated sheep like the stinky, dirty, dumb animals that they are, and they just herded them around and didn’t care much about them, but the shepherd Jesus refers to LED the sheep and talked to them and even would put his life in danger of death for them! If I were a sheep, I’d want the shepherd Jesus describes to be my shepherd.
Like I said, I don’t know much about sheep but I think we have a lot in common with them. Lucky for us, we have the best shepherd. When you feel like you’re dirty or dumb or vulnerable, remember that you have the best shepherd leading you. Listen for his voice in His Word. He is calling you even now, are you listening?
FINALLY
In Chapter 10, we learn that Jesus has come to us to LEAD us. He also reminds us that there is a thief among us who wants to destroy us. The sheep in this parable listened for the Shepherd then followed, they ignored other voices. God’s word is the place to hear our shepherd Jesus’ voice. Most of the times when I feel lost or abandoned or like God isn’t speaking to me, I find that it’s because I haven’t been listening, I haven’t been seeking Him in his word. In 10.27, we see that a shepherd’s sheep listen and follow. That seems simple enough to do in our walk with God; listen and follow. But we get really distracted by the thief-- he’s sneaky. We need to know our shepherd’s voice reeeeaaallly well. We get to know our shepherd Jesus’ voice when we listen to him, and when we know his voice, we won’t fall for the tricks of the thief any more.
Ask God to lead you like a shepherd, and listen for His voice! He’s a good shepherd!!!
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