Stronger Together (Part 2)

Outline for Sunday, January 10, 2021.

As we continue our look at STRONGER TOGETHER 2021, we look last week at an overview of several reasons the Word of God gives use to show we are STRONGER TOGETHER as a Church Family, and now we want to take a closer look at those reasons.

John 10:14–16 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.

1. We are called sheep and sheep do not dwell alone. Sheep dwell in flocks, under a shepherd.

2. Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD. Why?

a. Jesus knows His sheep, and they know Him. There is an intimate knowledge between Jesus and His Sheep.

i. He knows them, their lives, their being, their all. He knows them …

1. by name, individually and personally.

2. in all their joy and blessings.

3. in all their trials and sorrows

4. in all their wanderings and stumbling

5. in all their need and lack

ii. He keeps His mind upon them, looking after them by His Spirit and caring for them, through intercession as well as companionship.

John 10:3 ESV

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:14 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

iii. The sheep know Him, His life, His being, His all. They know Him believing and trusting …

1. His love and care

2. His mind and Word

3. His companionship and leadership

4. His experience and knowledge

5. His destiny and pasture (heaven)

John 10:4 ESV

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:27 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

iv. Christ is the Good Shepherd, not a hireling. There were many that are thieves, aiming to kill and destroy the sheep, but pass for shepherds, yet are very careless in the discharge of their duty, and through their neglect the flock is greatly destroyed.

b. Jesus knows the Father, the Owner of the sheep. The question naturally arises, how well does He know Him?

John 10:15 ESV

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

i. Jesus is claiming that, as the Good Shepherd, He know the Father and He knows the sheep, therefore the Father knows the sheep.

Matthew 11:27 ESV

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

c. Jesus will die for the sheep. He is the Good Shepherd, not a bad shepherd; therefore, He would face the enemy of the sheep. He would not flee from His calling and purpose. He will stand and fight the enemy as the Good Shepherd was send to do.

i. Jesus did not say He would fight and protect the sheep. He said He would die for the sheep – definitely die. He know that death awaited Him, that His purpose was to die for them.

ii. Jesus dropped the imagery of the shepherd in this state. He said in verse 11, the good shepherd giveth His life; He now said in verse 16, I lay down my life.

d. Jesus worked to enlarge the fold.

i. The other sheep is a reference to worldwide evangelism. It referred to all believers who were not standing there with Him. It includes all countries and generations. It foresaw every believer of all time.

Romans 10:12 ESV

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

ii. The words “other sheep I have” is a close, intimate term. The closest bond and fellowship imaginable, a Spirit-filled and supernatural relationship is to exist between Christ and these future sheep.

iii. The word must, in verse 16, mean necessity, constraint. Jesus was compelled to reach the other sheep. We must be compelled to reach others for Christ.

John 4:34 ESV

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 9:4 ESV

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

iv. The future sheep referred to by Christ is the sheep of today.

1. People today are to become sheep of Christ by hearing His voice.

2. How do they hear His voice? We need to be the mouth piece of Christ.

v. There is to be one flock, not two flocks.

1. God has placed Pastors to be under-shepherds to Christ, the Good Shepherd.

2. As Pastors and leaders in His church, we are to be the leading force to lead others to Christ.