The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
March 17, 2024
      • Mark 7NASB95

      • Bible Trivia
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  • All The Way My Saviour Leads Me
  • Doxology
  • What A Friend We Have In Jesus
  • What He's Done
  • As The Deer
  • Stranger sneaks into your house, says he’s there to take care of your kids. What will they say?
    What about a stranger that shows up wanting to live there?
    Your house - a safe place for your and your family
    It helps to get in if people know you
    Not just anyone can come in and stay - forever
    READ John 10:1-18
    This passage:
    Perhaps one of the most comforting in Scripture - and challenging
    We need a place of comfort today
    Need to feel secure? John 10 is a place to go
    The Sheepfold - image
    A place of security
    Today - in this passage we see simple and amazing truths about Jesus. Jesus is….

    1) The Authentic Savior

    Prophesy - Isaiah 9:6, 53 and hundreds of others
    Davidic Line (both Mary, Joseph)
    1 Chronicles 17:14 NASB95
    “But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
    False pretenders - Acts 5:36–37
    Theudas; Judas of Galilee
    Pharisees
    Intent on deception, harm, power, self - not e the way they enter, sneakily
    Not qualified to lead the Jews, ignoring the Messiah
    The thief, robber - trickery, violence intended
    Strangers to followers of Jesus
    Jesus’ divine works to this point
    Miracles, Nicodemus recognizes He is from God
    The image here is that God has made the Savior known
    And this shepherd knows the sheep - by name
    ILLUST: Mixtures of sheep will respond to a shepherd’s calling the sheep by name
    And those particular sheep will only respond to that voice
    A pretender mimicking the voice will scare the sheep
    The sheep hear that voice, no matter what other noise is going on
    Jesus is the only legitimate heir of the prophesied “chosen seed” (Eve, Abraham…) - fulfilling the OT revelation
    And those who are TRULY His sheep will not follow a stranger
    EASY, right? They get this, right? NOPE. So….

    2) The Door

    Not a door…THE Door
    Doors are for entry, and protection
    John 14:6 (NASB95)
    “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
    One way, one door to go through
    Not universalism (many ways)
    Jesus is that door
    The way to enter into salvation
    The means of protection once inside
    EXAMPLE: The door of the Ark
    Safely inside
    Sheep returning at night:
    Counted
    Inspected, cared for, anointed with oil if injured
    Secured
    They only returned through that door, that One door
    The sheepfold is amazing, because it belongs to the Good Shepherd - and the sheep inside know they are loved and cared for

    3) The Good Shepherd

    “Good” - so much more than beautiful or useful
    His main purpose was the health/salvation of the sheep - offering the best life possible
    The relationship is personal
    Unlike the hired hand - just for pay
    The very life of the shepherd was designed around the well-being of the sheep
    This shepherd enters by the door
    This shepherd IS the door
    This shepherd is willing to die for the sheep
    Laying down His life
    Willingly sacrificed
    (ILLUST across the door opening)
    This shepherd is still gathering other sheep
    Insecure, lost sheep, who lack protection and safety
    Needing the care of the sheepfold
    But they do not know the shepherd, so they do not hear His voice
    BEST ASPECT OF ALL
    The Good Shepherd - Deals with us
    ? (check time) READ Psalm 23
    Then see Ezekiel 34:12 - Prophesied
    Ezekiel 34:12 (NASB95)
    ‌“…so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them...”
    And Ezekiel 34:15
    Ezekiel 34:15 NASB95
    “I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God.
    This was AFTER God’s people rebelled and were sent into exile
    The LORD saved us, even after we were sinners
    How good is the Shepherd?
    The life of this shepherd was willingly laid down for us (three times mentioned…)
    …and it was taken up again!!
    All under HIS Authority
    The power of reconciliation was literally in His hands!
    CLOSE - Such a comfort, encouragement, and challenge for us
    Good examples for us:
    ILLUST: Some sheep not wanting to follow; shepherd places a lamb on shoulder, walks. Momma sheep follows; other sheep follow Momma sheep
    POINT: Be an example to others and follow! Someone will follow Him because they witness you following Him
    PROBLEM: Following false teachers, “pretending” voices today
    Should be afraid of people “sounding” like Jesus but not speaking truth
    Motivation
    Gotta know truth
    IF…you know the Shepherd, you’ll know His Word, and false teachers won’t lure you
    ASK QUESTIONS
    1 - What does this person say about Jesus? Is Jesus God? Is Jesus the Christ?
    2 - Does he preach the Gospel? Good and bad news
    Or is it just “God is love” and “God wants you to be happy” or “God wants you to feed the hungry”
    3 - What is the teacher’s motivation?
    (Jude is a good read to deal with false teaching)
    POINT: God knows the names of His sheep
    The sheep know His - I AM
    All it means is “I IS” or “I AM PRESENT” - with you - in the sheepfold
    Let’s tell people the name of the shepherd, invite them to hear that voice
    Invite them into the sheepfold
    POINT: Are you following Jesus, or a stranger?
    Do you need comfort, shelter, spiritually?
    It’s right here, in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd
    Make sure you are in that sheepfold
    Then trust the Good Shepherd
    You were His motivation
    You are His present ministry
    You will be with Him forever
    READ PSALM 23 to close
      • 1 Chronicles 17:14NASB95

      • Ezekiel 34:15NASB95

      • Psalm 23:6NASB95

  • His Name Is Wonderful
  • King Of Kings