Saturday 1 May 2010

Sermon, Commitment Sunday, 25 April 2010, John 10:22-30, Bruce

The big question: are you the Christ?

· Takes placed at the Feast of Dedication, Hannukah, when we remember deliverance from the oppressors

· Jesus faces opposition, not from all Jews, but from the leaders and rulers, both Roman and Jewish

· We pray ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’; this was the job of the Christ, the Messiah.

· How can any man make this claim without revealing himself as a blasphemer or charlatan?

The big answer: my sheep listen to my voice

· Jesus does not answer directly (as usual) but reflects the question back

· All of the miracles (signs), and the teachings have been pointing to him; have they not been listening?

· The major theological point is in verse 27 “my sheep hear my voice”.

· To be a Christian, a “Christ In One”, is to know him, to recognise him, to react to him.

· “The challenge for most mainline Christians is not following Jesus. We've been taught pretty well about that. The challenge for us is recognizing Jesus' voice.” (David Ewart)

· How can we learn to listen?

o Scripture

o Prayer

o Silence

o Fellowship

o Experience

The big promise: doubly safe!

· Sheep were in constant danger of being rustled, ‘snatched’

· What are the ‘snatchers’ in our lives?

o Christianity as a lifestyle choice?

o Discouragement?

o Tiredness?

o Busyness?

o Persecution?

o Feelings of unworthiness?

· Jesus is our Good Shepherd, he will protect us with his rod and his staff

· We recognise him as the one who gives us eternal life: we ‘hear his voice’

· We recognise him as being ‘one with the Father’, who hold us in his hand

· One God, we are doubly safe

Commitment Sunday

· Not because we are worthy or good enough , but because the Shepherd has called us and we have heard him

· We are members of the family, fellow learners, and sharers in service

· If we are all sheep, then we also all share in the shepherding. What does this mean to you? How can we help you with this?

Questions for Discussion Starters

1. What does it mean to you, to speak of listening to the voice of Jesus? What help would you like with this?

2. If we use the image of a flock of sheep, where are you? (At the foot of the shepherd? Against the wall of the fold? At the door looking out? At the door looking in? Lost, out on the moor? Something else?)

3. Are you in danger of being snatched? What would you like prayer for?

4. If we are all sheep, we share in shepherding each other. What does this mean to you? How can we help you with this?

5.


(The fifth question is for you to ask. Please come back to me if you wish! Bruce)

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