Today we look at Jesus as our Shepherd. To know Him, we need to abide in Him. Listen to Him, spend time with Him.

1. THE GOOD SHEPHERD
4th Sunday of Easter
26th April 2015

2. Where are we now?
New
Beginnings
What
now?
Remember the
resurrection!
Strengthen
our faith!
Where to
next?

3. What are we focused on as BLC today?
Think, Pair and Share!

4. Psalm 23
• 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
• 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he
leads me beside still waters;
• 23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right
paths for his name's sake.
• 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and
your staff-- they comfort me.
• 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with
oil; my cup overflows.
• 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the
house of the LORD my whole life long.

5. Quick contemplation…
He LEADS us.
It is a JOURNEY we are on.
We can continually RETURN to dwell in the house of the LORD
He GUIDES us.
The REST is temporary while we are living here
We FOLLOW in faith and confidence.
We will go through the dark valleys; but we can…

6. 1 John 3:16 – 24
• 3:16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life
for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one
another.
• 3:17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has
the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in
need and yet refuses help?
• 3:18 Little children, let us love, not in word or
speech, but in truth and action.
• 3:19 And by this we will know that we are from the
truth and will reassure our hearts before him
• 3:20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is
greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
• 3:21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we
have boldness before God;
• 3:22 and we receive from him whatever we ask,
because we obey his commandments and do what
pleases him.
• 3:23 And this is his commandment, that we
should believe in the name of his Son
Jesus Christ and love one another, just as
he has commanded us.
• 3:24 All who obey his commandments abide in him,
and he abides in them. And by this we know that he
abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

7. Quick contemplation…
Learning obedience to the fullness of both Christ-believing and people-
loving.
Abiding in
Jesus
3:23= Believing in Jesus and loving one
another are not represented as two separate
commandments, but rather as one command.
Vital connection to the source of all eternal and true life and joy
through the Spirit.

8. John 10:11 – 18
• 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
• 10:12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves
the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
• 10:13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
• 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
• 10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
• 10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my
voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
• 10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
• 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

9. Quick contemplation…
How do we KNOW Him? How do we KNOW the voice of our Shepherd?
The hired hand runs
away when the wolf
arrives
ALL sheep belong to Him. No ins and outs. We just need to know Him.
He lays down His life for his flock. He laid down His life.
So how do we KNOW Him? What shall we do?

10. How then do we KNOW Him?
GOSPEL
1. Spend TIME together!
2. LISTEN to Him
3. Many times, ALL the time
4. Everywhere…

11. How then shall we live?
Be a part of BLC
Remember you are part of BLC
Give of yourself to BLC

12. What shall I do for my church family today, and tomorrow?
Think and Commit to the
Lord!

13. Therefore….
[So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you.”] John 20:21

14. Acts 4:12
There is salvation in no one else, for
there is no other name under heaven
given among mortals by which we must
be saved."