“Christian joy is letting Christ live His life out through you so that what He is, you become.”
David Jeremiah
Passage
2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
1 Peter 5:2–6 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-Dr. David Jeremiah is an American conservative evangelical Christian author, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in El Cajon, California, a suburb of San Diego. The ministry engages in several live events regularly, including a study tour through Israel, conference cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean, rally tours hosted in major arenas nationwide, live studio tapings of the newest teaching series, and televised Broadway shows in New York for Christmas.
Passage-The book of 1st Peter is a General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). It was written to all believers in general. The author is Peter who wrote it about 60 A.D. The key personalities are the Apostle Peter, Silas, and Mark. Its purpose was to encourage suffering Christians and to call them to personal holiness; Peter’s central focus is persecution.
Opening Statement
I am sick this week and won’t be in church, again. I apologize for that. If you read last week you noticed this week is the same person being quoted and the same scripture just the parts before. The clouds part, the sun shines, and God cares so where do we go from here?
Ask: Are you a sheep or a shepherd?
Point: This question is meant to start conversation about our position in life.
Ask: Can you be both at the same time?
Point: Not just yes, but we are all both at the same time.
Ask: How can we be both at the same time?
Point: Unless we are God, we are absolutely being led by someone as long as we are followers of Jesus Christ.
Ask: What is the difference to the role of a sheep versus the roll of a shepherd
Point: Please see the Definitions page.
Ask: When we are under no one else’s authority who is our shepherd?
Point: It is not “me” or “ourselves.” Please read the following:
7So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8“All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:7–11 (NASB95)
Ask: If Jesus is the Shepherd then and some can choose to not be His sheep, then how do we know who are His sheep?
Point: Those who listen to the Holy Spirit and follow God’s path are His sheep because we follow Jesus as our guide and Shepherd teaching us how to live according to God’s ways. Please read the following:
27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30“I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27–30 (NASB95)
Ask: If someone chooses not to acknowledge the Shepherd and says he is not a sheep, then who is that person?
Point: Please read the following:
12“He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13“He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
John 10:12–13 (NASB95)
Ask: Where is the path forward in being considered a “sheep of Jesus?”
Point: The path forward lies in Jesus. Please read the following:
5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:5–7 (NASB95)
Ask: “That’s great but that doesn’t tell me what to do right now, on earth, in my life. Where is a path forward in this?”
Point: The path forward in this is to acknowledge the Good Shepherd as our guide and follow what leadings and teachings He has for us. Please read the following:
12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Philippians 2:12–16 (NASB95)
Ask: “But what if I don’t know how to do what verse 12 says to do?”
Point: Follow James’ advice. Please read the following:
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5–8 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7–11 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 What would you do if God gave you a straight answer to the question, “what do you want God to explain to you?”
Question 2 What do you want God to explain to you?
Question 3 Re-read the closing statement for this week as a prayer to God asking Him to explain it, whatever it is, to you.
Question 4 Make a list of steps to take once you have your answer.
Question 5 Pray and ask God to open your eyes and ears to see and hear His answer.
Question 6 Watch and listen.
Definitions
Sheep noun
ˈshēp
plural sheep
often attributive
Synonyms of sheep
1: any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male
specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool
2a: a timid defenseless creature
2b : a timid docile person especially : one easily influenced or led
3: leather prepared from the skins of sheep
shepherd noun
shep·herd ˈshe-pərd
1: a person who tends sheep
2: PASTOR
3: GERMAN SHEPHERD
Shepherd verb
shepherded; shepherding; shepherds
transitive verb
1: to tend as a shepherd
2: to guide or guard in the manner of a shepherd
shepherded the bill through Congress
Follower noun
fol·low·er ˈfä-lə-wər
1a: one in the service of another : RETAINER
1b: one that follows the opinions or teachings of another
1c: one that imitates another
2 archaic : one that chases
3: a sheet added to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed
4: a machine part that receives motion from another part
5: a spring-loaded plate at the bottom of a firearm's magazine that angles cartridges for proper insertion into the chamber
6: FAN, DEVOTEE
7: one who subscribes to a feed especially on social media
His account has thousands of followers.
Guide noun
ˈgīd
1a: one that leads or directs another's way
needed a guide for the safari
1b: a person who exhibits and explains points of interest
The museum guide was very helpful.
1c: something that provides a person with guiding information
used the stars as a guide to find their way back
1d: SIGNPOST sense 1
1e: a person who directs another's conduct or course of life
He was my mentor and guide during the early years of my career.
2a: a device for steadying or directing the motion of something
The jigsaw was equipped with a guide.
2b: a ring or loop for holding the line of a fishing rod in position
2c: a sheet or a card with projecting tab for labeling inserted in a card index to facilitate reference
3: a member of a unit on whom the movements or alignments of a military command are regulated —used especially in commands
Guide verb
guided; guiding
transitive verb
1: to act as a guide to : direct in a way or course
He guided us around the city.
2a: to direct, supervise, or influence usually to a particular end
You'll need a lawyer to guide you through the legal system.
2b: to superintend the training or instruction of
A respected educator guided his studies.
Mark, I’m sorry that you are still sick. Prayers that you feel better soon. Thank you for the lesson.