John’s Account of Jesus

Core Values Love, Unity, Faith, Commitment, Freedom, Change Freedom is the one value churches trample upon most

Core Values Love, Unity, Faith, Commitment, Freedom, Change Freedom is the ability to be exactly who God made you to be, and to make your own decisions in areas the bible doesn’t specifically address

Core Values Freedom is freedom to do- AND freedom to abstain from doing Involves: Personality and its expression Cultural issues Worship observances Responsibility

Core Values “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”- Galatians 5:1

Stranger Danger! Sheep and Shepherds

Stranger Danger! Blind Pharisees

Stranger Danger! "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber…”- vs. 1 “Amen, amen”= solemn assertion about Jesus or his mission

Stranger Danger! Many Messiahs: Simon of Peraea (4 BC) Simon of Peraea (4 BC) Athronges (3 BC) Athronges (3 BC) Theudas (??) Theudas (??) Judas of Galilee (AD 6) Judas of Galilee (AD 6)

Stranger Danger! …by the gate… Virgin-born (Isaiah 7) Virgin-born (Isaiah 7) In Bethlehem (Micah 5) In Bethlehem (Micah 5) David’s seed (Jeremiah 23) David’s seed (Jeremiah 23) “God with us…” (Isaiah 9) “God with us…” (Isaiah 9) “out of Egypt…” (Hosea 11) “out of Egypt…” (Hosea 11) Teach in parables (Psalm 38) Teach in parables (Psalm 38)

Stranger Danger! …by the gate… Kings would pay homage (Psalm 72) Kings would pay homage (Psalm 72) Blind see and deaf hear (Isaiah 35) Blind see and deaf hear (Isaiah 35) Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35) Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35) Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41) for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11) Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41) for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11) Crucified with criminals and buried with the rich (Isaiah 53) Crucified with criminals and buried with the rich (Isaiah 53)

Stranger Danger! "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber…”- vs. 1

Stranger Danger! Thief= kleptes- subtlety/trickery Thief= kleptes- subtlety/trickery Robber= lestes- violence or force Robber= lestes- violence or force Neither care about the welfare of the sheep

Stranger Danger! SheepShepherdsWolves

“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…

Stranger Danger! …When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice- vs. 2-4

Stranger Danger! God: Knows me by name Knows me by name Never sends without going on ahead and guiding Never sends without going on ahead and guiding

Stranger Danger! There is nothing I will face that God didn’t already know about

Stranger Danger! Shepherd- Psalm 23 Watchman- John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1)

Stranger Danger! Shepherd “Sheep listen to his voice” “Sheep listen to his voice” Brings out “his own” Brings out “his own” “Sheep follow him” “Sheep follow him” “He goes on ahead of them” “He goes on ahead of them”

Stranger Danger! How do I know I belong to God and not to religion?

Stranger Danger! But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them- vs. 5-6

Stranger Danger! Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them…

Stranger Danger! “I’m a Wigwam! I’m a Teepee!”

Stranger Danger! Change in function, not person

Stranger Danger! Wounds= anoint with oil for healing Thirsty= water

Stranger Danger! Gate Sole determiner of who gets in Sole determiner of who gets in Heal and restore/revive Heal and restore/revive Protect from wandering off Protect from wandering off Protect from thieves Protect from thieves Protect from predators Protect from predators

Stranger Danger! …I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture- vs. 7-9

“Find pasture…” …Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?‘ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them…

“Find pasture…” …But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own- Matthew 6:31-34

Stranger Danger! It’s impossible to follow Jesus fully and be ruled by worry

Stranger Danger! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”- vs. 10

Stranger Danger! Thief- promises great things, delivers the opposite Jesus- promises life “to the full”- and delivers on it

Stranger Danger! Thief- “Go get it! You deserve it…” Jesus- “Keep it and you’ll lose it. Give it away and you’ll find it…”

Stranger Danger! Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment…

Stranger Danger! …Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life- 1 Tim. 6

Stranger Danger! God wants us to enjoy his gifts

Stranger Danger! God links: Focus of our trust with the ability to enjoy life and life’s gifts Focus of our trust with the ability to enjoy life and life’s gifts Generosity with living life “to the full” Generosity with living life “to the full”

Stranger Danger! If I’m not able to enjoy life, I need to consider…? If I’m not able to enjoy life, I need to consider…? If my life is not “to the full,” I need to consider…? If my life is not “to the full,” I need to consider…?

Stranger Danger! God promises life “to the full,” not ease of living “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me…” “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me…”

Stranger Danger! To enjoy God’s gifts: Love the Giver more than the gifts Love the Giver more than the gifts Let go of control of my own life Let go of control of my own life Let go of my hold: possessions, relationships, vocation, geography, etc. Let go of my hold: possessions, relationships, vocation, geography, etc.

Stranger Danger! Shepherd!

“The only Christian who isn’t a satisfied customer is the one who doesn’t shop God’s store exclusively”

Stranger Danger! “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…

Stranger Danger! God will never ask of us more than what he’s given to us

Stranger Danger! “…The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it…

Stranger Danger! “…The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep- vs

Stranger Danger! Who/what are the wolves?

Stranger Danger! Jesus dies for his own Hired hands may lead the sheep, but they just want the money

Stranger Danger! Who are the “hired hands?”

Stranger Danger! Careful! Money Money Growth/Ego Growth/Ego Power/Control Power/Control

Stranger Danger! What about my reasons? What I can get out of it? What I can get out of it? How it serves me? How it serves me? If it’s the style I like/the way I want it? If it’s the style I like/the way I want it?

Stranger Danger! Or…How can I: Serve Jesus and his people? Serve Jesus and his people? Sacrificially? Sacrificially? Make disciples by being a disciple/carrying a cross? Make disciples by being a disciple/carrying a cross?

Stranger Danger! "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep- vs

Stranger Danger! Know= trusting and intimate knowledge with a view towards value

Stranger Danger! “…I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd…

Stranger Danger! God’s Plan from the Beginning: Unity in diversity Unity in diversity Genesis 12:2-3- “All peoples on earth will be blessed…” Genesis 12:2-3- “All peoples on earth will be blessed…”

Stranger Danger! God’s Plan from the Beginning: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men- 1 Cor. 12:4-6

Stranger Danger! “…The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…”

Stranger Danger! “…I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father”- vs

Stranger Danger! No one took Jesus’ life- he chose to give it

Stranger Danger! No one brought him back- he decided to come back

Stranger Danger! Jesus has the power of life and death because he’s the author of life

Stranger Danger! How can that change how we view tragedy?

Stranger Danger! At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon- possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?“ But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”- vs

Stranger Danger! How is the division a fulfillment of what Jesus just said?

Takeaways: “There is nothing I will face that God didn’t already know about” Do I believe that? Do I believe that? How might that change how I’m dealing with life today? How might that change how I’m dealing with life today?

Takeaways: Am I following Jesus? Or religion? Do I need to make a change? Do I need to make a change? If so, am I willing to place my faith fully in Christ? If so, am I willing to place my faith fully in Christ?

Takeaways: Am I ruled by worry? Or following Jesus fully?

Takeaways: God “richly provides us everything for our enjoyment…” Am I enjoying life “to the full” and the gifts of God? Am I enjoying life “to the full” and the gifts of God? If not, where is my trust? How tightly am I holding to my possessions? If not, where is my trust? How tightly am I holding to my possessions?