The Shepherd's Voice
John 10:1-10 Common English Bible
10 1 I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.
I am the gate
7 So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
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Hello NewDay Brothers and Sisters,
I hope today finds you all well, and looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow, and worship on Sunday.
This is my last Friday greeting to you as your interim pastor. It has been a joy to serve you, and walk alongside you over the past several years. I have so much gratitude in my heart for you all, and am excited for what God has in store for you all!
This week our texts for worship are Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10.
I will be preaching from Psalm 23 and John 10, and invite you to read these texts in preparation for Sunday.
Jesus presents himself in many ways throughout the book of John. In John 10, Jesus uses the imagery and metaphors of himself as a Shepherd, as gate and the gatekeeper, and a voice that sheep will know and follow, and will not lead them asray.
I have been thinking more and more about the leadership of Jesus, and following Him, knowing His voice and seeing where He is leading, as I conclude this time with you NewDay. Jesus is the Shepherd who promises to lead us, and guide us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! And, when we spend time with Him, we will be able to hear Him and follow Him. We will also know the difference between Jesus' voice and leading when we spend time wtih HIm, and any other voice that is not Jesus will also be made clear.
There is context to this passage, which I will address on Sunday, as Jesus spoke to the crowds and the religious leaders.
I want to encourage you Brothers and Sisters as you keep following Jesus together, keep close to Him and each other, and listen to the Shepherd’s voice, see where He is at work. You have been doing this with courage and strength over the past 3.5 years since Pastor John's retirement, and in many other ways as you experienced change over and over since the YMCA closed. My deepest prayer for you is that you spend time with Jesus, listen to His voice together, and allow yourselves to be led by the Shepherd. This is an exciting time for NewDay, and also another marker of change. Change can be stressful and difficult to go through, and NewDay has encountered a lot of change. As you anticipate and experience this time of change, I will be praying for you all, and Pastor Scott and Lisa, as they listen to Jesus with you, lead NewDay, and help you to follow Him, to the places and people the LORD will be leading you to!
May God bless you in every way with His love, peace and Joy. Thank you for how wonderful you have been to me, Dan and our family, for your prayerfulness and partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Pastor Kari