John10:2-3

Step 1

Read God's Word

Look at the passage

John 10:1-10

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

The Shepherd and His Flock

10 “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. ² The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³ 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. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Step 2 
What Does God's Word Say?
List Facts
² The man (pastor)  who enters by the gate (Jesus) is the shepherd of his (pastor) sheep. ³ The watchman (holy Spirit) opens the gate (his heart to Jesus) for him(the pastor), and the sheep (Christians) listen to his(the pastors) voice. He (The pastor) calls his own sheep(Christians) by name and leads them out.

Step 3 
What Does God's Word Mean?
Learn the lessons

2The pastor is to come to us the flock through Jesus and he is to know us.  3The only way the pastor can serve us as a pastor is to have the door open to him by the holy spirit.  As the holy spirit is proclaiming the good new of Christ.  We the pastors flock will listen to our pastor because we know him well and he knows us well.

Step 4
What Does God's word mean to me?

Do those in pastoral care in my life come to us through Jesus and is he known to us?  Is our pastoral care lead by the holy spirit.  Do they find Jesus at the hearing of where he is through the holy spirit?  Do we know our pastors well enough that we follow them like sheep, knowing that they will care for us?  Do I then follow them.  Who would I consider to be my pastors?

Step 5
How will I respond to God's Word?

I really don't know how to respond to this.  A sheep by nature doesn't choose who the pastor is nor do they question them.  Yet I do this.  A sheep has no control over the level of care they receive.  This sounds way to out of control.  Then you have the strange twist where the analogy breaks down for the sheep eventually become shepherds.  We are all called to Shepard.  I have a much easier time seeing my responsibility as a Shepard than how to be have as a sheep.

Live it out!