Suggestions for leading a study:

• Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself.  Who wrote it to whom, and why?
• Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
• Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study.  One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
• Be prayed up
• Have fun!
  

Tuned In Sheep

¹"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. ²The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
⁷Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The 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. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
¹⁴"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I 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. ¹⁷The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Discussion Questions

-Read verses 1-5.  Where do you think Jesus fits into this—is he the sheep pen, the gate, the shepherd, or the watchman?

-Now read verses 6 and 7 for the answer.  Does it surprise you?  Why do you think Jesus identifies with this element of the parable?

-If we are the sheep and the thieves and robbers are competing voices that we listen to who try to lure us away, who might these thieves and robbers be in our lives?

-The watchman of verse 3 is the one working with Jesus (the gate), and the sheep are listening to his voice.  Who might that watchman represent for us?

-How do we recognize a voice that is really speaking for Jesus?

-According to verses 9& 10, what two things occur when we listen to the authentic voice?  What do you think they mean?   (hint: read verse 10:  I have come that they may have _____ and have it to the _____)

-In Verse 11 Jesus identifies himself with a different element of the story.  What is it? 

-What is the primary characteristic of the shepherd?

-Can you think of a founder of any other major world religion who can make this claim?  How does that validate Jesus’ voice as the one to listen to?

-What does verse 16 say about the work of the shepherd?  Who is he referring to?

-Does this say anything about the contemporary notion that “all religions lead to the same place?” 

-How can we be certain that we are coming in through the gate, and following the shepherd?

-How can we help others hear that voice as well?

Leaders' Guide

This lesson is about being certain that we are listening to the authentic voice of Jesus and his true representatives, and what doing so will accomplish for us.

-Read verses 1-5.  Where do you think Jesus fits into this—is he the sheep pen, the gate, the shepherd, or the watchman?

            This is a complex parable that Jesus tells with a lot of elements.  Don’t let people read ahead, because it’s a trick question.  Many people will assume that Jesus is the shepherd.

-Now read verses 6 and 7 for the answer.  Does it surprise you?  Why do you think Jesus identifies with this element of the parable?

            The big surprise—Jesus is the gate, not the shepherd!  He is making sure that his hearers see him as not just the person who leads them to salvation, but the actual means by which they enter into that reality. 

-If we are the sheep and the thieves and robbers are competing voices that we listen to who try to lure us away, who might these thieves and robbers be in our lives?

            Jesus is probably comparing himself to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who had perverted God’s original design for his people into a false religion of legalism.  However, there can be many examples of competing philosophies and ways of looking at life that would attempt to present themselves to us as “the way to get in”, however they define that.  Other religions, popular figures drawing us to fame or fortune, etc.  Even substances, pornography, etc.  Whatever pulls us away from where God has designed us to be—safe with his people. 

-The watchman of verse 3 is the one working with Jesus (the gate), and the sheep are listening to his voice.  Who might that watchman represent for us?

            Whoever is keeping guard over the true means of entering salvation.  In other words, those who preach, as Paul did, only “Jesus Christ and him crucified.”  (1 Corinthians 2:2)  This is how we will know if we are being led astray by false teachers—if they try to tell us that there is something else we must do to enter into salvation other than by way of knowing Jesus Christ.  All cults do this—add something to the gospel of salvation by grace through faith.

-How do we recognize a voice that is really speaking for Jesus?

            Another question to make sure that we have fully discussed the essential root of the gospel.  People who speak for Jesus only preach him as the means to salvation.

-According to verses 9& 10, what two things occur when we listen to the authentic voice?  What do you think they mean?   (hint: read verse 10:  I have come that they may have _____ and have it to the _____)

            We will be saved, and find pasture.  The hint given should make it easy to decide what Jesus means by this.  Not just life, but a full life.   The group can discuss what that means, if they would like.  In Scripture such issues as a healthy life that is not disintegrating and self-destructive because of the influences of sin on ourselves and our relationships is essential to that.  A life lived in healthy community with others is also an important element, as is a life that is lived with meaning and purpose.  

-In Verse 11 Jesus identifies himself with a different element of the story.  What is it? 

            The shepherd.  Now we’re into familiar territory where we thought we were always going to be.  This is why it is so important not to get too hung up on making sure we carefully identify all details of a parable.  They are flexible vehicles in the hands of the master teacher to sometimes give us multiple perspectives to ponder.

-What is the primary characteristic of the shepherd?

            The shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

-Can you think of a founder of any other major world religion who can make this claim?  How does that validate Jesus’ voice as the one to listen to?

            No other major world religion was built upon the death of it’s founder, at least not built upon that death having any meaning, as Jesus’ death did.  Jesus says that is how you will know the real shepherd, so that is how we know the true way to life eternal. 

-What does verse 16 say about the work of the shepherd?  Who is he referring to?

            His work is to bring others who are not currently “in the pen.”  Here he is no doubt referring to the gentiles who would become included as the people of God.  For us, we can identify that with anyone who has not yet been saved and it would not be wrong.

-Does this say anything about the contemporary notion that “all religions lead to the same place?” 

            Jesus’ statement that there would be one flock and one shepherd makes this very clear.  No doubt Luke was trying to make sure that Jews didn’t think that they could just get in because they were Jewish and the gentiles could follow Jesus to get there.  Everybody needs to come in through the gate, and listen to the voice of the shepherd.  No-one is excluded, not even if they can trace their lineage back to Abraham himself.

-How can we be certain that we are coming in through the gate, and following the shepherd?

            This is a wrap-up discussion question.  The true gospel is the one that says that the only way to salvation is through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.  The true “watchmen” of that gospel are those that preach that doctrine.  Don’t leave out the study of the Scriptures and  good Bible-centered teaching as the means by which God has revealed that truth.

-How can we help others hear that voice as well?

            This is to remind us that the shepherd is counting on us to help bring in those others that are outside the pen.  We are the ones giving feet to the voice, but we as well need to make certain that we are being good watchmen, and speaking the right gospel.