Sermon Recap+ June 22, 2025

Understanding Jesus as the Good Shepherd: More Than Just Sacrifice. When we think about Jesus, we often focus on His death on the cross. While His sacrifice is undeniably important, there's so much more to Jesus as the Good Shepherd than just His willingness to die for us.

Watch the Whole Thing - Click Here

The Gospel of John chapter 10 gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus that goes beyond sovereignty and sacrifice—it shows us a Savior who desires proximity, protection, and purpose for our lives.

What Does It Mean That Jesus Is the Good Shepherd?

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

We've glorified the dying part of Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd, but that's only part of the story. Jesus didn't just die for us—He lives for us. The resurrection is even more significant than the death because without it, we would have no hope.

The concept of Jesus as Lord emphasizes His sovereignty and power, placing Him on a throne far away from us. But the image of the Good Shepherd brings Him close. It creates proximity and intimacy in our relationship with God.

The Good Shepherd:

• Stays close to His sheep

• Provides comfort through His staff

• Uses that same staff to defend against enemies

• Seeks out those who wander away

How Does Jesus' Sacrifice Change Our Purpose?

The hired hand mentioned in John 10:13 "runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep." But Jesus cares deeply—so deeply that He was willing to die. However, His death wasn't meant to burden us with guilt. Rather, it was meant to propel us to live fully for His glory. Jesus didn't die so we would feel shame; He died so we would have purpose.

The goal for Christians isn't to die like Christ but to live because of Christ.

His sacrifice should inspire us to:

• Live with joy

• Serve others with purpose

• Reflect His love in all we do

What Is Christ Actively Doing in Your Life Today?

If someone asked what you're celebrating that Christ is doing in your life right now, what would you say?

Is God:

• Empowering you to bless others?

• Using you as an instrument of His peace?

• Working through you to welcome others?

Jesus says in John 10:16, "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."

One of Jesus' ongoing activities is welcoming others into His fold. He's not asking us to die for Him—He's asking us to welcome others to Him.

How Can We Expand God's Flock Beyond Our Community?

Christianity isn't meant to be an exclusive social club with strict rules for membership. The Good Shepherd actively seeks out the lost sheep, and we're called to do the same.

Who are the people around you who feel lost or excluded? What are you doing to invite them into the fold? How excited are you about what Christ is doing in your life that you want to share it with others?

The world is watching how we live. When we claim to be Christians but don't act like Christ, we place a target on the gospel. As the saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Learning from Unexpected Examples

Consider the example of baseball player Shohei Ohtani. What makes him remarkable isn't just his athletic ability but his character. When he was hit by a pitch (following an unspoken rule of retaliation in baseball), instead of allowing his team to fight, he displayed humility and compassion. He brushed it off, shook the pitcher's hand, and told everyone to continue playing.

This mirrors Jesus' teaching to turn the other cheek and not repay evil with evil. While our natural instinct is self-protection, the gospel calls us to represent the Good Shepherd by showing grace even when wronged.

The Importance of Community in Our Faith

You may have a personal relationship with Christ, but the only way Christ will have a relationship with you is when you choose to live in community. The gifts of the Spirit are activated when they're used for the common good, not for personal gain.

When we pray, we should remember to pray not just to the sovereign Lord but to the Good Shepherd—the one who has made Himself available to us.

As Psalm 23 reminds us: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul." This is about relationship, not just power.

Life Application

This week, consider how you're living out your faith in practical ways:

1. Shift your focus from guilt to purpose: Instead of feeling guilty about Jesus' sacrifice, how can you live with greater purpose because of it?

2. Identify the "other sheep": Who in your life feels excluded from God's love? How can you be an instrument of welcome?

3. Practice non-retaliation: When someone wrongs you this week, how might you respond with grace rather than revenge?

4. Seek proximity with Jesus: Spend time daily connecting with Jesus as your Shepherd, not just your distant Lord.

5. Reflect on your testimony: What is Christ actively doing in your life that you can share with others?

Ask yourself: Am I merely sticking my tongue out at the enemy because I'm protected by Christ, or am I also looking outward to those who are far from God's presence? The Good Shepherd does both—He protects His flock while seeking those who are lost.