I AM the Door of the Sheep

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone 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 one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper 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 the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened 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 comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Psalm 100:1-5

Questions for the Community

       Personal Reflection

1. 1. List the corresponding need that sheep (Christians) must have for each of the ways Jesus provides for his flock as a door.
   2. What is your history with bad guys and sheep? How does this shape your faith journey? (i.e. past hurts from bad leaders make it hard to trust)

   Group Discussion

   3. Why do you think Jesus speaks in metaphors (IE he’s not an actual door)? What did you get out of the imagery he uses in the text or the observations on Sunday?
   4. Discuss the list you made in question one. What do you know about yourself because Jesus is the Door of the Sheep?
   5. What do you do (or can you start doing) to acknowledge, thank and remember the blessing of God’s goodness over all of your coming and going? Is there a new opportunity to encounter the risen Jesus when you lock up at night or open up your car door each day?
   6. What does Jesus’ teaching on ‘striving to enter the narrow doors’ (Luke 13:23-24) have to do with this imagery of him BEING the door? Remember that Jesus offers the ABUNDANT life, not only ETERNAL life.

   Plan of Action

   7. Take time to sit quietly with this picture of Jesus as the Door of the Sheep. Ask Jesus to guide your thinking to what this means for your daily life. Ask him to experience the security and freedom that He freely provides. Ask him to reveal ANY people or voices in your life that are not from him.