March 29 – April 4

Weekly Reading for March 29 – April 4

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: I AM
Sermon Title: I am the Resurrection and the Life

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on April 5, 2015:

• SUNDAY: Matthew 27 , Matthew 28, Matthew 27 , Matthew 28,
• MONDAY: 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15,
• TUESDAY: Mark 15 , Mark 16, Mark 15 , Mark 16,
• WEDNESDAY: Luke 23 , Luke 24, Luke 23 , Luke 24,
• THURSDAY: John 11, John 11,
• FRIDAY: John 19, John 19,
• SATURDAY: John 20, John 21, John 20, John 21,

Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: I AM
Sermon Title: I am the Good Shepherd
Delivered On: March 29, 2015

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Memorize and Reflect

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)

Prayer Direction

Pray for ears to hear the Good Shepherd, Jesus, as He speaks to you through the flow of a normal day. Thank Jesus for speaking to you, leading you, and protecting you. Thank Jesus for the ways He gives you an abundant life and for the different green pastures and still waters He leads you to.

“Live It!” Challenge

Be a Good Under Shepherd: Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but he teaches us to be good under shepherds. We should care for those who God places in our lives with the gentleness and strength of a well-trained and caring shepherd. What will this look like? Here are some ideas. Think about your children, grandchildren, people who work for you, or anyone you are able to help and watch over. Try one or more of these shepherd-like activities and practices in the coming weeks: • Remember names and call people by their name. This is a way of honoring them. • Speak with clarity and patience. Make sure you take time, slow down, and express what you think and feel in a way that is crystal clear. • Point someone to Jesus, the one gate they can enter that will lead them to heaven some day, and true life today. • Point out the good things we have that God has given and we should rejoice in and enjoy. • Do something sacrificial and costly for a person in your life.

Small Group Discussion

1. When you think of a good shepherd, who really takes care of their sheep, what kind of pictures come to your mind and what kind of activities do you see this shepherd engaged in?

2. Read: Psalm 23
   This famous Psalm begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” What does this Psalm teach about the character and activity of God toward His sheep? (Don’t just say what God does, but explain what this action teaches us about the God we worship).

3. How have you experienced God, as your Good Shepherd, watch over you in one of these ways? Tell your story of how God was your Good Shepherd.

4. Read: Ezekiel 34:2-10
   What do you learn about the character and behavior of the leaders “shepherds” of Israel? As the people in Jesus’ day prepared for the feast of dedication and read this passage, what would have been running through their minds and hearts?

5. Read: John 10:1-14
   When Jesus stood up and declared these words, when he made these bold claims, what would the people of his day have heard? What was Jesus claiming about himself in relationship to God?

6. How might the religious leaders have felt about what Jesus was claiming about himself and also what he was saying about false shepherds (the religious leaders of his day)?

7. Since Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep, how should we follow, trust, and respond to our Shepherd?

8. Why is this hard to do at times? What can you do to become more responsive to Jesus when He is seeking to lead and direct your life?

9. When you think of a good shepherd, who really takes care of their sheep, what kind of pictures come to your mind and what kind of activities do you see this shepherd engaged in?

10. Read: Psalm 23
    This famous Psalm begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” What does this Psalm teach about the character and activity of God toward His sheep? (Don’t just say what God does, but explain what this action teaches us about the God we worship).

11. How have you experienced God, as your Good Shepherd, watch over you in one of these ways? Tell your story of how God was your Good Shepherd.

12. Read: Ezekiel 34:2-10
    What do you learn about the character and behavior of the leaders “shepherds” of Israel? As the people in Jesus’ day prepared for the feast of dedication and read this passage, what would have been running through their minds and hearts?

13. Read: John 10:1-14
    When Jesus stood up and declared these words, when he made these bold claims, what would the people of his day have heard? What was Jesus claiming about himself in relationship to God?

14. How might the religious leaders have felt about what Jesus was claiming about himself and also what he was saying about false shepherds (the religious leaders of his day)?

15. Since Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep, how should we follow, trust, and respond to our Shepherd?

16. Why is this hard to do at times? What can you do to become more responsive to Jesus when He is seeking to lead and direct your life?