December 15, 2025 • 42 mins
Some leaders take from people; the best leaders give themselves to people. That contrast sits at the center of a message that moves from a miracle in John 9 to a bold claim in John 10: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and gives them abundant life. Pastor Jason Smith unpacks the tension between false shepherds who guard their status and the true Shepherd who guards our souls, and we follow the thread back to Ezekiel 34, where God promises to come and personally seek, bind, feed, and give His people rest.
We talk about the ache of wounded authority and why so many of us brace when we hear the word “leadership.” Then we let Jesus redefine it. His voice doesn’t manipulate; it restores. His authority doesn’t crush; it carries. Through vivid stories—a rescued sheep, a mother’s sacrifice, and a son’s baseball memories—we explore how love that gives itself away changes everything. The point isn’t to romanticize pain but to show that absolute abundance starts where lesser comforts end. Joy, peace, forgiveness, and deep purpose are not luxuries for the lucky; they are gifts from the Shepherd who knows our names.
Abundant life isn’t a lottery win or a platform. It is a soul stocked with lasting good: courage that steadies in dark valleys, grace that ends shame’s spin, and a sense that ordinary days can echo into eternity. We listen to Jesus’ promise, consider God’s delight in doing us good, and ask what surrender actually looks like—trusting in provision, receiving guidance, and letting His presence become the end behind every good gift. If you’ve been scattered by fear or burned by bad shepherds, this conversation offers clear-eyed hope and a better path forward with a Shepherd who is for you.
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SPEAKER_01 (00:02):
Well, good morning, church family.
If you are a guest with us, uhlet me welcome you.
My name is Jason Smith.
I have the awesome privilege ofbeing the pastor here, and it is
a great privilege for you to uhvisit with us this morning.
Uh what an awesome privilege itis as a church to witness
Sophia's baptism.
Praise God for that.
(00:22):
Amen.
Right?
And church family, this morning,we have the privilege of taking
the Lord's Supper together,okay?
If you are a born-againbeliever, okay, you are welcome
to participate and take theLord's Supper with us.
If you did not get the elementson your way in, lift your hand
(00:43):
up right now.
We've got some deacons who aregonna pop around.
Make sure you get those.
Keep your hand up until you uhuntil you receive them.
They will see you, I promise.
Okay, but begin to prepare yourheart now, believer.
unknown (00:58):
Okay?
SPEAKER_01 (00:58):
To take the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner of the
broken body and shed blood, thenew covenant that has been given
to us by Jesus.
So this morning we're gonnacontinue along in our Christmas
sermon series looking at whyJesus came.
We began with the truth thatJesus came to glorify the
(01:22):
Father, to glorify the Fatherfor his mercy.
Then we looked at that Jesuscame to serve and to give his
life as a ransom for many.
And then two weeks ago, PastorDaniel looked at the fact that
Jesus came to destroy the worksof the devil.
This morning, turn with me inyour Bibles to John chapter 10.
(01:46):
John chapter 10.
If you do not have a Bible,there's a Bible in the Purec in
front of you.
You can keep that as a gift fromus to you.
We would love for you to keepthat so that you can have a copy
of God's word.
John chapter 10, hold your spotthere.
(02:06):
Shrek was a Marino sheep.
Not supposed to show thepicture, yep.
Act surprise here in just amoment.
Shrek was a Marino sheep in NewZealand who was notorious for
being mischievous and forwandering away.
(02:29):
He hated having his woolsheared.
Well, it turns out that Shrekescaped his enclosure and he
would hide in caves, okay, uh,avoiding getting sheared for six
years.
For six years.
And when he was finallydiscovered, this is what he
(02:51):
looked like.
Here's another story from 2005in Turkey.
Okay?
I'm not sure if you are aware,but sheep instinctively followed
the one right in front of it.
(03:12):
Well, sadly, that meant 1,100sheep simply walked off a
45-foot cliff.
Apparently the first one walkedoff, and 1,099 followed right
after.
Killing 400.
You ask, well, why didn't theyall die?
(03:33):
Well, it was the first 400 thatdied, and then the others had a
much softer landing.
Alright, one more.
I want you to watch this video.
SPEAKER_00 (03:45):
Right, so what I've got here is actually a cast ram,
alright.
So this happens quite a lot.
And what they basically do isjust roll over on their back and
they can't get up and move.
So what you want to do is justget them up so they're on their
feet, and just hold them to getthe blood circulating because
they're going to be a little bitunbalanced.
(04:06):
And obviously, if I didn't getto this ram, the ram could blow,
he could go out, you know, um,get a bit gassy, and ultimately
die if I don't get to him fastenough.
So you just want to hold himjust to regain his balance, and
once it's been a minute or two,he should, you can see he's a
bit wonky falling away.
And do you know what he's justdone?
(04:28):
The exact same thing.
So, what I'm gonna do is justhold him for a little bit
longer.
SPEAKER_01 (04:36):
Alright, why am I sharing all these sheep stories?
Well, one of the most commonmetaphors in all of Scripture in
the Bible is that we are sheepand that God is our shepherd.
That's right.
Sheep are stupid, they arevulnerable, and they are
(04:58):
completely dependent upon theshepherd for all of life.
The shepherd carries theauthority of a king.
Sheep cannot imagine lifewithout the leadership and
guidance of their shepherd.
And in the best situations, theshepherd is like the personal
(05:22):
love of a father, caring,protecting, feeding the sheep,
the way a father does for hisown children.
Now, why are shepherds invitedto the birth of our Lord and
Savior?
Well, for many points, it issimply because that Jesus has
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come to be your shepherd.
He calls himself the goodshepherd.
Listen as I read in John chapter10, verses 7 through 11.
So Jesus said to them again,Truly I say to you, I am the
(06:05):
door of the sheep.
Now pause real quick.
I'm not going to explain this inthe sermon, but in this aspect,
uh imagine the sheep in a sheeppen, and Jesus says, He is the
shepherd that guards the door,letting those in and out.
Okay?
Right, the safety, security.
(06:26):
All those who come before me arethieves and robbers, but the
sheaf did not hear them.
I am the door.
If anyone enters through me, hewill be saved, and will go in
and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to stealand kill and destroy.
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I came that they may have lifeand have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down hislife for the sheep.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, this morning,as we have come to gather around
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your word and to sing yourpraises, God, we pray right now
in Jesus' name that your spiritwould blow our minds in
comprehending this truth.
That King Jesus, you have cometo be our shepherd, to be our
life, to be our guiding force,our king, our loving Father, all
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of those ways that a sheepdesperately needs a shepherd.
Jesus, you have come.
Father, I pray that that wouldpenetrate our hard hearts, and
that we would be, and that wewould see with magnificence this
morning that incredible truth,and that each of us would be
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willing to surrender to you asshepherd.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Now the narrative in the chapterbefore, John chapter 9, is
incredibly important becausethat actually leads into John
chapter 10 and what Jesus sayshere.
(08:15):
So in John chapter 9, Jesus waswalking through Jerusalem with
his disciples, and he proclaimsto his disciples that he is the
light of the world.
And in order to display thatproclamation, Jesus walks up to
(08:38):
someone that has been blind hisentire life, and he heals him
right there.
Heals him just like that.
Now, understandably, there isgreat excitement around this
healing, right?
All the people that have knownthe blind man his whole life,
his neighbors, his mother, thewhole community is celebrating,
(09:03):
except for the Pharisees, hislocal synagogue leaders.
He who had never seen a sunset,never stood upon the mountain
and beheld the beauty ofcreation, never seen his
mother's face, could suddenlysee.
(09:25):
And the shepherds over himcritically debate whether this
is a good thing.
Secretly, they fear that thismight diminish their own
authority, and they are jealousthat God is working outside of
them.
So the final result is that theylabel Jesus a sinner for healing
(09:51):
on the Sabbath, and they cursedthe blind man as a sinner from
birth.
Now the contrast could not bemore stark.
The blind man who can suddenlysee, but those who are supposed
to be the shepherds are in factspiritually blind.
(10:12):
And these shepherds are in factthe very shepherds that God
warned us about in Ezekielchapter 34.
Now you may not be familiar withEzekiel 34, but it is a passage
that is worth your attention.
Remember that Ezekiel is in theOld Testament and therefore is
(10:33):
looking forward to the coming ofthe Messiah, the coming of
Jesus.
But in Ezekiel 34, God theFather is looking down from
heaven and he is greatlydistressed.
He is fraught with the fact thathis sheep are not being cared
(10:55):
for.
The shepherds who are charged tocare for his sheep, instead they
are eating the sheep.
They are not caring for them.
They are selfish in how they usethe sheep for their own personal
gain.
They do not mend the injuredsheep.
(11:16):
They do not heal the sick.
And God's flock, as a result,are left scattered, vulnerable,
and hurting.
And in response to thissituation, God says, I will rend
(11:41):
the heavens and I will come downand I will care for my sheep.
I will search for my sheep.
I will rescue and gather them.
I will heal and mend.
I will feed them and I will givethem rest.
Fourteen times God says, I will,I will, I will.
(12:02):
And then in the end he says, Iwill send my servant David, and
he will feed, and he willshepherd my sheep.
Our passage in John chapter 9and 10 is a direct fulfillment
of Ezekiel chapter 34.
The leaders in Israel are thefalse shepherds who selfishly
(12:28):
abuse the sheep for their ownpersonal gain.
They do not teach that the onlyway to God is through faith in
God's grace.
That is only because God isgracious that you can come to
Him.
No, no, no, no.
Instead, they teach aself-righteous system of laws,
(12:51):
exalting themselves whilepushing down the exhausted.
A man who lived his entire lifeblind can miraculously see, and
they do not rejoice, they worryabout their own authority,
threatening to put them out ofthe synagogue.
(13:13):
So as Jesus says in John 10 10,the thief comes only to steal,
kill, and destroy.
And these false shepherds are inline with the ultimate thief,
Satan, because in their heartsthey deny God's provision, God's
(13:35):
kindness, what God did to heal.
They don't care.
They suffocate life.
And they cannot help but putothers down in order to exalt
themselves.
They take what is not theirs asif they deserve it.
Now you have had many shepherdfigures in your life.
(13:59):
From your parents to yourgrandparents, ranging from all
of those who've had authorityover you, right?
Role models like teachers andcoaches, and especially those in
spiritual authority likepastors.
Now I hope that those shepherdsin your life have been amazing.
(14:23):
But undoubtedly, across thisroom, right, probably every one
of us has experiencedoppressive, prideful authority
in your life.
It is the most hurtful thelonger you sit and the closer to
home that it hits.
(14:44):
Those over you who are meant tobring about life, but instead
they bring about destruction.
No splash of mercy, no grace,only the reminder that you did
not and you cannot ever measureup.
(15:04):
See, it is into this darknessthat Jesus comes as the good
shepherd.
I will feed, I will bind, I willheal the sick, I will gather the
scattered, I will lead andprotect and provide for all the
(15:28):
things that a good shepherdwould do.
Which, if you really stop andthink about it, there is one
thing that the shepherd is forthe sheep.
The false shepherds, they arefor themselves, but not Jesus.
(15:49):
Jesus is first and foremost forthe sheep, even to the point
verse 11 says that I lay down mylife for the sheep.
On August 16th, 1987, NorthwestFlight 255 took off from Detroit
(16:10):
Airport.
Now, as the plane lifted offfrom the runway, it immediately
began to roll from side to side.
Not having enough sufficientspeed or lift, uh, its wing
clipped uh a light pole from arental car place.
And soon the wing was on fireand it completely disintegrated.
(16:34):
Now the plane was in anuncontrolled crash, killing two
people on the ground and 148people aboard.
There was one lone survivor,Cecilia uh Seychand.
(16:55):
Cecilia's account of what tookplace, she was a four-year-old
little girl.
Her account of what took placeis as they were taking off and
everything began to be chaoticand everyone began to scream,
that her mother, sitting next toher, took off her own seatbelt,
(17:18):
laid her body over her, andsqueezed her as tight as she had
ever been squeezed.
That was Cecilia's last memory.
That tattoo you see on her wristis a constant reminder of her
mother's sacrifice for her.
(17:40):
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down hislife for the sheep.
Now Lane and I are nowhere nearperfect, but as good parents,
everything we do is for the goodof our children.
(18:02):
We provide, we protect, we lead,we care for.
Even when we discipline, we arepointing them to truth.
We are shaping their character.
Now I remember as a kid thatright before my father would
(18:23):
spank me, he would look at meand he would say, This hurts me
more than it hurts you.
And I remember thinking, that isthe dumbest thing I have ever
heard.
It's my rear end.
But now as a parent, I know thateverything we do is for their
(18:49):
good.
How much more so does Jesus,friend, he has come to be your
shepherd.
Do you long for someone to leadyou, to bind your wounds, to
teach you his ways, to give youpurpose and meaning and life.
(19:13):
That is why he came.
He came to be your shepherd.
Listen again to Jesus, listenagain to his heart.
The thief comes only to stealand to kill and destroy.
I came that they may have lifeand have it abundantly.
(19:40):
Abundant, overflowing, thrivinglife.
The best things in life, themost meaning, true depth, and
true riches.
I want you to picture the Mostgenerous person that you've ever
(20:02):
met.
Do you believe that Jesus ismore generous than they?
He is not a stenchy miser.
He wants, he says it right here.
This is why he came.
He came to give you abundantlife.
(20:23):
Now I need to head off some ofyou who have just prayed for
your Powerball numbers.
The abundant life does not meanearthly riches, wanton pleasure,
and unyielding power.
Jesus wants to give you so muchmore than your fleshly desires.
(20:46):
Listen to the way that C.S.
Lewis puts it.
It would seem that our Lordfinds our desires not too
strong, but rather too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures,fooling about with drink and sex
and ambition when infinite joyis offered to us.
(21:09):
But like an ignorant child whowants to go on making mud pies
in a slum because he cannotimagine what is meant by the
offer of a holiday at the sea,we are far too easily pleased.
Jesus said that I came incomplete contrast to those who
(21:34):
want to abuse you or oppressyou.
I have come as your shepherd,and I have come to give you
life, abundant life, a love anda joy inside of you that is so
real that there are times whereyou don't know whether to bust
(21:55):
out in laughter or to weepbecause your heart wants to
explode.
A peace so secure that even asyou face darkness and death,
your courage stiffens.
A forgiveness that is sofreeing, you float along like
(22:20):
you are a feather.
Relationships and meanings sodeep that you know that your
life, your years here, youimpact eternity.
Friend, Jesus can offer youabundant life because he is the
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source of abundant life.
He owns the cattle on a thousandhills.
In his presence is a fullness ofjoy.
Listen to John 15, 11.
These things I have spoken toyou so that my joy may be in
you, and that your joy may bemade full.
(23:08):
Listen to God's word.
When God's word says that Hedelights to save you, He
delights to do good to you,listen to this.
Zephaniah 3:17, the Lord yourGod is in your midst, a
victorious warrior.
He will exalt over you with joy.
(23:32):
He will be quiet in his love.
He will rejoice over you withshouts of joy.
I don't think you comprehendwhat that verse actually says.
That verse says that Goddelights, not that he will make
you joyful, but that God himselfdelights in doing you good, in
(23:57):
saving you.
And more than anything, hear me.
Jesus delights to give youhimself.
Because he is the end of everygood thing.
Who gave food its taste and therobin its color?
(24:22):
Who made the oceans roar or theview from the top of a mountain?
Who created a mother's love or afather's protection?
You see, everything good pointsto him because he is its end.
(24:46):
So I grew up a Texas Rangers fanbecause my father was a Texas
Rangers fan.
And my father loved baseball.
Okay?
I love the drama of all sports.
I kind of felt like baseball isfair.
(25:07):
It's about a six out of ten.
But my father would givebaseball a ten out of ten.
And we love to watch baseballtogether.
Okay?
We would go to the old stadiumin Arlington and sit on the
metal uh bleachers, and it washot during the summer, but those
(25:28):
were the cheap seats, those werethe ones we could afford.
We would lot watch a lot ofbaseball on TV, and if my mom
was distracted, he would let mestay up later so that we could
watch baseball.
Actually played baseball twoyears longer than I would have
because my father loved baseballso much.
Okay.
(25:49):
Now in in 2011, the Rangers madeuh a World Series run.
Okay?
And even though I was married atthe time and with kids, this
World Series run by the Rangersgave my father and I a lot of
opportunity to talk on the phoneand to text, right?
(26:12):
We would watch every game andtext and talk about it.
I was at an important game whereNelson Cruz hit a uh a grand
slam to send them to the nextround, and the first thing I did
was call my dad, okay?
And we talked about it.
Now, in 2011, the Rangers gotone pitch, one strike from
(26:37):
winning the World Series.
And there was this notorious flyball to right field.
You can see the picture in thebottom right.
There is Nelson Cruz missingthat catch.
Okay.
And I don't remember where I waswhen I watched it.
All I remember was immediatelypicking up my phone and talking
(26:57):
to my father about that play.
2011 is my favorite baseballmemory.
Now, fast forward to 2023.
Because in 2023, for the firsttime in the Rangers' 63-year
(27:18):
history, they won the WorldSeries.
An unbelievable run, full ofdrama.
They didn't cheat like theHouston Trash Drows, okay?
They won it.
Fair and square.
That's right, pour it on.
Okay.
(27:39):
And for all the drama, all theexcitement of finally winning
that World Series, it doesn'teven come close to comparing to
2011.
You see, in 2020, my fatherpassed away.
(28:01):
And so even though the Rangersfinally got to the mountaintop,
baseball was never the sameagain.
Because, you see, the Rangersweren't the end.
My father was the end.
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He was the joy.
He was the excitement of it all.
The Rangers were just what weshared together.
Friend, I share that with you toillustrate to you that Jesus is
the end of every good thing.
(28:46):
He is the good shepherd.
Every good thing in your life hehas given so that you might
enjoy him in it.
He has come so that you wouldhave abundant joy and peace and
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forgiveness and life in him.
And frankly, I am a fellow sheepwho simply gives testimony to
you that my life is moreabundant.
It is filled with more joy, moremeaning, more purpose than I
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ever could have imagined.
Because Jesus is my shepherd.
And he can be your shepherd too.
My friend.
(30:02):
So let me ask you, will yousurrender control and allow him
to lead?
Will you stop worrying?
And will you trust him toprovide for what you need?
Will you quit hiding from hisdiscipline?
(30:24):
Like Shrek?
Will you quit running becauseyou know he's convicting you?
He does so for your good.
Will you rest in his unfailinglove?
Will you trust him to lead youthrough the dark valley that you
(30:46):
are in?
I want you to take the Lord'ssupper.
I want you to prepare the bread.
I'm gonna give you a moment tocontemplate here.
(31:10):
Here in a moment, I'm gonna readthe first portion of Psalm 23.
I'm gonna give you time toreflect, and then we're gonna
take the elements together.
As you hold a small piece ofbread, I want you to be mindful
of the fact that the shepherd'sbody was broken for you.
(31:33):
As he said in this text, I laydown my life for the sheep.
He came and he found you in yoursin.
And he was broken in order topurchase you back to himself so
that he might be your shepherd.
(31:56):
I want you to listen as I readthe first three verses of Psalm
23.
The Lord is my shepherd I shallnot want.
He makes me lie down in greenpastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
(32:19):
He guides me in the paths ofrighteousness for his name's
sake.
In the quietness of your heart,will you express your gratitude
to your shepherd for laying downhis life to purchase you to
himself?
(33:23):
And he says, Take and eat.
Now I want you to prepare thecup.
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He has saved you in order tobless you beyond all
comprehension with his mercy andgrace.
It is greater than you couldpossibly comprehend what it is
going to be like in his presencefor all of eternity.
(34:21):
Even though I walk through thevalley of the shadow of death, I
fear no evil, for you are withme.
Your rod and your staff, theycomfort me.
You prepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies.
You have anointed my head withoil.
My cup overflows.
(34:45):
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the
days of my life, and I willdwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Take a few moments tocontemplate the future promises
of God towards you.
(35:35):
And he gave it to his disciples,and he said, This is my blood
that is poured out for the newcovenant.
Drink this in remembrance of me.
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There is no God like you thatlays down his life for the
sheep.
Your love towards us, your mercytowards us to pursue us and to
find us when we were yourenemies, when we were far from
you.
Father, I pray that your lovewould continue to wash over us
and change us, that it would bea testimony of our lives, that
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you are our shepherd.
And that although we aredeficient and we are limited and
we are so finite, our shepherdis amazing.
You are so good.
We give testimony of that thismorning.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
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Church family, the praise teamis going to come and lead us in
one final song, and it is achance for you to respond.
I know you have responded inparticipating in the Lord's
Supper, but this is a time foryou to stand and sing in faith.
You should belt this out with somuch enthusiasm, giving your
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hallelujah back to the Father.
We'll have ministers down hereat the front who would love to
pray with you.
Okay?
If there is any burden you carryand you need someone to walk
alongside you, that is why weare here.
We're not here to play church.
We are here to worship our Kingtogether.
So we'll have ministers downhere at the front if you want to
use these steps as an altar topour out your life before the
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Lord.
Whatever decision or promptingthat the Spirit of God has
placed upon you, you beobedient.
SPEAKER_03 (37:39):
Would you stand the lady between us?
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I could not climb in despair,darkness, you're loving kindness
(38:30):
of us Christ.
SPEAKER_01 (40:06):
Jesus Christ every time it's every free death has
lost his prep on me you haveevery day salvation in your name
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Jesus Christ I believe Amen Amenif you are a guest with us we
are really grateful that you arehere we would love to make a
connection with you there's acard in the Pew rack in front of
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you it says connection card nowwe don't have our usual
connection tent up because it'sreally cold outside and no one
wants to stand out there so onyour way out to your right there
is a cart that has someinformation about our church and
a gift for you okay we wouldlove to give you that gift and
take any information that youmight need about our church okay
(41:17):
maybe you visited a few timesand you're thinking how do I
take a next step membership Iwant to serve somewhere Pastor
Garrett is over here at our nextstep sign give him five minutes
right after service he will takedown your information and get
you anything that you need tofollow up okay church family let
me pray over us as we leave letme remind you that uh Bernie
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Bright's tonight we're gonnahave 2,000 people on our campus
depending upon weather um uhremember to pick up prayer cards
if you didn't get them okay wepromised that we would pray for
these so grab those and let'sleave Heavenly Father we thank
you for this day we thank youthat you are the good shepherd
King Jesus help us to leave heresurrender to you resting in you
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trust in you to get us throughevery trial and tribulation in
our lives help us to shine ourlight to tell others of our good
shepherd that you have have comenear so that you can be
accessible to all God give us aheart and a passion for lost
sheep for people that do notknow you that they would come to
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know you.
Help us to walk worthy of you aswe leave here.
In Jesus' name we pray amen Godbless you guys have a great week
Well, good morning, church family.
If you are a guest with us, uhlet me welcome you.
My name is Jason Smith.
I have the awesome privilege ofbeing the pastor here, and it is
a great privilege for you to uhvisit with us this morning.
Uh what an awesome privilege itis as a church to witness
Sophia's baptism.
Praise God for that.
(00:22):
Amen.
Right?
And church family, this morning,we have the privilege of taking
the Lord's Supper together,okay?
If you are a born-againbeliever, okay, you are welcome
to participate and take theLord's Supper with us.
If you did not get the elementson your way in, lift your hand
(00:43):
up right now.
We've got some deacons who aregonna pop around.
Make sure you get those.
Keep your hand up until you uhuntil you receive them.
They will see you, I promise.
Okay, but begin to prepare yourheart now, believer.
unknown (00:58):
Okay?
SPEAKER_01 (00:58):
To take the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner of the
broken body and shed blood, thenew covenant that has been given
to us by Jesus.
So this morning we're gonnacontinue along in our Christmas
sermon series looking at whyJesus came.
We began with the truth thatJesus came to glorify the
(01:22):
Father, to glorify the Fatherfor his mercy.
Then we looked at that Jesuscame to serve and to give his
life as a ransom for many.
And then two weeks ago, PastorDaniel looked at the fact that
Jesus came to destroy the worksof the devil.
This morning, turn with me inyour Bibles to John chapter 10.
(01:46):
John chapter 10.
If you do not have a Bible,there's a Bible in the Purec in
front of you.
You can keep that as a gift fromus to you.
We would love for you to keepthat so that you can have a copy
of God's word.
John chapter 10, hold your spotthere.
(02:06):
Shrek was a Marino sheep.
Not supposed to show thepicture, yep.
Act surprise here in just amoment.
Shrek was a Marino sheep in NewZealand who was notorious for
being mischievous and forwandering away.
(02:29):
He hated having his woolsheared.
Well, it turns out that Shrekescaped his enclosure and he
would hide in caves, okay, uh,avoiding getting sheared for six
years.
For six years.
And when he was finallydiscovered, this is what he
(02:51):
looked like.
Here's another story from 2005in Turkey.
Okay?
I'm not sure if you are aware,but sheep instinctively followed
the one right in front of it.
(03:12):
Well, sadly, that meant 1,100sheep simply walked off a
45-foot cliff.
Apparently the first one walkedoff, and 1,099 followed right
after.
Killing 400.
You ask, well, why didn't theyall die?
(03:33):
Well, it was the first 400 thatdied, and then the others had a
much softer landing.
Alright, one more.
I want you to watch this video.
SPEAKER_00 (03:45):
Right, so what I've got here is actually a cast ram,
alright.
So this happens quite a lot.
And what they basically do isjust roll over on their back and
they can't get up and move.
So what you want to do is justget them up so they're on their
feet, and just hold them to getthe blood circulating because
they're going to be a little bitunbalanced.
(04:06):
And obviously, if I didn't getto this ram, the ram could blow,
he could go out, you know, um,get a bit gassy, and ultimately
die if I don't get to him fastenough.
So you just want to hold himjust to regain his balance, and
once it's been a minute or two,he should, you can see he's a
bit wonky falling away.
And do you know what he's justdone?
(04:28):
The exact same thing.
So, what I'm gonna do is justhold him for a little bit
longer.
SPEAKER_01 (04:36):
Alright, why am I sharing all these sheep stories?
Well, one of the most commonmetaphors in all of Scripture in
the Bible is that we are sheepand that God is our shepherd.
That's right.
Sheep are stupid, they arevulnerable, and they are
(04:58):
completely dependent upon theshepherd for all of life.
The shepherd carries theauthority of a king.
Sheep cannot imagine lifewithout the leadership and
guidance of their shepherd.
And in the best situations, theshepherd is like the personal
(05:22):
love of a father, caring,protecting, feeding the sheep,
the way a father does for hisown children.
Now, why are shepherds invitedto the birth of our Lord and
Savior?
Well, for many points, it issimply because that Jesus has
(05:44):
come to be your shepherd.
He calls himself the goodshepherd.
Listen as I read in John chapter10, verses 7 through 11.
So Jesus said to them again,Truly I say to you, I am the
(06:05):
door of the sheep.
Now pause real quick.
I'm not going to explain this inthe sermon, but in this aspect,
uh imagine the sheep in a sheeppen, and Jesus says, He is the
shepherd that guards the door,letting those in and out.
Okay?
Right, the safety, security.
(06:26):
All those who come before me arethieves and robbers, but the
sheaf did not hear them.
I am the door.
If anyone enters through me, hewill be saved, and will go in
and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to stealand kill and destroy.
(06:48):
I came that they may have lifeand have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down hislife for the sheep.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, this morning,as we have come to gather around
(07:08):
your word and to sing yourpraises, God, we pray right now
in Jesus' name that your spiritwould blow our minds in
comprehending this truth.
That King Jesus, you have cometo be our shepherd, to be our
life, to be our guiding force,our king, our loving Father, all
(07:33):
of those ways that a sheepdesperately needs a shepherd.
Jesus, you have come.
Father, I pray that that wouldpenetrate our hard hearts, and
that we would be, and that wewould see with magnificence this
morning that incredible truth,and that each of us would be
(07:54):
willing to surrender to you asshepherd.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Now the narrative in the chapterbefore, John chapter 9, is
incredibly important becausethat actually leads into John
chapter 10 and what Jesus sayshere.
(08:15):
So in John chapter 9, Jesus waswalking through Jerusalem with
his disciples, and he proclaimsto his disciples that he is the
light of the world.
And in order to display thatproclamation, Jesus walks up to
(08:38):
someone that has been blind hisentire life, and he heals him
right there.
Heals him just like that.
Now, understandably, there isgreat excitement around this
healing, right?
All the people that have knownthe blind man his whole life,
his neighbors, his mother, thewhole community is celebrating,
(09:03):
except for the Pharisees, hislocal synagogue leaders.
He who had never seen a sunset,never stood upon the mountain
and beheld the beauty ofcreation, never seen his
mother's face, could suddenlysee.
(09:25):
And the shepherds over himcritically debate whether this
is a good thing.
Secretly, they fear that thismight diminish their own
authority, and they are jealousthat God is working outside of
them.
So the final result is that theylabel Jesus a sinner for healing
(09:51):
on the Sabbath, and they cursedthe blind man as a sinner from
birth.
Now the contrast could not bemore stark.
The blind man who can suddenlysee, but those who are supposed
to be the shepherds are in factspiritually blind.
(10:12):
And these shepherds are in factthe very shepherds that God
warned us about in Ezekielchapter 34.
Now you may not be familiar withEzekiel 34, but it is a passage
that is worth your attention.
Remember that Ezekiel is in theOld Testament and therefore is
(10:33):
looking forward to the coming ofthe Messiah, the coming of
Jesus.
But in Ezekiel 34, God theFather is looking down from
heaven and he is greatlydistressed.
He is fraught with the fact thathis sheep are not being cared
(10:55):
for.
The shepherds who are charged tocare for his sheep, instead they
are eating the sheep.
They are not caring for them.
They are selfish in how they usethe sheep for their own personal
gain.
They do not mend the injuredsheep.
(11:16):
They do not heal the sick.
And God's flock, as a result,are left scattered, vulnerable,
and hurting.
And in response to thissituation, God says, I will rend
(11:41):
the heavens and I will come downand I will care for my sheep.
I will search for my sheep.
I will rescue and gather them.
I will heal and mend.
I will feed them and I will givethem rest.
Fourteen times God says, I will,I will, I will.
(12:02):
And then in the end he says, Iwill send my servant David, and
he will feed, and he willshepherd my sheep.
Our passage in John chapter 9and 10 is a direct fulfillment
of Ezekiel chapter 34.
The leaders in Israel are thefalse shepherds who selfishly
(12:28):
abuse the sheep for their ownpersonal gain.
They do not teach that the onlyway to God is through faith in
God's grace.
That is only because God isgracious that you can come to
Him.
No, no, no, no.
Instead, they teach aself-righteous system of laws,
(12:51):
exalting themselves whilepushing down the exhausted.
A man who lived his entire lifeblind can miraculously see, and
they do not rejoice, they worryabout their own authority,
threatening to put them out ofthe synagogue.
(13:13):
So as Jesus says in John 10 10,the thief comes only to steal,
kill, and destroy.
And these false shepherds are inline with the ultimate thief,
Satan, because in their heartsthey deny God's provision, God's
(13:35):
kindness, what God did to heal.
They don't care.
They suffocate life.
And they cannot help but putothers down in order to exalt
themselves.
They take what is not theirs asif they deserve it.
Now you have had many shepherdfigures in your life.
(13:59):
From your parents to yourgrandparents, ranging from all
of those who've had authorityover you, right?
Role models like teachers andcoaches, and especially those in
spiritual authority likepastors.
Now I hope that those shepherdsin your life have been amazing.
(14:23):
But undoubtedly, across thisroom, right, probably every one
of us has experiencedoppressive, prideful authority
in your life.
It is the most hurtful thelonger you sit and the closer to
home that it hits.
(14:44):
Those over you who are meant tobring about life, but instead
they bring about destruction.
No splash of mercy, no grace,only the reminder that you did
not and you cannot ever measureup.
(15:04):
See, it is into this darknessthat Jesus comes as the good
shepherd.
I will feed, I will bind, I willheal the sick, I will gather the
scattered, I will lead andprotect and provide for all the
(15:28):
things that a good shepherdwould do.
Which, if you really stop andthink about it, there is one
thing that the shepherd is forthe sheep.
The false shepherds, they arefor themselves, but not Jesus.
(15:49):
Jesus is first and foremost forthe sheep, even to the point
verse 11 says that I lay down mylife for the sheep.
On August 16th, 1987, NorthwestFlight 255 took off from Detroit
(16:10):
Airport.
Now, as the plane lifted offfrom the runway, it immediately
began to roll from side to side.
Not having enough sufficientspeed or lift, uh, its wing
clipped uh a light pole from arental car place.
And soon the wing was on fireand it completely disintegrated.
(16:34):
Now the plane was in anuncontrolled crash, killing two
people on the ground and 148people aboard.
There was one lone survivor,Cecilia uh Seychand.
(16:55):
Cecilia's account of what tookplace, she was a four-year-old
little girl.
Her account of what took placeis as they were taking off and
everything began to be chaoticand everyone began to scream,
that her mother, sitting next toher, took off her own seatbelt,
(17:18):
laid her body over her, andsqueezed her as tight as she had
ever been squeezed.
That was Cecilia's last memory.
That tattoo you see on her wristis a constant reminder of her
mother's sacrifice for her.
(17:40):
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down hislife for the sheep.
Now Lane and I are nowhere nearperfect, but as good parents,
everything we do is for the goodof our children.
(18:02):
We provide, we protect, we lead,we care for.
Even when we discipline, we arepointing them to truth.
We are shaping their character.
Now I remember as a kid thatright before my father would
(18:23):
spank me, he would look at meand he would say, This hurts me
more than it hurts you.
And I remember thinking, that isthe dumbest thing I have ever
heard.
It's my rear end.
But now as a parent, I know thateverything we do is for their
(18:49):
good.
How much more so does Jesus,friend, he has come to be your
shepherd.
Do you long for someone to leadyou, to bind your wounds, to
teach you his ways, to give youpurpose and meaning and life.
(19:13):
That is why he came.
He came to be your shepherd.
Listen again to Jesus, listenagain to his heart.
The thief comes only to stealand to kill and destroy.
I came that they may have lifeand have it abundantly.
(19:40):
Abundant, overflowing, thrivinglife.
The best things in life, themost meaning, true depth, and
true riches.
I want you to picture the Mostgenerous person that you've ever
(20:02):
met.
Do you believe that Jesus ismore generous than they?
He is not a stenchy miser.
He wants, he says it right here.
This is why he came.
He came to give you abundantlife.
(20:23):
Now I need to head off some ofyou who have just prayed for
your Powerball numbers.
The abundant life does not meanearthly riches, wanton pleasure,
and unyielding power.
Jesus wants to give you so muchmore than your fleshly desires.
(20:46):
Listen to the way that C.S.
Lewis puts it.
It would seem that our Lordfinds our desires not too
strong, but rather too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures,fooling about with drink and sex
and ambition when infinite joyis offered to us.
(21:09):
But like an ignorant child whowants to go on making mud pies
in a slum because he cannotimagine what is meant by the
offer of a holiday at the sea,we are far too easily pleased.
Jesus said that I came incomplete contrast to those who
(21:34):
want to abuse you or oppressyou.
I have come as your shepherd,and I have come to give you
life, abundant life, a love anda joy inside of you that is so
real that there are times whereyou don't know whether to bust
(21:55):
out in laughter or to weepbecause your heart wants to
explode.
A peace so secure that even asyou face darkness and death,
your courage stiffens.
A forgiveness that is sofreeing, you float along like
(22:20):
you are a feather.
Relationships and meanings sodeep that you know that your
life, your years here, youimpact eternity.
Friend, Jesus can offer youabundant life because he is the
(22:43):
source of abundant life.
He owns the cattle on a thousandhills.
In his presence is a fullness ofjoy.
Listen to John 15, 11.
These things I have spoken toyou so that my joy may be in
you, and that your joy may bemade full.
(23:08):
Listen to God's word.
When God's word says that Hedelights to save you, He
delights to do good to you,listen to this.
Zephaniah 3:17, the Lord yourGod is in your midst, a
victorious warrior.
He will exalt over you with joy.
(23:32):
He will be quiet in his love.
He will rejoice over you withshouts of joy.
I don't think you comprehendwhat that verse actually says.
That verse says that Goddelights, not that he will make
you joyful, but that God himselfdelights in doing you good, in
(23:57):
saving you.
And more than anything, hear me.
Jesus delights to give youhimself.
Because he is the end of everygood thing.
Who gave food its taste and therobin its color?
(24:22):
Who made the oceans roar or theview from the top of a mountain?
Who created a mother's love or afather's protection?
You see, everything good pointsto him because he is its end.
(24:46):
So I grew up a Texas Rangers fanbecause my father was a Texas
Rangers fan.
And my father loved baseball.
Okay?
I love the drama of all sports.
I kind of felt like baseball isfair.
(25:07):
It's about a six out of ten.
But my father would givebaseball a ten out of ten.
And we love to watch baseballtogether.
Okay?
We would go to the old stadiumin Arlington and sit on the
metal uh bleachers, and it washot during the summer, but those
(25:28):
were the cheap seats, those werethe ones we could afford.
We would lot watch a lot ofbaseball on TV, and if my mom
was distracted, he would let mestay up later so that we could
watch baseball.
Actually played baseball twoyears longer than I would have
because my father loved baseballso much.
Okay.
(25:49):
Now in in 2011, the Rangers madeuh a World Series run.
Okay?
And even though I was married atthe time and with kids, this
World Series run by the Rangersgave my father and I a lot of
opportunity to talk on the phoneand to text, right?
(26:12):
We would watch every game andtext and talk about it.
I was at an important game whereNelson Cruz hit a uh a grand
slam to send them to the nextround, and the first thing I did
was call my dad, okay?
And we talked about it.
Now, in 2011, the Rangers gotone pitch, one strike from
(26:37):
winning the World Series.
And there was this notorious flyball to right field.
You can see the picture in thebottom right.
There is Nelson Cruz missingthat catch.
Okay.
And I don't remember where I waswhen I watched it.
All I remember was immediatelypicking up my phone and talking
(26:57):
to my father about that play.
2011 is my favorite baseballmemory.
Now, fast forward to 2023.
Because in 2023, for the firsttime in the Rangers' 63-year
(27:18):
history, they won the WorldSeries.
An unbelievable run, full ofdrama.
They didn't cheat like theHouston Trash Drows, okay?
They won it.
Fair and square.
That's right, pour it on.
Okay.
(27:39):
And for all the drama, all theexcitement of finally winning
that World Series, it doesn'teven come close to comparing to
2011.
You see, in 2020, my fatherpassed away.
(28:01):
And so even though the Rangersfinally got to the mountaintop,
baseball was never the sameagain.
Because, you see, the Rangersweren't the end.
My father was the end.
(28:23):
He was the joy.
He was the excitement of it all.
The Rangers were just what weshared together.
Friend, I share that with you toillustrate to you that Jesus is
the end of every good thing.
(28:46):
He is the good shepherd.
Every good thing in your life hehas given so that you might
enjoy him in it.
He has come so that you wouldhave abundant joy and peace and
(29:06):
forgiveness and life in him.
And frankly, I am a fellow sheepwho simply gives testimony to
you that my life is moreabundant.
It is filled with more joy, moremeaning, more purpose than I
(29:28):
ever could have imagined.
Because Jesus is my shepherd.
And he can be your shepherd too.
My friend.
(30:02):
So let me ask you, will yousurrender control and allow him
to lead?
Will you stop worrying?
And will you trust him toprovide for what you need?
Will you quit hiding from hisdiscipline?
(30:24):
Like Shrek?
Will you quit running becauseyou know he's convicting you?
He does so for your good.
Will you rest in his unfailinglove?
Will you trust him to lead youthrough the dark valley that you
(30:46):
are in?
I want you to take the Lord'ssupper.
I want you to prepare the bread.
I'm gonna give you a moment tocontemplate here.
(31:10):
Here in a moment, I'm gonna readthe first portion of Psalm 23.
I'm gonna give you time toreflect, and then we're gonna
take the elements together.
As you hold a small piece ofbread, I want you to be mindful
of the fact that the shepherd'sbody was broken for you.
(31:33):
As he said in this text, I laydown my life for the sheep.
He came and he found you in yoursin.
And he was broken in order topurchase you back to himself so
that he might be your shepherd.
(31:56):
I want you to listen as I readthe first three verses of Psalm
23.
The Lord is my shepherd I shallnot want.
He makes me lie down in greenpastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
(32:19):
He guides me in the paths ofrighteousness for his name's
sake.
In the quietness of your heart,will you express your gratitude
to your shepherd for laying downhis life to purchase you to
himself?
(33:23):
And he says, Take and eat.
Now I want you to prepare thecup.
(34:01):
He has saved you in order tobless you beyond all
comprehension with his mercy andgrace.
It is greater than you couldpossibly comprehend what it is
going to be like in his presencefor all of eternity.
(34:21):
Even though I walk through thevalley of the shadow of death, I
fear no evil, for you are withme.
Your rod and your staff, theycomfort me.
You prepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies.
You have anointed my head withoil.
My cup overflows.
(34:45):
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the
days of my life, and I willdwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Take a few moments tocontemplate the future promises
of God towards you.
(35:35):
And he gave it to his disciples,and he said, This is my blood
that is poured out for the newcovenant.
Drink this in remembrance of me.
(36:00):
There is no God like you thatlays down his life for the
sheep.
Your love towards us, your mercytowards us to pursue us and to
find us when we were yourenemies, when we were far from
you.
Father, I pray that your lovewould continue to wash over us
and change us, that it would bea testimony of our lives, that
(36:27):
you are our shepherd.
And that although we aredeficient and we are limited and
we are so finite, our shepherdis amazing.
You are so good.
We give testimony of that thismorning.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
(36:47):
Church family, the praise teamis going to come and lead us in
one final song, and it is achance for you to respond.
I know you have responded inparticipating in the Lord's
Supper, but this is a time foryou to stand and sing in faith.
You should belt this out with somuch enthusiasm, giving your
(37:10):
hallelujah back to the Father.
We'll have ministers down hereat the front who would love to
pray with you.
Okay?
If there is any burden you carryand you need someone to walk
alongside you, that is why weare here.
We're not here to play church.
We are here to worship our Kingtogether.
So we'll have ministers downhere at the front if you want to
use these steps as an altar topour out your life before the
(37:32):
Lord.
Whatever decision or promptingthat the Spirit of God has
placed upon you, you beobedient.
SPEAKER_03 (37:39):
Would you stand the lady between us?
(38:03):
I could not climb in despair,darkness, you're loving kindness
(38:30):
of us Christ.
SPEAKER_01 (40:06):
Jesus Christ every time it's every free death has
lost his prep on me you haveevery day salvation in your name
(40:33):
Jesus Christ I believe Amen Amenif you are a guest with us we
are really grateful that you arehere we would love to make a
connection with you there's acard in the Pew rack in front of
(40:54):
you it says connection card nowwe don't have our usual
connection tent up because it'sreally cold outside and no one
wants to stand out there so onyour way out to your right there
is a cart that has someinformation about our church and
a gift for you okay we wouldlove to give you that gift and
take any information that youmight need about our church okay
(41:17):
maybe you visited a few timesand you're thinking how do I
take a next step membership Iwant to serve somewhere Pastor
Garrett is over here at our nextstep sign give him five minutes
right after service he will takedown your information and get
you anything that you need tofollow up okay church family let
me pray over us as we leave letme remind you that uh Bernie
(41:41):
Bright's tonight we're gonnahave 2,000 people on our campus
depending upon weather um uhremember to pick up prayer cards
if you didn't get them okay wepromised that we would pray for
these so grab those and let'sleave Heavenly Father we thank
you for this day we thank youthat you are the good shepherd
King Jesus help us to leave heresurrender to you resting in you
(42:04):
trust in you to get us throughevery trial and tribulation in
our lives help us to shine ourlight to tell others of our good
shepherd that you have have comenear so that you can be
accessible to all God give us aheart and a passion for lost
sheep for people that do notknow you that they would come to
(42:27):
know you.
Help us to walk worthy of you aswe leave here.
In Jesus' name we pray amen Godbless you guys have a great week
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