Audio RecordingSermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!

John 10:22-42 (ESV) 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

Sermon OutlineJesus’ claim of being one with the Father (v30) shifts our framework to a unique focal point for faith.

1. See and Understand

2. v25 “the works… bear witness about me”, v41 “everything John said about this man is true”

3. v38 “even if you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand…”

4. Hear and Follow

5. v24 “if you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (vv22-23)

6. v27 “my sheep hear my voice”
7. vv34-36 “Is it not written…?”

8. v33 “you, being a man, make yourself God”

9. Receive and Rest

10. vv28-29 “I give them eternal life… My Father, who has given them to me”

11. vv28-29 “they will never perish… no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”

Prayer of ConfessionOur good Shepherd, you have made yourself and your ways known. We admit we are foolish and stubborn. Slow to understand, resistant to belief, and vulnerable to deception, we need help. Forgive us our sins. Pardon us for every way we fail to follow you and act according to your ways. Subdue our pride and cynicism. Lead us in the ways of life. Thank you that we will not perish nor be snatched from your hand because of the faithfulness of Christ, whom you consecrated and sent into the world so that through faith in him we have life. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does Jesus mean when he says he is “one with the Father”?
2. What do you find challenging to believe or understand in Jesus being both fully human and fully divine?
3. Why were the signs done by Jesus important to his ministry?
4. How are Jesus’ followers supposed to hear his voice?
5. What is the focal point of faith for Christians? How does Jesus’ teaching that salvation is of God alone help us to rely on him and not ourselves?
6. If it is God who assures our perseverance, what role does effort play in the Christian life?
7. How can shifting our thinking to receiving and resting in Christ bring greater freedom, commitment, and energy for following Christ? How do we avoid being passive?