JULY 14, 2024

SERIES 2: JOHN – I AM SAYINGS

LESSON 2.2
I AM THE DOOR

FOCUS VERSES
John 10:7, 9
7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
.....
9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

LESSON TEXT
John 10:1–16

TRUTH ABOUT GOD

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will always lead us through the right doors.

TRUTH FOR MY LIFE

I will recognize Jesus’ voice and follow wherever He leads me.

Thinking about Last Week:

Have students refer to their Daily Devotional Guide to answer the following questions:
1. What most affected you as you read through the Lesson Text and the Biblical Insights?
2. How did it shape your prayers and thoughts throughout the week?
3. Do you feel you grew closer to the Lord this past week? Why or why not?

TEACHING OUTLINE
Icebreaker: When was the last time you noticed a door rather than just rushing through it? What is the most unusual door you have
ever walked through?
Lesson Connection: Share the Lesson Connection.
I. ANCIENT SHEPHERDING
A. The Role of the Shepherd
» Think about the hard work and sacrifice required of shepherds in caring for their sheep. What are some other ways
Christ has cared and sacrificed for His sheep?
B. The Role of the Sheepgate (I)
II. RECOGNIZING AND FOLLOWING THE RIGHT VOICE (V)
» Think back over this week. How many different voices do you think you heard? What percentage of them stand out as
unique?
A. The Voice of the Shepherd
B. Voices of Strangers and Robbers
 III. JESUS IS THE DOOR
» Why would someone try to seek another door than Jesus Christ? How can we demonstrate to others that Jesus is the
only door to salvation?
A. Recognizing Jesus’ Voice
» How has God used these methods to help you recognize His voice daily speaking in your life? Besides these, what are
some other ways we learn to recognize His voice?
B. Following Where Jesus Leads
» As you have prayed to hear God’s voice, where do you hear God leading you? your family? our church? our
community? our nation?
Internalizing the Message

Prayer Focus
Lead the group in prayer and consider the following topics of focus:
• For God to speak to us and for us to recognize His voice
• For us to discern the doors God is leading us through

LESSON CONNECTION
Few icons exist in American history quite like the cowboys of the Wild West. Images of grizzled cowhands in dust-covered denim and
spurred boots have enraptured the fantasies of young children for over one-hundred years. Something about living under the stars with
rugged, self-reliant individualism still captures imaginations, despite some of those Wild West stories being almost two centuries old.
Parents of young boys are still buying them lassos and Stetsons upon hearing them say, “I want to be a cowboy when I grow up.”

However, these romanticized stories of the cowboys of the Wild West often do not fully capture the difficulty and pain that came with
that lifestyle. Cowhands worked long, brutal hours, frequently sleeping in fields and caves to be close to their herds. Living in such
conditions exposed the cowboys to the natural elements and to possible attacks from mountain lions or cattle rustlers. Often cowboys’
food was foraged wild fruits and vegetables, hardtack, and whatever they were able to hunt while on the trail. Furthermore, raising
cattle was a financial gamble because herds could be devastated by drought, thieves, poisonous crops, and wild animals. Every year on
the trail was another risk for a cowboy’s body as well as his income.

But perhaps some of the more iconic stories of cowboys come from the long nights on the open range, keeping cattle calm during a
long drive to bring the stock to market. Cowboys who kept the night watch often sang to the cattle throughout the night. As most of
the crew bedded down for the night under the open stars, heads on saddles and bellies full of canned beans, one lone rider mounted his
horse to slowly circle and serenade the herd.

These cowboys did not sing out of boredom or creative impulse; they sang to keep the cattle calm. Talent and the ability to carry a
tune were not necessary. Cattle are not known for their ability to judge musical skill anyway. Rather, the continual, familiar voices of
the cowboys would minimize the risk of skittish cattle being startled by thunder or strange noises in the night. The cows were so used
to hearing the cowhands yip and holler at them all day long, they found a strange comfort in the familiarity of their raspy voices at
night.

The cowboys also sang to the cattle to help protect them. The voices of humans were likely to steer away predators who might think
the cows were easy snacks, and their song could stave off thieves hoping to sneak some cows away from a sleeping crew. The rugged
cowboys knew how much comfort and safety their voices brought to the cattle. No matter how rough their voices sounded, they gladly
crooned to their cows all night.
This pattern would be repeated the entire cattle drive from the plains of Texas to the railheads of Kansas. Night after night the
cowboys rested the safety of their herds simply on their voices.

BIBLE LESSON
I. ANCIENT SHEPHERDING

The cowboys of the Wild West are one of the closer modern equivalents to the ancient shepherds of Bible times. Modern portrayals of
shepherds in bright, clean garments with trimmed hair and soft hands are simply not accurate. These men frequently worked long
hours in the field with the flock, leading them many miles to fresh water sources, sleeping under the stars with their sheep along the
way. The work was hard, yet common enough in Jesus’ day that He frequently used the analogy to describe how He—as the ultimate
Good Shepherd—loves and care for His sheep.

A. The Role of the Shepherd

Even more so than the cattle in the Wild West, the safety of the sheep depended on hearing and following the voice of the shepherd.
Cattle can be kept calm at night by the cowboys’ voices, but the cattle are unlikely to follow the cowboys based on hearing their
voices alone. Cattle must be driven. On the other hand, sheep recognize and follow the familiar voice of their shepherd, who has raised
and handled them since they were little lambs.

The safety and well-being of the sheep was ultimately the shepherd’s responsibility. Hired hands come and go. Seasons change and
flocks may move. Conditions change, but ultimately the shepherd was responsible. Good shepherds spent countless days and hours
with their sheep, studying their condition and planning for their future. Perhaps this fact brings a double meaning to Jesus’ statement
in John 10:11 that “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Not only would a good shepherd die for his flock, but a good
shepherd would also give up the rest of his life, with all its conveniences and comforts, for the sake of the sheep he loved.

Think about the hard work and sacrifice required of shepherds in caring for their sheep. What are some other ways Christ has
cared and sacrificed for His sheep?

B. The Role of the Sheepgate

When the sheep were in a location where they could be brought to pasture and water daily, after a day feeding in the fields and
drinking by the riverbanks, they returned to the safety of the sheepfold. Sheepfolds came in all shapes and sizes, mostly dependent on
the needs of the shepherd. Many ancient sheepfolds consisted of stone walls, and almost all had a single entrance.

The single gate made it more difficult for thieves and predators to enter the pen and wreak havoc or steal away sheep. While a four- to
five-foot stone wall may not seem like much of a defense, it proved to be a considerable deterrent. Even if a thief were to sneak over
the fence, the villain still had to heft a two-hundred pound adult sheep over the brick wall. This scenario assumes the thief could catch
the sheep in the first place, who would doubtlessly be spooked and attempt to flee from a stranger with them in the pen.

Some ancient stories tell of shepherds lying across the entrance of the sheepgate for the night. The shepherds would literally put their
lives between their sheep and any potential harm. The sight of the shepherd sleeping in the sheepgate sent a clear message to all
would-be evildoers: “If you want to get to my sheep, you are going to have to go through me.”

Teacher Option: A supplemental image is available in the Resource Kit. (I)

II. RECOGNIZING AND FOLLOWING THE RIGHT VOICE

Teacher Option: A supplemental video is available in the Resource Kit. (V)

Mistaking someone’s voice is easy when one is not familiar with that voice. Think about how many voices you have heard just this
week. You possibly heard over a hundred unique voices while you were just walking through your local supermarket. However, you
automatically tuned out most of these voices. If you noticed them at all, the memory of their voices probably vanished seconds after
the interaction. However, many will relate to the experience of walking through a crowded area and immediately recognizing the
voice of a friend. Even before seeing our friend, we could hear their voice and know with confidence our friend was near.

Think back over this week. How many different voices do you think you heard? What percentage of them stand out as
unique?

This type of recognition does not come quickly. Becoming familiar with a voice depends on spending time with the person behind that
voice. Every voice is somewhat unique. Impressionists will spend hours studying a voice to master inflections, tone, and cadence, yet
still rarely match the voice they are impersonating identically. However, while a casual listener of the original voice might easily be
fooled by an impressionist, someone intimately familiar with the real voice will never be fooled by an impression, no matter how
similar it may seem to others.

A. The Voice of the Shepherd

Voice recognition played a key role in the work of the ancient shepherd. Living among the sheep as much as possible was of the
utmost importance for the sheep to learn their shepherd’s voice. Their safety depended on their familiarity with it. The shepherd’s
voice could lead them safely to babbling water brooks to drink and to verdant pastures to feed. The shepherd’s voice could also steer
the sheep away from nooks and caves where snakes and predators loved to hide, waiting for an unsuspected stray to wander away
from the safety of the flock. A sheep who did not know how to recognize and follow the shepherd’s voice was far more likely to get
lost, captured, or eaten by wild animals.

B. Voices of Strangers and Robbers

Sheep who know their shepherd’s voice will never be fooled by a substitute. Jesus was confident of this fact when He stated, “And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5). Moreover, He emphasized,
“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:8).

Robbers have no good intentions. While strangers might, robbers and strangers have one important element in common: they are not
the true shepherd. Regardless of the person’s origin or motivations, sheep are rightfully wary of any voice that does not sound exactly
like their trusted shepherd.

III. JESUS IS THE DOOR

All these analogies by Jesus served to demonstrate one all-important point: He is the only path to safety, security, sustenance, and
salvation. This truth is why Jesus noted very plainly, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). Jesus noted in another place, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). If we desire
to seek God and all His blessings, the only door is through Jesus Christ.

Indeed, several other writers of Scripture noted Jesus’ uniqueness as the only correct path for salvation. When speaking of Jesus’
name, Peter boldly proclaimed, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul told Timothy there was only one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ
Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). This reality is why Jesus compared Himself to a sheepfold with only one entrance; there is no other way except
through Him.

Why would someone try to seek another door than Jesus Christ? How can we demonstrate to others that Jesus is the only
door to salvation?
A proper understanding of Jesus as the only way should evoke a response of desperately clinging to Jesus and following close after
Him wherever He may lead. Despite the Scriptures being quite clear on this matter, people still try other doors to happiness and
fulfillment. All the while, Jesus is waiting nearby, still the only door to salvation. Thankfully, we have another promise of Scripture
that Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). His door is still open for us, just as it was two
millennia ago.

A. Recognizing Jesus’ Voice

To become familiar with the voice of Jesus, we must be willing to spend enough time with Him so we will never be fooled. There are
several ways we learn to recognize God’s voice. The first and best way is to read and meditate on God’s Word. The Bible is His story.
Complaining about not hearing God’s voice without reading His Word is foolishness. As one preacher quipped, “The hardest part of
following God for most people is not discovering what His secret, hidden will is; the hardest part is obeying what’s written in black
and white.” Becoming familiar with the voice of God in the Scriptures will make recognizing and avoiding deceiving voices easier.
God will never contradict what He has written in His Word.

Another way to recognize God’s voice is through regular prayer. Throughout the Bible, great revelation happened when God’s
children prayed. Daily prayer paired with daily Bible reading are irreplaceable to learning to recognize God’s voice. The Scriptures
are filled with examples of saints crying out to God and God answering them. How can we expect to hear God’s voice if we do not
speak with Him, and how will we recognize His voice if we do not allow Him to speak?

Finally, God has placed spiritual leaders in our lives to lead and guide us in recognizing His voice for ourselves. God has appointed
spiritual men and women as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers—ministries Paul described as existing “for the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–
13). These leaders, especially pastors, are also described in the Bible as shepherds who take care of God’s flock. (See Acts 20:28; I
Peter 5:2–4.)

How has God used these methods to help you recognize His voice daily speaking in your life? Besides these, what are some other
ways we learn to recognize His voice?

B. Following Where Jesus Leads

Recognizing God’s voice is only one part of the equation, however. The next all-important step is to follow His voice where He leads.
For some, this final step might be obvious, but perhaps it is so obvious that many do not think of it. Unlike sheep who follow the
shepherd’s voice by instinct, we must daily choose to follow in the paths God is leading us. What a great shame it would be for us to
recognize God’s voice and yet continually fail to follow Him. What a tragedy it would be to be led by His voice to the Door—Jesus
Christ Himself—and perish in our sins on the doorstep.

As Christians, we must never get so comfortable hearing the voice of God that we neglect to follow Him when He calls. His voice will
sometimes call us to deeper levels of spirituality and higher levels of commitment and sacrifice. His voice will challenge our
assumptions, conveniences, and comforts. However, remembering Jesus is the Good Shepherd, we can rest assured that His intention
is for our safety and provision.

As you have prayed to hear God’s voice, where do you hear God leading you? your family? our church? our community?
our nation?

INTERNALIZING THE MESSAGE

A comforting voice can make a world of difference. Many workers have had the experience of working long days at a job they did not
enjoy, just to stumble in the door of their house and hear a precious voice greet them and completely make up the difference. The
voice might belong to a spouse or a young child, and it brings comfort and peace like no other voice can. Sometimes, before the key
has completely turned in the front door lock, those voices are heard on the other side. Those voices are inviting and encouraging. The
only way to get to those voices is to walk quickly through the door.

In this same way, God desires for us to hear His voice. Though He is the righteous Judge who will not turn a blind eye to sin, He does
desire for us to associate His voice with peace and comfort. His voice only evokes fear and dread on the willfully sinful and
unrepentant. For this reason, after Adam sinned in the Garden, he said, “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I
was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Adam’s sin caused him to fear God’s voice, which was not God’s will, but sin caused
Adam to mishear God’s voice.

For we who know God as our heavenly Father, His voice is associated with power and overcoming. John the Revelator was “in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day” when He heard God’s voice like a powerful trumpet (Revelation 1:10). Because John was able to recognize
God’s voice when He spoke, John was ready to receive one of the most powerful visions in all of Scripture.

We have been forgiven of great sins, therefore God’s voice is a constant reminder of grace and mercy. When Jesus walked the earth,
thousands followed Him, whom He had healed from deadly diseases and saved from worldly lifestyles. This crowd was so familiar
with Jesus’ voice that when the Holy Spirit fell on the Day of Pentecost with “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,” the
disciples were able to recognize this sound as the true voice of God speaking once again in their midst (Acts 2:2). They recognized the
same overcoming power in the Holy Spirit they had experienced when Jesus walked physically among them.

The revelation of hearing Jesus’ voice cannot be separated from the revelation of knowing Jesus as the door. He is the only way to
salvation, and He is constantly calling out to us, leading us closer to Him. We access the door by hearing and being led by His voice.
That is how the ancient sheep were led, and that is how we will be led. Our daily prayer should be to recognize His voice and then
walk through the open door daily.

Prayer Focus
Lead the group in prayer and consider the following topics of focus:
• For God to speak to us and for us to recognize His voice
• For us to discern the doors God is leading us through