Jesus has taught us that we don’t see things clearly on our own in the sermon series, But Now I See. In our new series, Hear My Voice, Jesus continues to address another sensory capacity: our hearing.

In John 10:1-18, we read about how Jesus is our good shepherd and how as his sheep we are able to hear, know, and follow his voice. The problem often arises when we are too distracted or when they are too many competing voices with God’s.

Pastor Brian asked us to consider how we hear from God. Do you know the voice of Jesus? Have you heard his voice? And if so, have you obeyed what he has said?

Let’s read together.

Grow Together

Read this from the Bible together:

John 10:1-10, 14-15  
“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in 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 it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

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Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. In any given week, whose voice calls your name the most? Is it culture, celebrities, friends, family, work leaders, Christian leaders, political leaders, or Jesus? Where do those voices lead when you listen to them?

The sheep follow him because they know his voice. Do you know the voice of Jesus? If so, what are some things he says to you? Do you believe the things he says?

I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. Jesus calls himself the gate. He calls us into safety and he calls us out to enjoy life to the fullest. Have you experienced Jesus as the entry point into the family of God? In what ways?

Next Steps

“We have no room for silence in our lives anymore.” In a culture of phone addiction and ear buds, we no longer find ourselves in silence. How often do you silence the voices you have access to? What is one way you could increase silence in your daily routine?

“A very real enemy does whatever he can to keep us from hearing from God.” How does this enemy operate? He uses culturally acceptable, addictive, subtle devices to distract us from the voice of God. How have you seen the spirit of distraction working against God’s voice in your life?

“Ask God to silence the voices, invite him to speak, and give you the ability to do what he says.” Pray through this process for one another and invite the Lord to present each of you with a fresh opportunity to obey his voice.