Sermon: I Have Other Sheep
Mar 8th, 2010
I Have Other Sheep
John 10:16
Introduction
Every so often we need a sermon that reminds us why this church exists, how we fit into God’s kingdom plan on the earth.
This verse makes two simple points:
- This text gives us the reason we exist, and
- This text gives us the reason to exist.
1. This text gives us the reason we exist.
Jesus said, I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and I must bring them in…
We exist because Jesus did what he said he’d do; people acted on his words.
Jesus ministered in a culture with deep prejudice against the outsiders.
Should not have been that way: God gave lots of indicators he wanted to save the Gentiles all along:
Gen.12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed…
Ps. 67:
Rahab; Jonah preaching to Nineveh; Elijah:The widow of Zarephath (1 kings 17:8f) Elisha: Naaman from Syria.
At Jesus’ birth, wise men for the east (Gentiles) come to celebrate
There are numerous examples in Jesus’ ministry of reaching out to Gentiles:
Matt8:10: The Roman centurion: I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith…”
Samaritan woman John 4
John 12:20-21 Greeks: we wish to see Jesus.
Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.
Romans 15:8-12
Gal.3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
The ultimate goal of Jesus’ work is one flock with one shepherd.
The ultimate fulfillment of this will be the new heavens and new earth, described in:
Rev.21:24 by its light all the nations will walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it…
Rev.22:2 the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations
The one thing which seems to capture the chief activity of heaven is the worship of the lamb. John Piper reminds us that “missions is not the end goal, worship is. Missions exists because worship does not.”
2. The text gives us the reason to exist
Now that Jesus is out of sight in heaven, how do the sheep hear his voice? The shepherd speaks through the sheep.
The shepherd has given us a distinct message designed to draw lost sheep to himself. That is the good news, the gospel. God has placed in that message power to convert people, to convince them Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Rom.1:16 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation…
Rom.10:14f But how are they to call on him on whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
This is why you often hear us say that we are a sending church.
John 20:21 As the father has sent me, even so I am sending you.
Matt.28:18 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…
Luke 24:47 repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed to all nations
Acts 1:8 And you will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Why the word witness? That’s what sent people do. They witness, testify, to what they have seen and know.
We exist to continue this verse, to partner with Jesus in the on-going ingathering of his flock.
This raises two important questions:
1) What is the means of this ingathering?
How does Jesus get his sheep into the fold? And they shall hear my voice
What’s the heart of the good news? The two verses that bracket our sending verse both say: I lay down my life for the sheep
Is.53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way; but the Lord caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him.
1 Peter 2:24-25 and he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you are healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
2) What is the motivation for the ingathering?
Jesus said, I must bring them in.
I must gets into you. Sentness gets into your DNA.
It’s not naturally there. We are all innately wired for my kingdom. How do we escape this myopic view of Christ’s kingdom which naturally rules our hearts?
a. Compare kings and kingdoms.
Is there is a cause so great that when you center your entire life around it, you’ll never be disappointed? Are you suffering under the weight of your small ambitions? He gives us the joy of being in sync with what he is doing.
b. Let the glory of Jesus’ sentness consume your heart
Notice the emphatic: I must bring them in.
Why?
1) Jesus’ sentness is righting a wrong
2) He loves them; the father has given them to him.
Jesus made you his cause! His must trumps your must. You are either a sender or one sent. You live missionally.