Elements City Church
BELIEVE - wk6 (John 10:1-18) *online only*
We are taking an extended dive into the gospel of John. In this gospel we witness the hands-on Jesus in all his splendor and radiance. John writes as one who is very close to Jesus and he goes to great length to record a full picture of the person and powerful work of Jesus: a human Christ to redeem us, a divine Christ to reveal God’s nature, and a powerful, Spirit-filled Christ to help us live godly lives. We want to lean into this incredible portrait of Christ painted in the gospel of John! We want to grow to know Jesus better, grow in the life He gives and grow in the life-mission He invites us into. John writes so that we would BELIEVE. *(see John 20:30-31)
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
UPDATE: MARCH 15th Sunday Service is happening ONLINE ONLY via Facebook Live at 5pm. We are NOT meeting in person this week seeking to love ourselves and our neighbors well with the Covid-19 virus as we try to flatten the curve of this outbreak. See full details that were emailed to you and posted about on social media. Follow along here with our broadcast of service tonight - Sunday March 15th at 5pm via Facebook Live.
We’re delighted to have you as a part of our Elements family – thank you for meeting with us online tonight. We know that these are certainly interesting days, aren’t they? We are praying for all of us – our city – our country and world. For God’s wisdom and guidance and his intervention to help us as we move forward.
We want to remind all of us as followers of Jesus that we don’t have a spirit of fear and timidity, but God’s Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-discipline.
(2 Timothy 1:7)
So we approach moments like this with calm, prudence and we seek to be people who put the hope of God on display in all kinds of practical and tactical ways around us. The Church is not a building – it’s the community of God – the people of God – and sometimes we gather together, but ALL THE TIME we scatter to be the Church where we are!
God’s hope, love and grace empower us and endow us to take the responsibility and seize the opportunities to invite others to find the life with God, we’ve found, through faith in Jesus.
You and I get to be the ‘hands and feet’ of Jesus to a watching world.
So this week, be on the lookout for opportunities to share the love of God with neighbors, friends, co-workers and more. It’s a great moment to offer to pray and actually pray with people for God’s blessing, comfort, protection and activity in their life.
We want to remind all of us as followers of Jesus that we don’t have a spirit of fear and timidity, but God’s Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-discipline.
(2 Timothy 1:7)
So we approach moments like this with calm, prudence and we seek to be people who put the hope of God on display in all kinds of practical and tactical ways around us. The Church is not a building – it’s the community of God – the people of God – and sometimes we gather together, but ALL THE TIME we scatter to be the Church where we are!
God’s hope, love and grace empower us and endow us to take the responsibility and seize the opportunities to invite others to find the life with God, we’ve found, through faith in Jesus.
You and I get to be the ‘hands and feet’ of Jesus to a watching world.
So this week, be on the lookout for opportunities to share the love of God with neighbors, friends, co-workers and more. It’s a great moment to offer to pray and actually pray with people for God’s blessing, comfort, protection and activity in their life.
John gives a profound portrait of Jesus as the divine Son who came to earth to reveal God the Father and to bring eternal life to all who believe in him.
Toward the end of his Gospel, John states the reason he wrote his Gospel,
“Now Jesus did many other signs (miracles) in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” --John 20:30–31
Toward the end of his Gospel, John states the reason he wrote his Gospel,
“Now Jesus did many other signs (miracles) in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” --John 20:30–31
Jesus is our gate.
In contrast to both the thief and the hired hand – who run away and bail out of protecting the sheep -- JESUS is the devoted and dedicated Good Shepherd.
In contrast to both the thief and the hired hand – who run away and bail out of protecting the sheep -- JESUS is the devoted and dedicated Good Shepherd.
We can trust our Good Shepherd.
The Apostle Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Paul’s saying that God is indeed for us. Just a few verses later he writes, “For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
The Apostle Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Paul’s saying that God is indeed for us. Just a few verses later he writes, “For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Like the shepherd here IN JOHN 10, he calls us EACH by name.
And like the sheep here, we need to learn his voice.
Jesus has many sheep he cares for, but each sheep only has ONE shepherd!
And like the sheep here, we need to learn his voice.
Jesus has many sheep he cares for, but each sheep only has ONE shepherd!
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jesus gave His life on the cross as “the Good Shepherd”. He would save others -- though He had the power, did not choose to save Himself.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Jesus gave His life on the cross as “the Good Shepherd”. He would save others -- though He had the power, did not choose to save Himself.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Friends: we are invited to KNOW the Good Shepherd as the leader of our everyday life, not just for our eternal life someday.
QUOTE:
"The Lord is my Shepherd" is written on many more tombstones than lives.
—Dallas Willard
We’re invited to trust the Good Shepherd in our here and now, on into our eternal ever-after.
QUOTE:
"The Lord is my Shepherd" is written on many more tombstones than lives.
—Dallas Willard
We’re invited to trust the Good Shepherd in our here and now, on into our eternal ever-after.
Metaphors are powerful pictures that can encapsulate incredible truth! We see many metaphors describing God in the Bible from beginning to the end – from Genesis to Revelation. But perhaps none as beautiful as Jesus being our GOOD SHEPHERD. (harkening back to King David writing Psalm 23 and Jesus taking on that role, title and fulfillment). Read and Reflect and Lean in as you come to know Jesus as YOUR good shepherd.
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http://elem.cc/giveWe love you Elements family! We're praying for you and with you. Please email us if you have a need at -- info@elementscitychurch.org