Advent: Dec. 5th

QUESTION:
Why shepherds? Why did God send the Angel of the Lord to announce Jesus' birth to shepherds anyway?
Who is shepherding your life in Christ ~ guiding it, protecting it, feeding it, caring for it? Whose life in Christ are you shepherding ~ guiding, protecting, feeding, caretaking?

PRAYER: Lord, hear my prayers ...

APPLICATION ~ MAKE A CHART
Yes, there are good places for "charts", and this is one of them. Make a chart of those that shepherd you and those you shepherd. Include columns for at least three practical ways this is easily done. Include a line for "stranger/angel" and for "new different race friend/s".

EXAMPLE:

NAME	SHEPERDING	SHEPERDING	SHEPERDING	SHEPERDING
Jeff	Pray	Scripture Praise	Scripture Encourage	Empower
Bob	Help	Give grace	Visit	Phone Call
Sue	Listen	Share	Bible Study	Disciple
Tom	Memory Verses	Share Testimony	Scripture Game	Sharing Exercise
Mary	Forgive	Reconcile	Stop enabling	Scripture Praise
Stranger	Smile	Eye Contact	Welcome	Bless
New Different Race Friend	Invite	Listen	Share	Go With

JOHN 10

1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

JOHN 10

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