A study of how Christians are like sheep:
1) Sheep are often ignorant – Jer. 5:4 – discuss ______________________________________________
2) Sheep are easily distracted – Isa. 53;6; Mk. 4:14-19 – – discuss _______________________________
3) Sheep have no personal protection – 1 Pet. 5:8 – discuss ____________________________________
4) Cost to reclaim sheep? __________________________________________________ Jn. 10:11
5) Gen. 4:4 – “early care necessary” – – discuss _____________________________________________
6) Jn. 10:5 – apply to Christianity: _______________________________________________________
7) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. What do sheep want? ____________________________
8) What do men want? ________________________________________________________________
9) Jn. 10:10
10) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures – satisfied sheep lie down.
a) 4 criteria before laying down: no fear, “pest free,” not hungry, no friction with others.
b) 2 Tim. 1:7 – compare 4 criteria to us – ____________________________________________
11) He leadeth me beside the still waters – sheep (on average) are composed of 70% water.
12) Thirsty sheep are restless – Mt. 5:6.
13) Discuss man’s spiritual thirst: _____________________________________________________
14) He restoreth my soul:
15) Sheep can end up on their backs – feet in the air and panicked.
16) Discuss “restoring souls” in local congregation: ______________________________________
17) He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
a) Sheep require very delicate care. Important to “keep them moving.” Shepherds must plan.
b) Some sheep refuse to follow – discuss – ________________________________________
c) What prevents people from following? ________________________________________
18) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Shepherds faced danger.
19) Examples: __________________________________________________ Jn. 16:33.
20) I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
21) Explain “rod” and “staff”: ______________________________________________________
22) Gal. 2:11.
23) Thou preparest a table before me. Shepherds scout out areas in advance. Heb. 2:10, KJV.
24) Thou anointest my head with oil – “medical treatment” for sheep. Church is God’s hospital.
25) My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.
Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).