April 25 Sermon - Coming to Faith, Jesus’ Way

Jesus said: I am the good Shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice.

I know them and they follow me.

Jesus frequently spoke in metaphor and allegory. When he says he is the good shepherd it is an allegory in that several aspects of one reality - sheep, shepherds, flocks of sheep - are used as metaphors to understand another reality - Jesus, believers, church. For example, the sheep know their shepherd’s voice, and he calls them by name. They follow him and not another because they know his voice. The point is simple. Jesus is the true leader of believers, and they know him, as he knows them - and they follow his voice - his teaching.

Those who heard him had difficulty understanding: Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:6

But he replied by expanding the metaphor. Some got of trying to figure out metaphors. They were still not sure about Jesus and wanted a straight answer

How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah - the promised one of God - tell us plainly? John 10:24

They wanted certainty without ambiguity. Just make it plain. But when speaking of God won’t there always be uncertainty and ambiguity?

Isn’t God a mystery beyond our understanding? God is far more than what we can fit in our small minds. And he assures us that His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways.

If we can’t completely understand God, then how do we come to faith?

We could just close our eyes and say “I believe it all” – an uncritical certitude, an unexamined faith. I think that is the approach of fundamentalists – those who take the Bible literally and believe every word of it. And it works for them. It just takes will power.

A woman was a little on the heavy side, and really wanted to lose weight. But just couldn't resist food. She was approached by a beggar who said to her, "I haven't eaten for six days!" Looking at the man, this woman replied, "Oh, how I wish I had your willpower."

If you don’t have the will power of a fundamentalist, Jesus has another approach to faith. He answered those who wanted a clear, unambiguous statement:

I have already told you but you didn’t believe. What I have done should answer your question.

Just telling you isn’t going to get you to believe. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.

If I do God’s work, believe the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. 38

Don’t believe me because I say so. Look at the evidence – at what I do and teach. Jesus invites them, and us, to make up our own minds based on evidence and tradition and reason. Check it out – think it through – faith has to be your decision.

Faith does not mean a suspension of reason and critical intelligence. It is simply imitating the first disciples who put their faith in the risen Jesus while still wondering and questioning and even doubting. Just because they believed didn’t mean they understood it all or stopped asking questions. Rather, trusting Jesus became a way toward greater understanding. I believe so that I may understand, not I understand and therefore believe. Faith requires a willing suspension of disbelief – putting aside your doubts and holding questions for later, and deciding you will believe.

Jesus has some instructions about faith development – overcoming unbelief - discussing faith and unbelief in terms of the allegory of the sheep and shepherd. He tells the doubters: You do not believe because you are not my sheep – not part of my flock. You do not believe, because you do not belong

Why is belonging important for faith?

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.”

Faith comes by belonging to that fellowship who follow Jesus, and there, listening to Jesus’ word – belonging and listening. Jesus says first you belong to his sheep, his flock, his band of followers - and then you will come to believe, as you listen to His teaching and follow it.

Belong so that you might come to believe.

Listen so that you may begin to understand.

Follow so that you might have faith.

That implies faith development is a process; faith is nurtured over time in fellowship with other believers.

One Sunday after the service, a member accosted the pastor “This church has been insulting me for years, and I did not know it until this week.” The stunned pastor replied, “What do you mean?” “Well, every Sunday morning the call to worship ends with the words, ‘We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.’ Then this week I visited the stockyards, and I discovered that sheep are just about the dumbest animals God ever created.  They are so stupid that they even follow one another docilely into the slaughterhouse.  Even pigs are smarter than sheep, and I would certainly be angry if my church called me a pig every Sunday morning.”

We “sheep” are gathered into His flock, the church, where we listen to his voice, and follow him. We can hear his voice speaking to us through the Word of God - the words of the Bible are not merely history, but with the Spirit’s guidance can speak to each of us individually. We hear his voice not just in the lessons and sermon, but in the hymns and songs and prayers - in Bible Study and in the testimony of the believers.

By joining with other followers of Jesus, listening to his teaching and applying them in our daily lives, we will discover for ourselves that they are true - not just true in a general sense, but true for us, and true for our lives - and thus, our faith will really be our faith because it has grown out of our experience.

One way to grow your faith is to stretch it by talking about it. You could talk to someone who doesn’t go to church about coming here. That could lead to a conversation about faith. Their questions might challenge you. Or simply in speaking about church and faith, you may realize you have some unanswered question. See that as an opportunity to grow.

Jesus said I have other sheep who do not belong to this sheep-fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16

I HAVE other sheep…They belong to the Lord, but these other sheep do not belong to His church. Who are these other sheep – who belong to Him but are not part of the flock, his church?

Those who believe in God, but are not affiliated with any church. Christians who are not members of some church.

And Jesus says I must bring them also – so they will listen to my voice. I must – an imperative, command. It is His will that they also be a part of His church.

A guy had just pulled into a parking space, and a young woman came over and asked me if I had a hammer that she could borrow. He had his tool box and gave her a hammer. She then proceeded to smash out the side window on her car. After returning the hammer, she opened her door, took out the keys and waved them at us with a triumphant grin. As she drove away, the fellow who lent her the hammer thought, ''If only she had told me what she wanted the hammer for I think I could have helped her. I am a locksmith.''"

And some people out there don’t know they need church – that they’re missing something. Maybe they know they need something – but they’re looking for a hammer, when they really need a locksmith.

Those who believe in God, but are not affiliated with any church - are missing something, Jesus says They “do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.”

They are not being challenged by His word,

and thus being led to follow His teaching.

- missing the fellowship with other believers

- the fellowship that together builds each other up in the faith - for in church, we are here for each other

Do you know someone who doesn’t have a church?

It is the Lord’s will that they be a part of some church, so they can hear His voice speaking to them through the words of the gospel. Perhaps the Lord would use you to bring them home again.

We do not come to faith in Jesus all by ourselves.

Faith in Jesus involves

belonging to his flock, his church

and listening to His voice - His word

and then following His teaching in our daily lives

thus, we grow in faith in Christ and in His promises.