Description
This week our resources comprise Creative Bible and Interactive Music options based on the John 10 passage PLUS a bonus Lord’s Prayer resource.
The gospel reading today comes from the book of John, chapter 10 and verses 11-18. Here Jesus is doing his usual story telling teaching to his followers. Today his story telling teaching is about leadership, lay-down-your-life leadership. In the Creative Bible Engagement script provided, the characters include a Good Shepherd who owns a flock of sheep, a Hired Hand who is paid money to look after sheep, the Father who is also a Shepherd, the same as the Good Shepherd, the sheep, and a cameo role for a wolf. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The leader. The lay-down-your-life leader.
Sheep and shepherds, thieves and wolves, gates and fences…there’s much to explore in the first half of John chapter 10. It might even be that some of your favourite verses in scripture are contained within this chapter. For many of you it might be John 10:14 “I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and they know me. Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for the sheep” from today’s passage.
Being known, being known by name, by the Good Shepherd is a powerful thing – a source of comfort, a source of joy, a source of confidence in the midst of all life brings. Knowing, and trusting in, the Name of Jesus – the One who laid down his life for the sheep – is foundational to authentic Christian living. Whilst there are many songs that pick up on these themes, this resource invites you to engage with one that might be less familiar – No Other Name by Trevor Hodge.
In many traditions The Lord’s Prayer is regularly prayed in the context of gathered worship. For some it will be associated with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper/Communion, for others it may be part of the Prayers of the People/Prayers of Intercession. Usually, but not always, spoken, this week we offer a sung version for your consideration.
