Sunday Sermon Summary - 3rd Sunday After Easter

Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

                                    Diocese of Abuja

                         Cathedral Church of the Advent

3rd Sunday after Easter - Sunday 6 May 2017

Today's Sermon

Theme:     Knowing Christ "The I AM Sayings of Jesus"

Topic:         The Door

Text:           John 10: 1 - 10 (Key Text: John 10: 9)

Summary:

The story is told of a Bible Scholar who travelled to the Middle East and came across a Shepherd-Boy who gave him a practical and firsthand experience of the life of a Shepherd.

"When the light has gone and all the sheep are inside, I lie in the open space, and no sheep ever goes out but across my and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body; I am the door"

Of course the Shepherd-boy was not a Christian, he was simply speaking from an Arab Shepherd's point of view.

This is exactly what Jesus is saying to us here in our text. To go into the fold, we must go through Him. To go out to pasture, we must go through Him.

As the Door therefore Jesus is the Protector and Provider for the sheep.

Jesus is also the Gate of our salvation - the One and Only Gate - the Sole Way to God.

This is a fundamental truth of Christianity. If there is no Jesus, then there is no Way to God, then also there is no truth and no life with God.

This exclusive claim by Jesus may sound offensive to some in our day but it is nevertheless a claim with an open invitation.

Suggested Points For Application

1.      Jesus says "I am the door"

This runs contrary to the ecumenical interfaith teachings popular in today's liberal circles. A door presumes a within and a without relationship, and those who have not entered by the door (meaning through Christ) are outside the sheepfold or outside the realm of salvation

2.      Jesus makes it clear that any religious leader who offers salvation other than Himself is a "thief" and a "robber" (c.f. Ezek. 34: 2)

3.      Salvation is available to anyone who will believe (v. 9a). We must therefore make conscious effort to enter through the gate

4.      We cannot find abundant life in any kind of drug, fame or wealth or other things people are wont to trust in but in Christ Jesus (vs. 9b, 10)

5.      We are "Safe in the Arms of Jesus". Nothing can hurt us without His Knowledge; nothing can harm us within His fold. He will keep the ravenous wolves away. Our duty is to stay in the confines of His Grace