What Are the Connections Between God's Goodness and Human Flourishing?

Introduction (5m)

John 10:1-10 & 22-30

John 10:1–10 NLT

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:22–30 NLT

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Summer School Blues / Desert

Summer School - great!

Safe bubble

Maybe little idea of what’s going on outside. Surrounded by friends, like-minded people - like Jesus’ protected sheep.

Worshipped, prayed, studied Word together

Like Jesus’ sheep we have found plentiful pasture.

In context - easy to flourish

More and better life than we could ever dream of, everything in abundance, life in its fullness until we have overflowed!

No downer - but have you ever suffered from Summer School Blues?

Back to normal life, suddenly flourishing seems impossible.

Like land where Jesus walked, our lives beyond SS can sometimes seem like a desert

Desert found along eastern fringes of most major cities in central Israel. Stretches for 1000s of miles - across Jordan river > eastern plateaus > Saudi Arabia & Iraq.

Most of the year - inhospitable to life. Water - scarce. Food - rare. Dangers everywhere.

Finding green pastures, quiet waters, safe paths, is down to the safe shepherd.

As we return

World where God seems increasingly irrelevant and assertion - there are no rules.

Come under pressure to do things we know God says are wrong.

How do we flourish in this modern desert?

Explanation (5m)

To flourish, stay close to your Shepherd

Where we can flourish in the desert

Find real contentment.

Listen for his voice and stay close to him

Heard his voice this week - maybe in heart, through Word, through music, through wisdom of member of staff/friend.

Live within the bounds of his plan and direction for you life and you’ll find freedom

You’ll flourish.

He will ensure your safety.

Do this, Jesus promises:

Real and eternal life, protected from Destroyer, from desert. No one will snatch you from his hands.

He lays down his life so you can flourish.

The life he gives us is abundantly richer and fuller than the world can give us

His forgiveness, love, and guidance is what helps us flourish.

As much as I would love to, I can’t promise you that if stay close to Jesus and flourish in him, you’ll be free from problems and pain

But he will give you strength to face up to them, make use of them.

Follow Jesus’ plan and direction for your life, and you will flourish, but you might also suffer for his dreams for your life.

What do we do then? We relish the fight. Jesus will use it to shape us.

Promise you that the battle to flourish is better than living an uninspired status-quo life.

You need something to fight for!

Application (5m)

So, if you want to flourish you have a choice to make

Jesus made it clear: we can choose not to believe him

If we make that choice we are not his sheep.

If we are his sheep, then we must hear his voice and follow him

To help us understand:

Hand out seed cards

Do you know what seed cards do?

If you leave them in the desert of bottom of suitcase, on bookshelf - nothing!

If you plant them, nourish them, water them, they will flourish!

Not enough to have heard Jesus’ voice this week

We must do what he says. We must pursue the flourishing life.

No apology - for some (students and staff!) that might mean answering Jesus’ call to officership

God’s purpose might be to live to help save others, care for poor, feed hungry, clothe naked, love unloveable, befriend friendless.

Might be to make a bigger commitment to God and to TSA as your church

As soldier, adherent, or to lead a ministry.

Might be about maintaining close relationships with friends you have made this week

Keeping each other accountable for ways you are pursuing Jesus’ flourishing life for you.

Might be finding security in Jesus

Rather than in money, possessions, friends - real and online, popularity, worldly success.

Question you have to answer this morning:

Will you listen to Jesus’ voice? Will you plant the seed? Will you pursue the flourishing life Jesus has planned for you?

Next Steps

Song: O Come to the Altar

Verse 1

Are you hurting and broken within

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin

Jesus is calling

Have you come to the end of yourself

Do you thirst for a drink from the well

Jesus is calling

Chorus

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Verse 2

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes

Come today there's no reason to wait

Jesus is calling

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy

From the ashes a new life is born

Jesus is calling

Bridge

Oh what a Savior

Isn't he wonderful

Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Bow down before him

For he is Lord of all

Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Verse 3

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown

Tell the world of the treasure you've found

Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye

CCLI Song #7051511

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