WEBVTT

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 Please be seated.

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 This morning we're going to continue our series, or the series that I've been doing every time you've seen me during Matthew's sabbatical, through the I Am statements of Jesus.

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 And this morning we come to John 10. It's a familiar one, but we're going to be talking about a kind of unfamiliar statement of Jesus.

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 So if you have a Bible, you can turn with me to John 10. If you have a bulletin, you can turn there as well. The text is printed before you.

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 John 10, verses 1 through 10.

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

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 But he who enters the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

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 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

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 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow.

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 But they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

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 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

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 So Jesus again said to them,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

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 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

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 I am the door, and if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.

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 He will go in and out and find pasture.

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 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

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 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word.

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 We ask for your spirit.

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 Give it more and more measure, even now.

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 May we see the glory of Jesus through this text.

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 And may we worship you through Christ, your son, because of it.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 I don't know if you've heard this.

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 I've become recently fascinated with this idea, this part of Colorado culture,

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 that we have castles in Colorado.

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 It's kind of bizarre.

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 But they're not just any castles.

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 We have one here in the Springs, up by Garden of the Gods,

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 and there's one that's south of Fort Carson, down towards Pueblo.

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 Now, I don't want to insult anyone, and chances are there's somebody in this congregation

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 that knows one of the owners of these castles,

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 and I don't mean this with any malintent.

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 But they're not castles.

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 They're lacking one really important feature,

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 because none of these castles, either the one north of us,

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 or the one down towards Pueblo, or the other ones all around the state,

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 none of them have walls.

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 So they're not castles.

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 They're missing the critical components.

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 And if you have watched a documentary,

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 I think there was a castle documentary,

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 or you've visited around Europe, or even been to Asia,

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 you will see castles that have walls.

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 If you watch Frozen, Elsa's house has a wall.

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 If you visit Disney World, you'll see what I'm talking about.

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 Castles have walls.

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 They're fortified.

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 They have moats.

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 Some even have a drawbridge.

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 And that's the genius of them,

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 because they're fortified in a way,

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 they're made and structured in such a way

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 that there's one way in and one way out.

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 It keeps the people inside safe.

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 That's the purpose of the castle.

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 It's to keep intruders out,

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 and keep the people safe inside.

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 And there's one way in and one way out.

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 Whether it's a castle,

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 or Robert Frost, who reminds us,

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 the only way out is through it,

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 or a gate to your backyard,

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 or a bridge across that,

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 the one bridge across the river,

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 or a tunnel through the mountainside.

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 There's one way in.

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 One way.

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 It might be a castle.

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 It might be a bridge.

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 It might be in architecture.

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 It might be in literature.

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 It might be in nature.

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 We see that idea that there's one way in

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 in this text this morning.

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 The only way into the sheepfold is through the door.

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 Jesus is telling them,

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 and he's telling us,

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 there's one way into the sheepfold.

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 There's one way,

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 and it's through that door.

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 There are no side doors.

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 There's no cracks.

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 There's no alternate plans to get inside.

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 There is one way,

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 and he's really clear about it.

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 Now, whenever we hear something like that,

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 some of you,

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 and I might be one of you too,

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 I think in my mind,

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 because I'm maybe an outside-the-box thinker,

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 or I'm a contrarian,

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 you tell me the sky's blue,

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 I tell you,

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 no, it's pale blue.

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 If you're one of those,

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 let me be really clear to you.

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 This morning,

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 Jesus says,

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 in the realm of eternal life,

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 in the spiritual realm,

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 there is one way.

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 There is one way in.

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 And as we look at that this morning,

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 we're going to contrast two big themes.

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 One big theme is that

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 there are thieves and robbers,

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 and the other big theme

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 is there is one door.

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 One door.

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 Now, this morning,

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 we read a larger chunk of John 10,

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 and if we did so,

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 we're going to focus really on verses 7 through 10.

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 Verses 7 through 10.

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 And we're doing that

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 because we're walking through

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 the I am statements of Jesus.

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 It's really important

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 to look at somebody's life's work,

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 or what other people have said about them,

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 but it's even more so important

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 when we come to the figure of Jesus

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 to figure out

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 what has he said about himself.

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 And that's why we're looking at the I am statements.

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 And in verses 7 through 10,

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 he says very clearly,

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 very plainly,

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 I am the door.

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 Now,

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 what's confusing about this

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 is often overshadowed

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 by this more dominant theme of John 10.

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 We have this idea of the shepherd,

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 the sheep,

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 the thieves,

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 the robbers,

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 but he says here

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 that I am the door.

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 And we're familiar

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 with that theme of shepherds.

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 It's idyllic.

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 We see it

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 even on the walls of nurseries.

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 We see it in pictures,

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 in modern pictures,

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 of what the good life looks like.

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 It's pastoral.

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 It has those warm, fluffy sheep.

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 Who doesn't love warm, fluffy sheep?

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 Right?

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 But Jesus is focusing our attention here

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 on the fact that he is the door.

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 Now, if you've been around Christianity

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 for any amount of time,

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 this is something that we're familiar with.

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 Even if you didn't grow up on a farm

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 or around any kind of sheep

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 or any kind of livestock,

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 we know,

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 because we've heard at some point,

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 that sheep are not very smart

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 and they're smelly

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 and they need a shepherd.

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 And if they don't have the shepherd,

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 they're going to run

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 and go kill themselves.

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 Now, we all know that.

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 But why is that such a perpetual,

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 persistent theme throughout Scripture?

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 Because it's not just here that we see it.

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 We see it in all the Old Testament.

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 Remember, Moses is the great shepherd of Israel.

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 And what happens when Moses isn't there?

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 The sheep scatter.

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 They're like sheep without a shepherd.

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 This idea of a shepherd

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 is not anything new to us

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 and it's not anything new to them.

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 So Jesus begins in John chapter 10

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 with this idea of sheep and a shepherd,

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 thieves and robbers.

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 They know the voice of the shepherd.

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 But then he figures out really quickly

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 in verse six.

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 Look at it with me.

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 The figure of speech

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 that Jesus was using with them,

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 they did not understand

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 what he was saying to them.

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 It's the great peril of any preacher, right?

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 We're talking, we're talking,

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 and all of a sudden you realize

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 blank faces

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 and nobody knows what you're talking about.

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 Or if you're a parent

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 or you present at work,

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 you realize at that point,

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 I have to reattack.

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 I have to figure out some other way

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 to explain this

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 to these people so they understand.

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 And Jesus is no different.

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 So in the midst of this big,

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 grand idea of him being the great shepherd,

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 he says,

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 instead,

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 I am the door.

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 He says in verse seven,

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 truly, truly,

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 I say to you,

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 I am the door of the sheep.

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 Now before we get to that door,

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 let's look at that other big theme,

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 the one of thieves and robbers.

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 We're going to look at who they are

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 and what they do for each of them,

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 who they are and what they do.

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 If the robbers are supposed to be there,

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 how did they get there?

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 Well, they're not supposed to be there at all.

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 They kind of enter in like mice.

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 They find any crack or way to get through,

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 but they don't come through the front door.

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 You don't invite mice through your front door.

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 They get into your house through another way.

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 Same with a robber.

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 You don't invite him through the front door.

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 Keep that in mind

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 because often we think about thieves and robbers

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 in contrast to Jesus.

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 We'd think they're misguided or misinformed.

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 If they just knew better,

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 it would be a little bit different.

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 But you don't think about that

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 when a robber's in your home

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 and grabbing all your stuff.

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 You don't think that he's misguided or misunderstood.

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 You just say,

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 I want my stuff.

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 Don't take my stuff.

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 It doesn't matter what their intentions are

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 because the effects are devastating.

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 Who are they?

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 Verse eight tells us really clearly who they are.

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 All who came before me are thieves and robbers,

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 but the sheep did not listen to them.

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 All became before me.

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 Does that mean every person before Jesus' time

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 was a thief and a robber?

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 Was it all those faithful men of scripture?

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 Was it all the judges,

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 all the prophets,

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 all the kings?

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 Was it John the Baptist?

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 Is he a thief?

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 Is he a robber?

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 No, he doesn't mean that.

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 He means something a little different.

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 How do we know that though?

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 How do we know he's not talking

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 about all those Old Testament saints?

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 Because he talks very positively

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 about someone that we just talked about earlier,

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 Abraham.

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 When those opponents of Jesus came to him,

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 he said,

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 Abraham,

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 they asked him,

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 is he greater than you?

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 Are you greater than Abraham?

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 Are you confused?

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 And Jesus answers very clearly

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 to what they asked him.

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 Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day.

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 And then they get even more confused

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 and say,

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 how do you know that?

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 Like,

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 you guys didn't cross paths.

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 You're young.

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 He's old.

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 And he answers with the scandalous,

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 I am.

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 And then they get really angry

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 and they try to kill Jesus.

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 The thieves,

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 the robbers,

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 are not the ones

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 who came before in scripture.

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 They're the ones he's talking to now.

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 They're the ones who should have been

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 the shepherds of Israel.

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 They're the ones

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 right there,

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 right now.

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 Think about this.

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 Who are the Sadducees?

00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.099
 What are they doing

00:11:36.099 --> 00:11:37.539
 during Jesus' time?

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.299
 They're profiting off of God's people

00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:40.979
 and their worship.

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.899
 Who are the Pharisees?

00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.860
 Mark reminds us

00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.360
 that they do this.

00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:48.860
 They walk around in long robes.

00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:51.699
 They liked greetings in the street.

00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.620
 They want the best seats in the synagogue.

00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:56.460
 They want the places of honor at feast.

00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:57.960
 All the while,

00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.379
 they're devouring the widow's houses.

00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:03.299
 Luke reminds us

00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:06.460
 the Pharisees were lovers of money.

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:09.240
 Those are the thieves and the robbers.

00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.019
 They should have been shepherds,

00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:11.779
 but instead,

00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.159
 they're preying on the very sheep

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.659
 they were supposed to protect,

00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.100
 supposed to feed,

00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:20.879
 just like Ezekiel reminds us.

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.899
 The opponents that John's speaking about,

00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.100
 the thieves and robbers,

00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.360
 are those people that in John 9,

00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:28.820
 immediately before this,

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.580
 if you have a Bible,

00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.019
 got angry that Jesus healed a blind man.

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.519
 And Jesus responds

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:37.439
 and reminds them that they are blind.

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:40.759
 They can't see the true picture,

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.659
 the true beauty of the gospel.

00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:45.240
 They don't know as much as they think.

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:49.220
 They are the thieves and robbers.

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:51.740
 The emphasis is on are.

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:53.379
 They are the robbers.

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:55.019
 Not they were the robbers.

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.139
 They are present.

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.899
 They are active even now.

00:12:58.299 --> 00:13:00.019
 But what do the robbers do?

00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:03.419
 The robbers do this.

00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:04.700
 Verse 10 tells us,

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.560
 the thief comes only to steal,

00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.259
 kill, and destroy.

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:13.759
 They don't seek out the best interests of the sheep.

00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.460
 They don't care for them.

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.779
 They don't care about the people of Israel.

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.279
 They don't feed them.

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.779
 Their motivation is their own profit

00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.600
 and their own desires.

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:27.319
 That's who the thieves and robbers are.

00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:30.019
 If you've ever had a babysitter

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.700
 when you were a kid

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.799
 or you've been a parent,

00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:36.259
 the babysitter is supposed to put kids down to sleep

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.700
 at night.

00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.360
 That's what we pay you for, right?

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.539
 But then,

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.319
 when you show back up,

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.279
 the babysitter has invited over her boyfriend.

00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.259
 Another man has entered your home.

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:50.220
 They've neglected what they were supposed to do,

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.659
 put the kids to sleep,

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:52.960
 and then you come home

00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:55.019
 to find a stranger in your house.

00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:57.919
 The babysitter is probably not going to work for you again.

00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.059
 But their responsibility

00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:01.779
 is to care for their children.

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.000
 The responsibility

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.319
 of these shepherds

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:07.379
 is to care for the sheep of Israel,

00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.660
 to care for the people.

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.840
 And they've actually

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.980
 only concerned

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.820
 themselves

00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:15.980
 with themselves.

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.980
 They've used the sheep

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.000
 for their own gain.

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:21.620
 It's a tale as old as time.

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.560
 This issue

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.680
 is of false shepherds,

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.980
 Ezekiel reminds us.

00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.740
 They prey on the sheep.

00:14:29.880 --> 00:14:30.520
 The thief

00:14:30.520 --> 00:14:32.080
 only comes to kill

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.960
 and destroy.

00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:35.340
 All of us know the story

00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.400
 of Little Red Riding Hood.

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:36.900
 And so,

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.519
 anytime that you

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.400
 talk about a story,

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.780
 you risk, like,

00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:43.600
 ruining the story for everyone.

00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.639
 But everyone knows

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.580
 the grandma

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.300
 gets eaten

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.139
 by the wolf.

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:47.620
 Okay?

00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:49.120
 I didn't spoil it for you.

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.120
 And Little Red Riding Hood

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.180
 doesn't recognize

00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:52.660
 that

00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:53.720
 the wolf

00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.700
 has eaten the grandma

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.160
 because

00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:56.820
 with all the gleaming teeth

00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.460
 she's wearing,

00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:58.440
 or the wolf is wearing

00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.540
 the grandma's clothes.

00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:01.120
 that's often

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.000
 what we think of

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.939
 when we think of

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.919
 these people

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.539
 that are thieves

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.299
 and robbers.

00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:06.319
 But the picture

00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.259
 is not that.

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.500
 It's instead

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.039
 the grandma herself

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.799
 has turned

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.039
 on Little Red Riding Hood.

00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:13.219
 She was supposed

00:15:13.219 --> 00:15:14.179
 to take care of her.

00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.179
 She was supposed

00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.059
 to protect her.

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.299
 But instead,

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.240
 she eats

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.179
 Little Red Riding Hood

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.120
 just like the wolf.

00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:22.620
 That's the picture

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.639
 that we have in John.

00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:24.719
 That's the picture

00:15:24.719 --> 00:15:25.599
 that we have

00:15:25.599 --> 00:15:26.599
 in Ezekiel.

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.200
 the grandma

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.080
 has turned

00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:29.920
 on the little girl.

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.580
 These images

00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:32.800
 are both in view

00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:33.420
 in John 10

00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.040
 and Ezekiel.

00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:34.920
 The thieves

00:15:34.920 --> 00:15:35.800
 and the robbers

00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:36.779
 are charged

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.000
 to protect God's people

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.320
 and they don't do it.

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.180
 And these people

00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:42.840
 that now speak

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.360
 to Jesus

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.300
 don't recognize

00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:45.120
 that they are

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.060
 the ones doing it.

00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:47.180
 They don't recognize

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:48.060
 the great shepherd

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.700
 of the sheep

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:50.440
 stands before them

00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:52.500
 and they're talking

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.019
 about how

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.580
 they're such

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.759
 great shepherds.

00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.720
 Do they model

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.759
 the true shepherd?

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.940
 Or are they like

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:02.220
 Little Red Riding Hood's

00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.500
 grandma

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.560
 that has eaten her?

00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.580
 How does that apply

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.460
 to all of us?

00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:08.259
 Well, one,

00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:09.639
 we have to be aware.

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.659
 We have to be on guard

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.320
 and recognize

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.820
 that there are

00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:14.120
 thieves and robbers.

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.259
 We're reminded

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.019
 in the first part

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.980
 of John 10

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.920
 that there are sheep

00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:21.279
 and they must know

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.899
 the voice

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.540
 of the shepherd.

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.519
 We have to know

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.279
 the voice

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.319
 of the shepherd.

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.019
 We have to know God.

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:31.079
 If you want

00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:31.879
 a tangible,

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.339
 practical checklist

00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:34.439
 of how to prevent

00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.459
 thieves and robbers

00:16:35.459 --> 00:16:36.659
 from coming in

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.299
 and devouring

00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.039
 and destroying,

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.620
 I can't give you that.

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.079
 But I can give you this.

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.379
 Remember

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:44.159
 that whether

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.959
 it's me

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:45.839
 or Matthew

00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:47.199
 or the elders

00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:47.959
 of this church,

00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:49.019
 the thing that we can

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.480
 give you

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.759
 that point you to

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.220
 more than anything

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:53.339
 is not a checklist

00:16:53.339 --> 00:16:54.240
 against thieves

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:54.980
 and robbers

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.320
 to validate

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.220
 whether we're doing

00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:58.200
 things or not doing

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.539
 things.

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.799
 If we are pointing

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.759
 you to God

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.019
 and giving you

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.899
 more of him

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.120
 and away from yourself

00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:05.859
 and away from us,

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.660
 that is the only

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.940
 checklist that we need.

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.140
 We need more

00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:10.920
 of God

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.400
 and more of him

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.559
 and less of ourselves.

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.480
 That's the test

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.500
 of thieves

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.319
 and robbers.

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.240
 We're also

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.740
 to know

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.819
 our own hearts.

00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:24.660
 Last week

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.220
 we were reminded

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.240
 from Galatians

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.960
 that the law

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.380
 doesn't bring life

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.400
 because the law

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.480
 we could never

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.519
 perfectly fulfill

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.799
 but it shows us

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.880
 our need of Christ.

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.180
 In this picture

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.539
 that Jesus has set up

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.740
 of these walls

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.480
 and the door

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.400
 and only going

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.120
 through the door,

00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.599
 we often think

00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.200
 through the wall

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.180
 we can climb over

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.660
 the wall

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.660
 and we can get

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.380
 eternal life.

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:47.819
 We can do it

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.359
 ourselves

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.740
 but Jesus

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.879
 is reminding us

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:52.319
 the only way in

00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.039
 is through himself,

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.740
 only through

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.439
 the gate.

00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:00.119
 Beware of your own heart,

00:18:00.719 --> 00:18:02.119
 beware of the thieves

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.859
 and robbers.

00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:04.000
 That's one theme.

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.059
 The second theme

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.619
 is this,

00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:06.959
 there is a door

00:18:06.959 --> 00:18:07.839
 and that door

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.959
 is Jesus Christ.

00:18:09.199 --> 00:18:10.359
 He tells us that

00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.619
 very clearly

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:13.619
 and then he doubles

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.399
 down on it.

00:18:14.699 --> 00:18:15.719
 He says it in seven,

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.639
 truly, truly,

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.319
 I say to you,

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:17.980
 I am the door

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.519
 of the sheep

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.559
 and then he says

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.019
 in nine,

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.399
 I am the door

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.500
 if you're confused.

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:25.779
 He's the only

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.740
 entry point

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.639
 for salvation.

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.179
 Jesus is speaking

00:18:29.179 --> 00:18:29.779
 of himself

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.799
 saying you cannot

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:32.079
 have eternal life,

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.480
 you cannot have

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.019
 these great

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.279
 and glorious pastures

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.519
 unless you come

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.220
 through me.

00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.599
 If that doesn't

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.579
 excite us,

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.700
 if that doesn't

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.720
 stir our hearts,

00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:44.079
 what will?

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.220
 we can't climb

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.079
 over the fence.

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.259
 Christ is calling

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.299
 each of us

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.439
 to enter through

00:18:51.439 --> 00:18:52.019
 that door,

00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:53.539
 to have this abundance,

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.559
 to have life,

00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:55.939
 to have pasture,

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.659
 to have life

00:18:57.659 --> 00:18:58.359
 to the full

00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:00.039
 and if we do not

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.599
 enter through

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.159
 that door,

00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.559
 we cannot have it

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.000
 at all.

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.619
 That's what he's

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.599
 speaking to us.

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:06.899
 Now,

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.859
 in our day and age,

00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.279
 we like to think

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.419
 that there's lots

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:11.119
 of ways

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:11.859
 that we can have

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.679
 this good life,

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.199
 whether it's

00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:14.959
 pursuit of success,

00:19:15.219 --> 00:19:16.240
 worldly success,

00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:17.479
 whether it's

00:19:17.479 --> 00:19:18.639
 pursuit of the

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.319
 good life,

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.379
 of eternal life,

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.179
 through some

00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:22.000
 other means,

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:24.719
 but those are

00:19:24.719 --> 00:19:25.299
 all false.

00:19:25.439 --> 00:19:26.119
 They can only

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.979
 come through the

00:19:26.979 --> 00:19:27.659
 door that is

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:28.599
 Jesus Christ

00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:30.719
 and he is really,

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.779
 really clear

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.379
 about it.

00:19:32.679 --> 00:19:33.399
 And so the call

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:34.419
 for each of us

00:19:34.419 --> 00:19:35.339
 this morning

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.419
 is to come

00:19:36.419 --> 00:19:37.339
 through Christ,

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.539
 come to him

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.599
 because we cannot

00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.419
 have life

00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.420
 or have it

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.160
 to the full

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.360
 unless we have

00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:43.779
 Jesus.

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.340
 And he invites

00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.220
 all of us.

00:19:47.800 --> 00:19:48.539
 That might sound

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.340
 pretty exclusive

00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:50.000
 to say,

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.660
 hey,

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.980
 there's only one

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.019
 gate into this

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.480
 sheepfold.

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.480
 There's only one

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.400
 gate into this

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.680
 pen.

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.940
 There's no other

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.300
 gate.

00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:58.160
 And it is

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:58.660
 exclusive.

00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:00.900
 But it's because

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.880
 it was purchased

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.160
 with the precious

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:04.480
 blood of Jesus

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.160
 himself.

00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:08.160
 But it's

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.320
 inclusive in the

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.259
 sense that he

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.200
 has asked all

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.839
 of us to

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.940
 come through

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.720
 Christ and

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.980
 to come to

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.420
 him.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.660
 The former's

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.379
 got that right.

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.220
 They said,

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.480
 in Christ alone.

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.460
 But they're just

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.339
 repeating back

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.480
 this idea of

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:24.879
 scripture,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.259
 this idea from

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.920
 John 10,

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.460
 that there is

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.160
 one gate,

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.140
 there is one

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:29.519
 door,

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.680
 there is no

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:30.940
 other.

00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.400
 Some of you

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:33.920
 might be

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.579
 familiar with

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.259
 the famous

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.779
 minor league

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.519
 baseball team,

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.000
 the Durham

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.420
 Bulls.

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.140
 There was a

00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.680
 movie made

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.200
 about them.

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.579
 I can't

00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.200
 recommend it.

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.960
 But the

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.519
 Durham Bulls

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:43.140
 stadium is in

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.279
 downtown Durham.

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.720
 Now, it's a

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.420
 great stadium.

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.539
 It's built off of

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.140
 Fenway Park,

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.580
 which is the

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.539
 Boston Red Sox.

00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:50.840
 It's an exact

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.360
 replica.

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.640
 But there's one

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.880
 interesting fact

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.799
 about this

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.180
 stadium.

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:55.900
 And it's not

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.640
 anything in the

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:56.980
 stadium.

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.700
 It's what lies

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.539
 across the street.

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.319
 Immediately across

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:03.000
 the street is the

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.840
 Durham County

00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.460
 Jail.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.500
 people.

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.480
 And so if you're

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.019
 a resident,

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.960
 part-time or

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.680
 full-time of

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.319
 the Durham County

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.519
 Jail, and you

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.640
 start moving up

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:13.380
 the floors, you're

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.940
 able to watch all

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.220
 of the Durham Bulls

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.259
 baseball games.

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.240
 Now, obviously,

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:21.420
 this angered much

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.660
 of the Durham County

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:25.420
 government, but they

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.079
 didn't do anything

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.920
 about it for a

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:28.000
 really, really long

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.340
 time.

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.159
 You see, those

00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:30.959
 inmates up a couple

00:21:30.959 --> 00:21:32.319
 floors could watch

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.119
 all the baseball

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.419
 games.

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.299
 They could see the

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.379
 numbers on the back

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.959
 of the jerseys, and

00:21:36.959 --> 00:21:37.679
 they could see the

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.179
 names.

00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:39.740
 They could hear the

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.159
 game.

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.279
 Didn't matter if it

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:43.379
 was night, day game,

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.539
 they could see all of

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:44.679
 it.

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.199
 And they had a

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:46.480
 perfect view, because

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.679
 it was right out of

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:48.919
 center field, and it

00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:50.459
 was right across the

00:21:50.459 --> 00:21:50.779
 street.

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.859
 There wasn't a

00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.959
 better seat in the

00:21:52.959 --> 00:21:54.720
 house to see all of

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.099
 the game.

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.439
 But even though they

00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:57.139
 could watch,

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.940
 they're really

00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.960
 different than a fan

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.120
 who comes and has a

00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.680
 ticket and gets a

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:04.900
 hot dog, peanuts, and

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.300
 can smell the grass,

00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:08.020
 and is in the stadium.

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:11.040
 They can see dimly what

00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:12.500
 that fan in the game

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:14.640
 sees clearly, because

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.640
 beyond the bars on his

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.900
 window, he is not at

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.320
 the game.

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.500
 He is not in the

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.780
 stadium.

00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:23.080
 He is not participating

00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:23.940
 as a fan.

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.680
 He cannot see all the

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.180
 glory.

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.780
 And when we think of

00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:29.960
 that prisoner in the

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.460
 jail looking out onto

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:34.320
 the baseball field, we

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:35.940
 think of ourselves, or

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.600
 we should.

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.700
 Because when we think of

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:40.420
 eternal life and what's

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:42.380
 promised in John 10, we

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:44.620
 think that God gives to

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:46.300
 us his greatness.

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.800
 Not really.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.880
 We think so little of

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.220
 God.

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.960
 We think that he gives

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.880
 us something that we

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.160
 view through the bars of

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.480
 the jail across the

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:56.840
 street.

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.420
 When he's invited us in

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:01.800
 to the glory that's in

00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.279
 the arena.

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:05.340
 We see so clearly.

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.120
 We experience the

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:08.779
 abundant life, and we

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.000
 have it to the full.

00:23:10.540 --> 00:23:11.840
 But we think so little

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.460
 of God.

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.460
 We think so little of

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.960
 heaven that that's not

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.460
 attractive.

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:20.360
 We esteem it not.

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.680
 We think that God is

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.920
 stingy and miserly.

00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.759
 But instead, Paul

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.059
 reminds us that he has

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.440
 blessed us with every

00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:34.039
 spiritual blessing in

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.660
 Christ Jesus.

00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:36.779
 All of it is ours in

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.559
 Christ Jesus.

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:41.079
 We all, we experience it

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:43.059
 all, and it all turns on

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.220
 the door that is Jesus

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.720
 Christ.

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.659
 We've all been invited to

00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.819
 have life and have it

00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:50.419
 abundantly.

00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:53.019
 We've all been invited in

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:55.079
 through this door, but

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.000
 we're called to be on

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.319
 guard against thieves and

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:59.220
 robbers, but we are

00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.759
 promised through the

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.419
 door of Jesus Christ to

00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:03.899
 have life and have it to

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.240
 the full.

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.919
 He's the only door through

00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:08.659
 which to enter.

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.659
 Let's pray.

00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:09.720
 Amen.

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:15.440
 Lord, we thank you for

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:18.360
 the clear reminder that

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:20.860
 Christ is the only door by

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:22.740
 which we might have life

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.900
 and have it to the full.

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.880
 We ask that despite the

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.779
 words and voices in our

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.299
 day and even in our own

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.680
 hearts that say we can do

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.380
 something else, that there

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:35.779
 is another way, may we

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.980
 stand on guard against

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.259
 robbers and thieves.

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:41.259
 And may we find our way

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:44.220
 into the pasture through

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.400
 Christ our Lord.

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.619
 We ask in his name.

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.200
 Amen.

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:47.980


00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:47.980


00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:47.980


00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:47.980


00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.980
 Amen.

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.980
 Amen.

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.980
 Amen.

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:53.980


00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.980
 Amen.

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:55.980


00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:55.980