We are in a season of going deeper. Our revelation for this year is everyone is created for abundant life. John 10:10 records Jesus as saying, “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” What does Jesus mean by “abundant life”? How does one know when they are experiencing the abundant life? We will be taking a deeper look at these questions over the next two weeks.
To better understand the teaching of Jesus we need to understand the general assumptions that He is dismissing or challenging. The context helps us to do this. In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man which leads to a confrontation with Pharisees about the validity of Christ’s ministry and calling. The fundamental questions of chapter 9 are: Who is Christ? Why has he come? Where does Christ derive His authority? (9:33-34; 39). In John 10, Jesus brings up the abundant life in the context of discussing His authority. How is the idea of life connected to authority? Jesus is teaching that He has authority that derives from God. Authority comes with a purpose and Jesus tells us that the purpose for this authority is to give life to those that hear his voice and respond. This life is characterized by abundance.
Jesus uses several analogies (shepherd/sheep and door/gate) to communicate that He has appropriate authority because He has been sent by God and has been given authority to lay down His life and take it up again. This makes Him a “good shepherd” because He is willing to put His life in jeopardy to protect His sheep. Jesus is teaching us that His willingness to lay down His life for His “sheep" embodies and expresses the character and goodness of God. This is compared to the Pharisees who kicked out the healed blind man because he would not submit to their narrow and negative way of seeing Jesus. Jesus is telling us that the religious leaders of the day, who were not interested in the well-being of those they lead, are thieves and wolves. Those who do not enter in the appropriate way- representing the goodness of God- but climb over the fence are thieves and only come to kill, steal, and destroy.
Now, what does this all mean for us today? Each human being stands in his or her world condemned to act, and to act on the basis of whatever ideas, images, beliefs, impulses, desires and emotions they may have in the moment of action. We have no choice about that. We may have some choice about what ideas, beliefs, impulses, etc. will be available to us in future situations where we must act. That will largely depend upon what is given to us from the world we come into and what we are prepared to do now. But whatever world we come into, the human problem is to find in knowledge a solid basis for action. And that is not a problem that can be solved by each individual on his own. Each one may contribute to the solution, and none can be totally passive. Jesus is stating clearly that He is “good authority” by which one can find knowledge that can be trusted as a solid basis for action that leads towards human flourishing. There are all sorts of “voices” claiming to have authority seeking to influence human beings in certain ways of living and acting that will not lead to flourishing. These voices are robbers and thieves. The abundant life is found in relational connection to Christ (hearing his voice), trusting this voice as one of love (following), and leads to a dependent freedom (going in and out).
One problem we all must face is the fact that we do not slow down enough to reflect on what we really think is needed for human flourishing? Or to phrase it another way, what is the good life? We all have answers to these questions, but they often go unexamined. What do you think you must have in order to have a “good” life? What does it mean to lead a good and full life? What are some of the “voices” that seek to deceive us? Which are tempting to us? How do the many voices that seek to deceive us conflict with the voice of Jesus?
There are many voices or views of the pathway to human flourishing. One view is that we must find our authentic self and as long as one is living from the authentic self they will flourish. But what happens if the self you find you do not like? What if your authentic self is broken, selfish and even sinful? Another voice tells us that get as much pleasure as we can out of this life. That flourishing is found in pleasure! However, it does not take long to realize that the more one seeks pleasure the more pleasure one desires. Pleasure can never be satisfied only postponed. Then there is the voice that speaks of fulfilling one’s dream. But what informed the dream one has? Where did they learn that such a dream is worthwhile? What if you fulfill your dream and realize it does lead to flourishing; then what?
These are practical and deeply meaningful questions and reflections we all need to take time to consider.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take time to reflect on what you think you need to obtain to make life abundant? Next, week we spend some time on what the new testament teaches us about what it means to have an abundant life!
The Abundant Life: A Deeper Look
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
A deeper narrative exists within us. We are all created to experience The Garden where we know God and interact with Him intimately. In this place we discover deep and meaningful friendship and relationship realizing it is not good for man to be alone. Even in our brokenness God is working to restore us and rescue us. In his image we discover our design to build an Ark to help rescue others. Promises are awakened within us even if we feel we may be too old or question being qualified or capable in any way. As we journey forward God invites us to explore the reality of a Ladder between heaven and earth revealing how God’s presence exists in any place even if we didn’t realize it at first. We explore a greater place of promise realizing we were born to conquer giants and strongholds that try to keep us from all God says is ours.
Philippians 3:10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him... (AMP)
Daniel 11:32 “...the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (NKJV) God’s plan is for us to hear his voice together as a family. This is why we start each group with this question first:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Realize there is great power in just reading the Bible together and allowing the Holy Spirit to awaken his conversational nature in the group.
John 10:1-18 10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by an- other way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
6. Who comes to mind when considering a person you might share this with this week?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take time to reflect on what you think you need to obtain to make life abundant?