The Rhino The Bison and The Lamb – A Dependent Faith

The Baaaad News About Sheep:

• Sheep are anxious
• Sheep are dumb
• Sheep are prone to wander
• Sheep are VALUABLE

Jesus is the only Shepherd who became a Lamb

Our Response:

• Follow Jesus
• Find your flock

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Key Scripture:

Matthew 18:2-4 (NLT)

 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

1 The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

4 Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

5 You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

forever.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NLT)

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

1 Peter 2:25 (NLT)

25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

• Let’s kick off the SG semester with this question.  What spiritual goal do you have for this Fall?  How can your small group help you accomplish that goal?

Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.

• Read Matthew 18:2-4.  Why is faith like a child a prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Heaven?  Who will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven?
• Read Psalm 23, which says we are sheep and God is our Shepherd.  What does the Shepherd provide for the sheep in this Psalm?
• Read Deuteronomy 10:12-13. God gave us intelligence and wisdom, so why do we often ignore the words “for your own good?”

Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.

• Last week we talked about the Rhino and how he represents a forward type of faith.  This week the lamb represents a dependent faith.  Which animal do you relate to more?
• Keller said sheep are anxious, dumb and prone to wander.  Can you think of a time this week when you acted like a lamb?
• Read 1 Peter 2:25.  Have you noticed a tendency in your life to wander away from God, your church family, and your spiritual disciplines that help you grow?  How does the “Guardian of your soul” protect you from these tendencies to drift?  How can our small group help you in this regard?
• Read John 10:1-5.  Do you recognize Jesus’ voice?  Why do you follow him as your Shepherd and not others?
• Discuss this statement: “Jesus is the only Shepherd who became a lamb.”

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• If faith is a gift of God in addition to your own exercise, what could you do to posture yourself to receive a greater portion of faith from God?

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

• Pray that the members of your small group connect meaningfully and experience God working in your lives in this semester.  Pray that you are able to recognize and deepen your dependence on Him in the exercise of your faith.

Start digging. For further study.

• Read this Got Questions article, “What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the good Shepherd?””

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