In these sessions we will be following along the study of Whisper by Mark Batterson. Here is the session on youtube..

While Jesus was on earth, He often spoke against the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He rebuked these religious leaders and their attitude toward people, the law, and God. In the passage we’re about to read, Jesus begins speaking to a group of Pharisees after they questioned His healing of a man on the Sabbath. We pick up after that story in John 10.

¹ “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. 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. – John 10:1-10 ESV

What is the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd? Why do the sheep follow the shepherd’s voice?

The sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. They are familiar with him and recognize when he speaks.

Have you experienced times when you have heard the shepherd’s voice? Have you heard voices of others?

Why are we able to hear God in the first place? How did Jesus make a way for us to be in relationship with God?

Hearing God’s voice begins with choosing to be in relationship with Him. Jesus made that possible through His death and resurrection. After we follow Jesus, how can we get to know God? (We can get to know Him by reading His Word, praying, living in community, etc.)

Jesus talks about the sheep that only follow the shepherd’s voice. Why won’t the sheep follow someone else’s voice?

It seems in these verses that the sheep clearly know what is and isn’t the shepherd’s voice. If we apply this illustration to our lives, it doesn’t always seem so easy to know the voice of God.

Would you say it’s easy or difficult to know when something is from God or not? Why do you think that is?

Who is the thief Jesus alludes to in verse 10? (The enemy, Satan.) What does he do? (Steals, kills, and destroys.)

How does Jesus describe those who try to deceive the sheep? (He calls them thieves and robbers.) How might the deceivers relate to the thief in verse 10? (They operate with the same motive: to steal, kill, and destroy.)

If we go back to the Pharisees mentioned in verse one, Jesus spoke against them. They issued so many additional laws that the people felt burdened. The Pharisees, who were supposed to lead them towards God, ended up leading people astray. How are the voices in your life—other than God’s—trying to steal, kill, or destroy you? What do they deprive you of?

When have you thought you heard something from God, but it turned out to not be the case? How did you react? What did you learn in the process?

Why do you think we listen to the noises that promise destruction more than the voice of God? What’s appealing about those other voices?

We have many voices crowding our minds and hearts. We get used to hearing every voice besides the voice of God. But, God hasn’t left us unequipped—He teaches us how to be discerning of the voices we hear. Read 1 John 4:1–2. How should we exercise discernment with the voices we hear?

What are some ways you discern whether or not something is from God? (Answer include: reading Scripture, seeking wise counsel from trusted Christians, prayer, etc.)

How does Scripture play a role in knowing what God has to say?

We can know God by reading His Word. The Bible is God’s gift to us—His very words written for His people. We’ll talk more about Scripture in the third session, but it’s important to know that we can know God by reading His Word.

When we read the Bible, we see the true nature of God. Even this passage teaches us about God’s character. If we look back to John 10:10, what does Jesus offer in contrast to the destruction of the thief ? (Jesus offers life to the full.)

Jesus offers us life to the full when we choose to follow Him. What He gives us doesn’t lack anything, yet sometimes other ways seem more appealing. Looking back on the passage, what does “life to the full” mean? (It means protection, guidance, being known, salvation, provision, etc.)

What appeals to you about the full life Jesus has to offer? Why?

As you’ve followed Jesus, how has His voice proven to be trustworthy? How has following His lead been better than going your own way?

What could it look like for you to wholeheartedly listen to Christ this week? What voices would you have to mute? What practices could you put in place to hear Him better?

As you focus on Christ, how could you exercise discernment when listening to Him and the other voices in your life?

©2017 Whisper. Multnomah; Reprint edition (March 17, 2020) Mark Batterson