Small Group Participant’s Guide

Session 8

The Shepherd and the Father

At the very centre of His life & ministry was His relationship with His Father.

John`s Gospel shows just how true this is. Read John 15:9. Jesus loves us because the Father loves Him – this is because the source of all love is the Father Himself. 

As a man walking and living on the earth, Jesus displayed and lived out His life in full obedience to His Heavenly Father all the days of His life. Read John 5:26. The Bible states that all who believe in and follow the Shepherd are ‘in Christ’, and therefore now have that same life within us, because the New Testament clearly shows that the flow of life is from the Father to the Son, and then on through the Son to all who believe and follow Him. Jesus’ nature & character was that of His Father. Read Hebrews 1:3.

We are reminded in the following passage of scripture, that by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, all who follow the Shepherd are being changed into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Jesus’ work was His Father’s work, His mission and His purpose were His Father’s mission and purpose, His prayer life was centred on His Father, and even the cup of suffering in Gethsemane was His Father’s cup.

First, His work: Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28 NIV). Read in order, John 12:49-50, John 14:10, John 17:8. Can you identify the recorded miracles of Jesus in scripture?

Second, His mission and purpose: John 6:38 and Hebrews 10:7, and third, His prayer life: It was focused completely on His Father:  Matthew 6:9.

Jesus shows us in John 14:7, the truth about us and Him and His Father.

There are no independent actions between the Shepherd and His Father, which is central to all that the Son does. The Shepherd is directing all who would listen, back to their heavenly Father, for it is the Sons one desire, to see us in the same deep relationship with the Father that He has with His Father. 

Questions:

1. Do you know deep down in your heart, that ‘The Father Loves You’?
2. Do you come alive when you pray to your heavenly Father?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, then please ask the Shepherd to once again reveal the Father’s heart to you, hear what He has to say and do what He tells you to do.