Pastor’s Page | March 19th, 2026
Sermon Prep (Read John 10:1-10)
I have a little dog named Moosie who is my pride and joy. She is a little Havanese who is a lap dog who loves to jump on my lap and cuddle with me. Let’s just say, she has my heart. A while back, we went on a trip where pets were not allowed. After considering leaving my daughter here and dressing Moosie up as a young child, I had to make the difficult decision to have Moosie enroll in the Doggie Daycare next door to our church (by the way…great place!). It broke my heart when I had to drop her off. After that week, I returned and when I went to pick up my dog, I could hear dogs everywhere barking in the back, but there was one high- pitched bark I recognized. It was my little heart. When I heard that bark, I simply said “Where’s my girl?” And her bark stopped, and then I heard that little excitement yelps that dogs get. When the lady opened the door, out came running my little heart and she had her tail wagging a mile a minute and she licked me like I was a Dairy Queen cone. The point is that even after a week apart, I knew her bark and she knew my voice. Lots of other people were coming and going in that place, and there were lots of other dogs making a racket, but for me there was only one dog and for Moosie there was only one owner. I knew my dog and my dog knew me.
In this week’s text, Jesus has been dealing with the Pharisees who have kicked a blind man who recently received his sight out of the Temple because he dared give praise to Jesus for giving Him his sight. These men were dressed like God’s shepherds, but they didn’t care for the sheep or for their spiritual wellbeing. They looked the part, but they didn’t act the part. They only cared about themselves. Those who truly sought God could sense that (hence…the confrontation with the blind man in John 9).
Going back to Ezekiel 34, where God goes after the false shepherds of Israel, He finally says that He Himself will come down and shepherd His people. This is what we see here in John 10. He is the door, and He is the gate. And the part that I love is that the sheep knows His voice, and He knows each one by name. Wow! Let that sink in. God knows us by name.
As you study the first part of this chapter this week, I want you to think about what the purpose of a door is and how this relates to Jesus and the Gospel message. What are some ways that people try to use religion as a means to deceive, kill, and destroy? How can you tell the difference between a good shepherd and a bad shepherd?
Here are some other verses to help you prepare for Sunday: John 14:6 , Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:18, Romans 5:1–2, Hebrews 10:19–20, 1 Peter 3:18, Isaiah 40:11, and Ezekiel 34:-15.
March Sermon Series
“The Great I AM”
03/22 - The Door - John 10:1-10
03/29 - The Good Shepherd - John 10:11-18
Updates, Thoughts and More
It is hard to believe but Palm Sunday is only a few weeks away. We will be having a combined service that day because it falls on a 5th Sunday. I always love this Sunday. I love getting to watch the kids march around the church with the Palms. I love the way it leads into Holy Week by seeing Jesus treated as the King of Kings. The service will begin at 10 am on March 29th .
We will be having a new member luncheon on March 29th after our combined service. This is for all those who have recently joined our church, all those who are considering joining the church, or those who have questions about our church and are interested in learning more. You can sign up either by calling the office or by signing up at the welcome desk.
The Easter season is often the time in the past when people would choose to be baptized or to reaffirm their baptism. If God has been moving in your heart to be baptized or to reaffirm your baptism, please give me a call and I would love to talk to you about it.
Today begins March Madness. Forget Christmas, this is my most favorite time of the year! On Thursday and Friday, you will see me screaming and shouting in my office watching the games. Please do not be alarmed, this is normal behavior during this time of year. I have my bracket hanging on my door if you would like to compare yours to mine. I bet you can’t guess who I have winning it all?
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (03/22)
Worship Services - 9:00am & 10:30am
Monday (03/23)
Don Crocker Memorial Service - 11:00am
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Upward Practice Begins - 4:30pm
Tuesday (03/24)
Men’s Prayer Breakfast - 7:30am
Bible Study - 10:00am
Wednesday (03/25)
Prayer Warriors - 9:00am
Sip And Share - 10:00am
Youth & Kids - 5:00pm
Table Talk - 5:00pm
Choir - 7:00pm
Thursday (03/26)
Psalms Bible Study - 9:30am
Joke of the Week
“There will be a meeting of the board immediately following this service.” announced the pastor. After the benediction the group fathered for the called meeting. All looked askance when a visitor who had never attended their church before joined them.
“My friend,” asked the pastor, “did you understand that this is a meeting of the board?” “yes,” said the visitor", “and after that service, I’m about as bored as you can get!”
Memory Verse of the Week
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
~John 10:10 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“He is the Way, because He leads us through himself. He is the Door who lets us in, the Shepherd who makes us dwell in green pastures, bringing us up by waters of rest and leading us there. He protects us from wild beasts, converts the erring, brings back what was lost and binds up what was broken.”
~Gregory of Nazianzus
