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Harvest Bible Chapel

Harvest Bible Chapel

A Shepherd, Some Thieves, and the Sheep | Pastor Jeff Bucknam

Aug 16, 2026 · 53 min · 10 segments

Spend enough time around sheep and you start to understand why God compares us to them. They wander into ditches. They roll onto their backs and can't get up. They need constant rescuing — and…

Spend enough time around sheep and you start to understand why God compares us to them. They wander into ditches. They roll onto their backs and can't get up. They need constant rescuing — and somehow, they keep ending up in the same predicaments over and over again. It's not exactly a flattering comparison. But Jesus leans into it fully in John chapter 10 — and what he says about the shepherd changes everything. In this passage, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between the leaders who were supposed to care for God's people and actually used them, and a shepherd who is so committed to his flock that he knows every sheep by name — and is willing to lay down his life for them. That's who Jesus says he is. And if that's true, it has something to say to anyone who is scared, or ashamed, or feels like they're coming up short. We're in John 10:1-18 in our series *Believe! The Gospel of John.* This is *A Shepherd, Some Thieves, and the Sheep.* Let's get into it. Executive Producer: Dave Putnam Speaker: Pastor Jeff Bucknam Sound design, mixing, and editing: Bryan Tripp Graphic Design: Wesley Cassford Social Media: Bryan Spahr Producer: Sherri Smith WE INVITE YOU TO CONNECT WITH US: • Website: https://www.harvestbible.org/ WE INVITE YOU TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: • Instagram: @harvestbiblechapel • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harvestbiblechapel/

Spend enough time around sheep and you start to understand why God compares us to them. They wander into ditches. They roll onto their backs and can't get up. They need constant rescuing — and…

Speakers: Jeff BucknamGuestJeff ThompsonHost

Top entities: Jesus×60 Son of God×44 Bible×7 New Zealand×10 Israel×11

Welcome to the Believe Series0:00 – 1:08

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:00

Welcome to the weekly sermon podcast from Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:03

We're so glad you're joining us.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:05

We're walking verse by verse through the Gospel of John in a series called Believe.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:10

John tells us exactly why he wrote this book, that we would believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in his name.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:19

Each week we'll see who Jesus is through his words and works and be invited to respond in faith.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:25

So open your Bible and join us.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:27

Together let's become more deeply rooted in God's word and grow in confident faith in Christ.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:40

Well, thank you.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:42

It's great to see you.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:43

My name's Jeff.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:44

I get the privilege of teaching the Bible here at Harvest.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:47

And so if you have a Bible, I want to invite you to open it to John chapter 10.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:51

We're in the middle of this series all year long in the book of John.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:56

I hope you're enjoying it.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:57

I am.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:57

I'm enjoying studying all these passages, and I certainly am enjoying preaching them.

Jeff BucknamGuest

1:01

I'm excited about this particular text, a very famous one.

Jeff BucknamGuest

1:05

So I hope that you'll enjoy it.

Read the full transcript.

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88%2 mentions
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86%6 mentions
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Shepherd MetaphorReligion > Christianity > Biblical Teachings > Parables
Role of ShepherdsReligion > Christianity > Leadership > Spiritual Leadership
Abundant LifeReligion > Christianity > Faith > Salvation
FaithReligion > Christianity
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LeadershipReligion > Christianity
Gospel of JohnReligion > Christianity > Biblical Studies > New Testament
Biblical StudiesReligion > Christianity
New TestamentReligion > Christianity > Biblical Studies
TheologyReligion > Christianity
Spiritual LeadershipReligion > Christianity > Leadership
SalvationReligion > Christianity > Faith
Jesus as ShepherdReligion > Christianity > Theology > Christology
Religion
ChristianityReligion

Welcome to the Believe Series0:00 – 1:08

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:00

Welcome to the weekly sermon podcast from Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:03

We're so glad you're joining us.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:05

We're walking verse by verse through the Gospel of John in a series called Believe.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:10

John tells us exactly why he wrote this book, that we would believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in his name.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:19

Each week we'll see who Jesus is through his words and works and be invited to respond in faith.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:25

So open your Bible and join us.

Jeff ThompsonHost

0:27

Together let's become more deeply rooted in God's word and grow in confident faith in Christ.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:40

Well, thank you.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:42

It's great to see you.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:43

My name's Jeff.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:44

I get the privilege of teaching the Bible here at Harvest.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:47

And so if you have a Bible, I want to invite you to open it to John chapter 10.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:51

We're in the middle of this series all year long in the book of John.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:56

I hope you're enjoying it.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:57

I am.

Jeff BucknamGuest

0:57

I'm enjoying studying all these passages, and I certainly am enjoying preaching them.

Jeff BucknamGuest

1:01

I'm excited about this particular text, a very famous one.

Jeff BucknamGuest

1:05

So I hope that you'll enjoy it.