I- THE SHEEP NEED A SHEPHERD
• Their need of a shepherd moved Jesus with compassion.
Mark 6:34; And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
• Bible tells us the Lord Jesus is the great shepherd and even introduces himself as the good Shepherd who cares then gives us rest and protection. As shepherd He leads us and we need to follow Him.
Hebrew 13:20; Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
John 10:11, 14- I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

II- THE SHEEP NEED A SHEEPFOLD
• Jesus talks about sheepfold of the sheep.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
• The Lord called David from the sheepcote.
2 Samuel 7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
• As a flock of God we need to stay together. The good local church is the best place for us to stay together under the leadership of Jesus Christ our good shepherd. Every Christian must belong to and have a local church membership.

III- THE SHEEP MUST BE FED
• Jesus repeatedly reminds Peter the importance of feeding the sheep.
John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
• When Paul called the elders of Ephesus, and make it clear of their main responsibility to feed the church of God.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
• Peter writes to overseers of the church like himself to feed the flock of God.
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
• Therefore sheep needs the nourishment and thus Christians need a good pastor who believes, preaches and teaches the words of God --Ephesians 4:11-12
• If Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd, He will used the under shepherd which is the Pastor to feed His sheep.

IV- THE SHEEP CAN GO ASTRAY
• Both the Prophet Isaiah of the Old Testament and Apostle Peter of the New Testament declared that the sheep have a tendency to go astray.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ;
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
• Remember that before we were saved we were like sheep who gone astray. But after we get saved we need now to be careful not to wander from the shepherd and the flock to protects us of the dangers.

V- THE SHEEP ARE ATTACKED BY WOLVES
• Jesus send us as sheep in the midst of the false prophets who are wolves that attacks and scattered the sheep.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
• Likewise, the devil and the enemies of the Lord as a roaring lion seeking to devour sheep- 1 Peter 5:8.

VI- THE SHEEP ARE HARMED BY A HIRELING
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
• The wrong kind of Pastor represents as the hireling. This kind of Pastor is there for the sake of himself and not for the welfare of the sheep. This wrong Pastor leaves and flee from the flock when trouble comes.

VII- THE SHEEP ARE SLAUGHTERED
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psalm 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
• We like a sheep are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord- Romans 12:1, and we are to die in our old selves daily- 1 Corinthians 15:31
• When we live godly we are going to be persecuted- 2 Timothy 3:12. Sadly, this don’t happen today which is an indication of ungodly lifestyle as Christian changed and compromise with the worldly system.

Conclusion: If you are not saved, trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour and become your shepherd. And if you are saved and Jesus is your shepherd, you need to follow him faithfully, and get under a good pastor who will feed you and look out for your own good.