In the first day of this study, Derek points out that eternity is an essential element of the nature of God. Eternity, by definition, denotes that which is outside of time or above time or beyond time—something that has no beginning and no end. God is an eternal being. He does not indwell time; He indwells eternity—and out of eternity, He operates in time. We can have eternal life only through knowing God revealed in Christ as Father.

Derek finishes this week’s teaching by looking at how we should respond to God’s extravagant love. Consider: What does your worship consist of? How much time do you spend with God? What can you do for His people that is out of the ordinary? If the Holy Spirit touches your heart to do something, respond extravagantly, no matter what the cost. Let Him see your love.

Derek reveals the vastness of our inheritance in Christ—all that belongs to Him is ours. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to teach us about the riches of our inheritance in Christ. As heirs of this inheritance, though, we must lay claim to these benefits and receive them by faith from the One who loves us.

Today Derek shows seven ways Jesus shed His blood for our redemption. Through various Scriptures we are introduced to the prophecies given about the love of God, and then we see how they were fulfilled. Jesus did not simply give up His few earthly possessions as a man on earth, but He gave up Himself—His own life—as the redemptive price.

Derek looks at the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value and through his eyes we see Jesus, gazing upon that pearl. As individuals, we are that pearl and we are worth all He gave for love. God’s love is individual, everlasting, it precedes time, and it is irresistible. It cost Him all He had.

Derek begins this week with a parable of how much God was willing to pay for mankind. “For God so loved the world” that He gave His only Son to die for us. He gave His treasure because He saw the immense value of the treasure He would be getting. He bought the entire field to gain the treasure that was hidden in it.

In concluding this week’s teaching, Derek discusses those who the Lord has set as under-shepherds to watch over His flock. The marks of the true shepherds are: they speak God’s Word, they set an example of faith to point people to Christ, and they keep watch over the souls of God’s people.

Going back to the Parable of the Sheepfold in John 10, Derek gives three distinctive marks of those sheep that belong to Jesus. They have entered into the sheepfold by the door—through Jesus’ death and resurrection—through His blood. They hear the voice of the shepherd and they follow Him. This speaks of a direct, personal relationship, and also speaks of obedience to the Lord.

In today’s study, Derek looks at the Twenty-third Psalm to bring out the complete provision we have, as sheep of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Verse by verse Derek goes through this Psalm to show us how we can rest in the security of knowing that our shepherd is watching over and caring for us.

Today Derek identifies the door of the sheepfold, who is Jesus, the only way to enter. Jesus made this clear in the parable, but then He also said that He was the shepherd. Derek takes this paradox, “How can He be both the door and the shepherd?” He reveals that Jesus as the door is Jesus crucified; whereas Jesus as the shepherd is Jesus resurrected.