Jesus' Church is referred to as a Flock of Sheep

In this second word picture or physical image...we see the spiritual relationship of Jesus and His church being compared to a physical shepherd and his flock.  The first few words of Psalm 23 help us see this relationship:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. ³ He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil , for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:1-4

The Flock Belongs to God and Jesus:

Ezekiel 34:10-12 "Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I shall demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep. So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore, but I shall deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be food for them."'" For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. "As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. (NAS)

John 10:25-27 "Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me. "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; " (NAS)

Jesus Is the Lamb that Was Slain For Us...and Who Became the Chief Shepherd:

1 Peter 5:4 "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." (NAS)

Hebrews 13:20 "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord," (NAS)

Revelation 7:17 "for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes." (NAS)

1 Peter 1:18-19 "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (NAS)

Christians are the Sheep in Jesus' Flock:

John 10:25-30 "Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me. "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." (NAS)

Men who meet the qualifications of I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are to oversee (bishop) or shepherd (pastor) the flock in their area:

Acts 14:23 "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." (NAS)

Titus 1:5 "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you," (NAS)

1 Peter 5:1-4 "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." (NAS)

Acts 20:28  "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock...shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

How Are We Added to Jesus' Flock?

John 10:7-11 "Jesus therefore said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (NAS)

Matthew 7:13-15 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (NAS)

Acts 20:28  "the flock...the church of God...which He (Jesus) purchased with His own blood."

Click on "Kingdom" below to look at the next word picture given of Jesus' Church: