The Parable of Amazing Grace

The Parable of Amazing Grace

Once upon a time, in a medium sized town, in a medium sized state there was a medium sized church called Amazing Grace Fellowship. The church was about 110 years old and had seen many ups and downs over the years. It had also seen its share of remodel projects. It is not easy keeping an old church looking and feeling new.

Like most Baptist churches, Amazing Grace Fellowship had a baptistery. Although it did not get used very often, at least they had one. It was located at the back of the platform with a window looking out toward the congregation. At the back of the baptistery there was a painting on the wall. The wife of the church’s fifth pastor, Rev. Thompson, had painted it 75 years before. His wife, Ruby, was an amateur artist who dabbled in oils and water colours. What she lacked in artistic talent she more than made up for with enthusiasm and a willingness to pitch in and lend a hand at anything that needed doing. After about 15 days of work she came up with a painting she entitled, “He leadeth me beside still waters.” It was not anything to write home about, even when it was new. In fact, a lot of people thought it was just awful. From the very beginning, upon seeing it for the first time, people would often point out that they thought that the flock of sheep in the foreground looked more like coyotes, or maybe white Pomeranians. Their last pastor had disliked the painting so much that he always kept the curtains pulled in front of the baptistery when it was not actually in use, just so he would not have to look at it.

Over the years at the annual business meeting the congregation had several times in the past discussed doing something about the painting but nothing was ever decided. So, they just kicked the can down the road from year to year. This year, however, something did get done, and boy-howdy, did it cause a firestorm.

Here is what happened. About a year ago a nice young couple moved to town and started attending Amazing Grace. Soon Brian and Bonnie Smith joined the church and got busy serving. Turns out that Brian was a professional artist and he opened an art gallery in the centre of town. He was exceptionally talented, and he specialized in mountain scenery and still life paintings. After a few months of suffering through having to look at that ugly baptistery painting every Sunday he told Chuck Robinson, the Chairman of the Deacons, that he would be happy to paint them a new picture if the church would give him permission. The Deacon Chairman was thrilled and said he would follow up with the idea.

Three weeks later it was time for the church’s Annual Business Meeting. The elder board had sent out the necessary notices and it was advertised in the church bulletin for the required two Sundays. All the ducks were lined up. The meeting was held on Sunday night in Fellowship Hall after a wonderful potluck dinner. For some reason there were a few less people at the meeting than usually attended but they still had a quorum and set out to do business.

When it came time for New Business, the Church Moderator, Brother Bill Johnson led them through several items, all of which were dealt with quickly. Then Chuck Robinson stood up and made a recommendation from the Deacon Board that the church authorize Brian Smith to paint a new picture for the baptistery. Justine Bevis seconded the motion and the moderator opened it up for discussion. Most of the folks had seen some of Brian’s paintings before and knew that he was an excellent artist. When it was explained that he would do it for free that seemed to move the process along. Oh, there were a few of the older people who expressed some doubts, and a couple of them said that they kind of liked the old painting, but in the end the motion carried by a huge majority. But that is when the trouble started.

Brian got to work on the painting that very week. When Sunday rolled around some of the people who had not been at the business meeting saw that half of the old painting had been painted over. Well they were not happy. In between Sunday School and the morning service a small group could be seen in the narthex with their heads together talking in a very animated way. They pulled Bill Johnson aside and asked him what in the world was going on. When he explained about the vote taken at the meeting last Sunday night they began to complain that they had not been given a chance to weigh in with their opinions on the matter and were upset, feeling that this thing had been railroaded through.

Brother Bill calmly explained that they should have been at the meeting if they felt so strongly about it. He pulled last week’s bulletin out of his Bible and showed them the agenda of the Annual Business Meeting. Sure enough, right there under “New Business” it said, “Recommendation from the Deacons to replace baptistery painting.”

Sister Bertha McGraw piped up in her raspy voice and said, “But I did not know you meant that beautiful painting that Ruby did years ago. How could you even think of replacing that lovely thing?” Brother Bill was speechless. But a minute later he said, “I am really sorry folks, but this is how we always do official business. No one was pulling a fast one. The meeting was legitimately called according to our bylaws. We had a quorum present. The motion was moved, seconded, and voted on and it passed with a majority and it is just that simple.”

Brother Jim Butler, a long-standing member of 40-years shouted, “Well I never! We’ll see about this.” And sure enough, the matter quickly went from bad to worse. A petition was put together that very day to stop work on the new painting. The elders were not sure what to do, never having crossed this bridge before. Finally, against their better judgment, they decided to buckle to the pressure and hold a second business meeting, two weeks from that Sunday.

Well I can tell you the phone lines were busy over the next two weeks. People lined up on both sides of the question. With every passing day the emotions got more intense until by the time the meeting rolled around the air in that room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife.

The poor elders and deacons were a bundle of nerves. They knew that this was not the way to do business since the decision had already been legitimately made. However, the church happened to be between pastors right then, and their elderly Interim Pastor, Rev. Saunders, was in the hospital suffering from a broken hip, so he was no help.

Moderator Bill Johnson opened the meeting with prayer then explained in a tremulous voice why they were there. He opened the floor for discussion and that is when the sparks really started to fly. Some were adamant that it just was not right to paint over that wonderful work of art. Others argued that it was old, and faded, and was lousy artwork to begin with and should have been replaced years ago. Poor Brian Smith felt caught in the middle. He stood up and apologized and offered to do his best to repair the old painting if that is what they wanted. He said that he could probably take off the new paint and repair the damage he had done. He said that he had not meant to create division in the church. It was obvious that he was sad and troubled because several people had already unloaded on him on the phone, telling him what they thought of his lack of sensitivity to the feelings of others.

Finally, Sister Emily Lightfoot, who at 87 years of age was one of the oldest members of the church and was known by all to be a wise and godly woman, rose to her feet. She had heard enough. She leaned heavily on her cane as she spoke in a voice so soft and low that people in the back had to cup their ears to hear her. She said, “Friends, I have been a part of this congregation since I was a young girl. I accepted Christ in this very room. I knew Ruby, the lady that painted that picture in the baptistery. In fact, she was the one who led me to Jesus. I have known most of you since you were born. Now it breaks my heart to see what is happening here. Sister Ruby would be aghast if she were still alive to hear us fighting over her picture. She painted that as a love-gift to the church and to the Lord. But if she were here, she would tell you that none of this is really about that old painting. The real question is whether we are going to let something as stupid and insignificant as this drive a wedge between us and rip our church apart. She would tell you that there are evil forces at work here wanting to destroy this church.”

She paused for a moment to catch her breath. Then she went on. “I know that some of you feel very strongly one way or another about this issue, but what is missing here is perspective. This is not about that old painting, or about the new painting that Brother Brian has so kindly offered to do for us.”

Then she reached down into her big purse and pulled out her Bible. It was not her big old King James Bible that she loved so much. At her age that one was too heavy to carry in her purse anymore. But her youngest daughter, Pauline, had given her a large-print NASV for her last birthday and that was what she opened. She said, “I think this is what we need to hear right now. Ephesians 4:1-3 – ‘Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ Verse 27 says: ‘And do not give the devil an opportunity.’ Then verses 31-32, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Then she shuffled through the pages and said, “This is Philippians 2:2-5” – ‘Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.’ And just one more. Listen to Romans 12:10-16 – ‘Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honour; ¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, ¹³ contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.’”

The she gently closed her Bible. As she looked up everyone in the room saw that she had tears in her eyes. It took a moment for her to collect her emotions. Then with a quavering voice she said, “I love this church and I love you folks. But I must tell you that this quarrel is not about paintings, old or new. It is about power, and pride, and control, and getting our own way. It is a test…a test of the glue that binds us together. Can’t you see that? Whether that old painting stays or goes means nothing. What is important is whether we quit our bickering and pull together so that the Lord wins the victory, or whether we insist on having our own way and pulling the church apart, giving the devil the very thing he wants most.”

After she looked around the room one more time, with tears streaming down her face, Sister Emily slowly sat back down in her chair, bowed her head, and began to pray silently. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Slowly, one by one, without saying a word people began to stand and move silently toward the doors. Sister Emily just continued to sit there praying.

When she looked up, Brian Smith was standing by her. He said, “Mrs. Lightfoot, can Bonnie and I give you a lift home? It is no trouble.” But she said, “No Brian. I think I would rather walk. I only live a block from here. But thank you for the offer. You are truly kind.”

As they shut off the lights and locked the door, they said a final “Good night” and headed for home. However, no one noticed a lone figure in the darkest corner of the parking lot, leaning against a tree with his long arms folded across his chest. He was cloaked in a long dark overcoat and wearing a black fedora. He smiled to himself and mumbled under his fetid breath, “Well, well! So, this will be very interesting. Finally, I have them where I want them. I wonder what they will do now.” With that, he disappeared into the night.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

How the Sheep Are to Treat Their Shepherd

“How the Sheep Are to Treat Their Shepherd”

(Follow-up sermon I preached at a church looking for a new pastor)

INTRODUCTION:

When I was with you two Sundays ago, my message was entitled, “How the Shepherd Cares for the Sheep.” We looked at what the Bible says about a pastor’s duties toward his flock. Today I am going to turn the table and have us look at what the Scriptures say about the obligations of the sheep toward their shepherd.

First, I want to tell you that I think that being a pastor is the best job in the world. It is both a great joy and a great honour to serve the King of kings, and to take care of the people that He loves. I have been involved in pastoral ministry in one form or another for 43 years. And even with all the stresses and strains of shepherding, I still love this ministry and take it very seriously. I am still in awe of God’s calling on my life to serve Him by shepherding His flock. I want to do my best for Him, to bring Him honour and glory, and to strengthen His Church, which He bought with His own blood.

However, in my years of ministry I have also witnessed some good men get eaten-up by the job. Of course, some have fallen into sin. Power struggles and ego trips have side-tracked some. Some have fallen prey to greed and the desire to make money and live a more luxurious lifestyle. But I have also seen good men leave the ministry with broken hearts. All too often churches have lost good and dedicated pastors because they have felt neglected and unappreciated in one way or another. When pastors give their heart and soul for the church and its people, without feeling anything in return, they will often lose heart and give up.

I learned something early on about working with sheep…SHEEP BITE! Sheep can be mean. They can be vicious if cornered or crossed. In fact, there are churches with the reputation among shepherds for being “pastor-killers.” That is a shame, but it is true. Let me read you an article written by a pastor and published in his church bulletin. It is entitled, “How to Get Rid of a Pastor.”

“Not long ago a well-meaning group of laymen came from a neighbouring church to see me. They wanted me to advise them on some convenient and painless method of getting rid of their pastor. I am afraid, however, that I was not much help to them. At the time, I had not had the occasion to give the matter serious thought. But since then, I have pondered the matter a great deal, and the next time anyone comes for advice on how to get rid of the pastor, here is what I will tell them. “One: look the pastor straight in the eye while he is preaching and say ‘amen’ occasionally, and he will preach himself to death. Two: pat him on the back, brag on his good points, and he will probably work himself to death. Three: rededicate your life to Christ and ask the preacher for some job to do, preferably some lost people you could win to Christ, and he will die of heart failure. Four: get the church to unite in prayer for the preacher, and he will soon become so effective that a larger church will take him off your hands.”

This morning I want us to examine how God expects His sheep to treat His shepherds. You see a pastor’s joy of ministry is linked to the attitude of the sheep toward their shepherd. When God passes the truth through him to you, and you pass the thanks through him to God, that is a tremendous joy. But I will tell you, not every pastor experiences that. The driveways of many churches are blackened with the skid marks from the hasty exits of pastors who have been abused and bashed by a heartless, thankless people. I can truthfully and gratefully say, that has not been my experience, but I have seen it happen to others.

You need to know that when men come out of seminary or Bible College, they are often not prepared for what they will encounter in the local church when they meet real sheep for the first time. They sometimes make the mistake of thinking of sheep as soft cuddly little creatures, because the only sheep they have ever dealt with were stuffed. However, if you have ever worked on a farm with real sheep you know they are stinky, weak, helpless, unorganized, prone to wander, demanding, dirty creatures with sharp little hooves that can cut you to the bone. And like I said a moment ago, “sheep can bite.” And when the Lord was describing us as sheep in the Bible, it was not a compliment, and He was not talking about stuffed animals but about real sheep.

MAIN BODY: 

We begin this morning in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labour among you, and have charge over you in the Lord, and give you instruction.” In this verse we see the threefold responsibility of the shepherds to their sheep. This verse summarizes all those obligations we looked at last Sunday, putting them into three neat categories. According to Paul, first, shepherds are to labour among the sheep. Secondly, they are to exercise authority over the sheep. Thirdly, they are to provide instruction for the sheep.

The first point you see there in verse 12, “Those who diligently labour among you.” Pastors, elders, overseers, shepherds are to labour hard. They are expected to work to the point of exhaustion in a sacrificial life of service alongside the sheep. Total dedication is seen there. That is the humble role of a servant. Secondly, please note also that they “have charge over you in the Lord.” They have authority over the sheep by virtue of the Lord’s calling. For His sake, by His will, for His glory, they are to preside and direct and lead. And then thirdly, at the end of verse 12, they are to “give you instruction.” Teaching is the primary element here. Shepherds are to be skilled teachers, skilled at delineating and disseminating the Word of truth.

So that is the shepherd’s task. But sheep can make life joyless for the shepherd if they fail to follow the path of their own obligations. They can make the shepherd’s life miserable if they are not obedient to the Word of God. So today we are going to look at eight (8) responsibilities of sheep toward their shepherds, according to the Scriptures. The first three are right here in our text in 1 Thessalonians 5. 

Verse 12 says, “We request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labour among you, have charge over you in the Lord, and give you instruction.” 

Responsibility #1: Appreciate Your Shepherds.

This word “appreciate” is oida in Greek; it means, “to know fully.” It is a common word used all over the New Testament for “to know.” But it refers to the kind of knowledge that comes by experience; something you have learned to know, to have come to know by experience. It has the idea of a deep knowledge, and a knowledge that includes in it respect and appreciation; to know and to value is the implication of it here. This implies that you appreciate and value and respect those shepherds who diligently labour among you.

It does not mean to merely know their names; it is not that kind of simplistic knowledge. It does not mean to know just the names of their children, or their wife, or their zip code, or where they live, or whatever school they graduated from, or what kind of car they drive. It means that you have come into a deep and intimate personal acquaintance that leads to appreciation. You know them well enough to care about them. This word for “know” is the word used to refer to the physical act between a man and a woman (“…Adam knew his wife, Eve, and she conceived…”), the deep kind of knowledge, the intimate kind of knowledge, where a man knows a woman, and she becomes the bearer of his child. It conveys the idea of knowing someone and the worth of that person.

It is easy to be unkind, or critical, or indifferent to someone you do not know deeply and intimately. But when you have come to know them by experience, and you understand the passion of their heart, there is a certain respect that is born out of that kind of knowing. And so, it is incumbent upon you that you come to know your leaders. If you are going to respect them, and appreciate them, and admire them, and understand their worth, it means that you are going to have to put out the effort to get to know them. And then when you know them, you will show them that kind of respect.

Now let’s read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 again – “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labour among you, and have charge over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, ¹³ and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

Responsibility #2: Esteem Your Shepherds Very Highly in Love.

Now, this verb “to esteem,” hēgéomai, means “to consider or to regard; to think.” It goes a little deeper than the first duty, because it says you are to esteem them, how? “Very highly.” In Greek, this word literally means, “beyond all measure.” And notice those important words: “in love… because of their work.” Not because of their personality – this is not a personality contest – but because of their work. You are to regard a faithful pastor beyond all measure. The point is there is no limit to the regard you should have for that man, to the love you ought to have for him. Believers are to hold leaders in high regard because of their work. The ministry is a high and holy calling and believers are here exhorted to place proper value on their leaders—esteem them for their work’s sake. For example, regarding Epaphroditus, the Apostle Paul instructed the Philippian believers to “…receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard” (Phil 2:29).

“Esteem him very highly in love.” What does love mean? It means sacrificial service to him. It means affection for him. Not because of his personality, not because he has done favours for you, but because of his work – because he ministers to you the Word of God, because he feeds your needy soul.   

The sheep, then, are to appreciate and esteem their shepherd. Why? Because of his work. God has called him. He has been set apart for a special work, and the people are to appreciate him, and to lovingly acknowledge that work he has been called to do. Listen to Jesus’ words in John 13:20: “Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me. And he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” So, when you receive the shepherd, you are receiving the Great Shepherd who sent him, and the God who lovingly sent the Great Shepherd to be your Saviour. 

So, you are to esteem your shepherds, and that esteem should have no limits. And if you do not, you are in disobedience to these direct words of Scripture. That kind of love means you seek his best. That love means you overlook his weaknesses and frailties. That love means you speak well of him. That love means you encourage him. That love means you lift him up as a man called of God, who has brought the truth to you.

Now let’s read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 one more time – “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labour among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, ¹³ and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

Responsibility #3: Live in Peace with Your Shepherds and with One Another.

There is nothing more grieving, more distracting, more difficult, more painful than discord in the church. This concept of living in peace with one another is a familiar New Testament exhortation. We know about it. It is all over the New Testament, and you can find it in passages like Romans 14:19, in 2 Corinthians 13:11, in Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 3:15, James 3:18, etc. – over and over again, the New Testament calls for peace. But here it is specific. Here it is in this context of the relation between the sheep and the shepherd, and it should be a peaceful one. Submit to your shepherds, is the point. Submit. No strife. Eliminate conflict. Obviously, it presupposes a faithful shepherd. And where a man is faithful in doing the best that he can in the strength of the Spirit of God, you are to submit to that. That is a command of Scripture.

Grammatically speaking, the words “one another” refer in first place to the shepherd and sheep being at peace with one another. But secondarily, it means that the sheep should also live in peace with each other—sheep to sheep relations. The same rules apply to sheep getting along with other sheep. Mutual love, mutual esteem, mutual appreciation, and mutual honour make for a happy and peaceful flock, as well as a happy shepherd.

Jeremiah certainly understood this concept. Jeremiah had a ministry without joy because there was so much conflict going on all around him. He was in pain constantly, because the people rebelled and refused to submit to the things he said, even though they were the words of God. In chapter 9 he says, “Oh that my head were waters, my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people. Oh, that I had in the desert a wayfarer’s lodging place; that I might leave my people and go from them.” In other words, I would get out of this place and leave these stubborn, rebellious, obstinate, hard-hearted people if I could get away. “For all of them are adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. ‘They bend their tongue like their bow; lies and not truth prevail in the land; they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah was the weeping prophet because he had a bunch of disobedient, backbiting, vicious sheep. Jesus had the same experience: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft I would have gathered you as a hen gathereth her brood; you would not, you would not,” and the Scriptures tell us that He wept. He wept!

And so, the congregation is to live in peace with its leadership. You do not cultivate strife, you do not cultivate conflict, you submit, and you obey. They must give the account to God, not you, for what they do. And if you follow their lead faithfully, dutifully, they have misled you somehow, made unwise decisions, they will give an account to God, but you will be blessed for being obedient to the Word.

The next two responsibilities are given in Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Responsibility #4: Obey Your Shepherds.

The Greek word here translated as obey means “to be persuaded, or to listen to.” It speaks of an obedience that is the result of confidence. It is not speaking of a mindless allegiance to a man simply because of his position, but rather of obedience that stems from confidence in a man’s ability to lead in the right direction. Leaders are accountable to God for how they lead His sheep. To the extent that they love God and lead an exemplary life they should be followed.

Now look at Hebrews 13:17 one more time – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Responsibility #5: Submit to Your Shepherds.

Of course, submission and obedience go hand in hand. Full obedience requires submission of the heart. Submit means “to yield under or surrender.” In Greek it is a military term that means “to line up behind.” Believers are called to cheerfully rank themselves under their leaders because of the serious responsibility to watch over souls. To “keep watch” is also a military term and means “to keep oneself awake while on duty.” It implies that leaders are always watching and guarding. In Acts 20:28 the apostle Paul’s exhortation to the elders in Ephesus was to... “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock.” Leaders stand in a watchtower position—always alert for soul-dangers. Like the Coast Guard watches for storms, or an air traffic controller for potential jet collisions, church leaders need to be aware of the subtle errors that sneak into the church so they can warn God’s people of potential danger. This type of watchfulness demands tireless effort. The church body is to submit to leadership for their own spiritual welfare. When this takes place, shepherding is a joy.

But you may say, “Well, I think the pastors might be wrong.” Fine, obey them, and submit to them anyway. They must give the account, not you. Do not ever think that you can bypass your leadership; they give the account. Unless they ask you to do something unbiblical, unscriptural, ungodly, and sinful, you are to follow them. Shepherds have a sobering duty. We give account to the Lord; you follow the leadership. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.”

That is a strong statement, and a very formidable one for a person in spiritual leadership, like me or any other pastor or elder. We have a sobering duty. We will give an account before God. And in the local church we who are the leaders are accountable to God for what we decide, as we seek the wisdom of the Spirit. That is why a leadership team should never move ahead without oneness of heart and mind as elders, because we want to be sure we know the mind of God as we lead you, because we have to give an account to Him for what we have done.

Paul says, “Obey.” Look again at verse 17: “Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” Stubborn, self-willed people will steal the joy of their pastors, and give them grief. You want a miserable church? Have a miserable pastor. You want a miserable pastor? Do not submit, and you will take his joy away, and he will be a miserable man, and you will be a miserable people. Stubborn, self-willed people steal the joy of their leaders, and give themselves nothing but pain. “That is unprofitable for you,” Paul says. It is not going to help you. That is not going to work for you, to have a grieving, joyless shepherd.

The next two responsibilities are found in 1 Timothy chapter 5. First let’s read verses 17-18 – “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages.’” 

Responsibility #6: Support Your Shepherds Well Financially.

Now, I need to say something here that your pastor will probably never tell you. This kind of appreciation that we have been discussing has some implications regarding financial support. But it is important for you to know that the connection in the text implies that this matter of appreciation involves giving generous financial support. To show you that, you need only to look at 1 Timothy 5:17, there where it says, “Let the elders who rule well” – meaning those who do it with excellence – “be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Now, here we see elders ruling, and they are worthy men. Their worthiness calls for “double honour,” timē, in Greek. But what does that mean? Well, the word can mean respect or high regard. But the context here shows that it includes pay, financial remuneration. Just prior to this, in verses 3-16, Paul discussed the support of widows; now he discusses the support of pastors. And he is saying that if they rule well, they are worthy of “double timē.” On several occasions in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 27:6, 9 and 1 Corinthians 6:20) the word timē is associated with money. And so, Paul is saying in this context, “give them respect and remuneration, and make it double: double honour, double respect, and generous pay.” Why? Because you are rewarding the well-ruling elders, those that are diligent and faithful. They are worthy. They deserve it.

Every faithful shepherd is to be appreciated, respected, admired, honoured, and supported. But hard-working and excellent elders who major in preaching and teaching are particularly worthy of respect and remuneration. There is a remarkably simple direct verse that states this. This principle is found in 1 Corinthians 9:14. “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the Gospel to get their living from the Gospel.” That means if you spend your life preaching the Gospel, you are to be supported financially in the doing of it. 

The apostle makes it crystal clear, “the labourer is worthy of his wages.” The “double honour” that teaching-shepherds are worthy of includes honour (respect) and financial remuneration. When a church does not adequately care for the material needs of the pastor and his family his freedom to minister most effectively is hindered. Like the ox that was not to be muzzled while it was threshing grain, so pastors must be free to “get their living from the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

Two more responsibilities of the sheep to the shepherd are found in the book of Hebrews. Let’s read Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

Responsibility #7: Remember Your Shepherds.

Church members must remember their leaders. The Greek word means, “to call to mind, to recollect, or to be mindful.” It is a present imperative, meaning it is a command the body is to constantly fulfil on an ongoing basis. Believers are to constantly call their leaders to mind. One of the best ways to fulfil this command is through prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Paul pleads with the believers at Thessalonica, “Pray for us.” Perhaps there is no greater way for church members to love their leaders and remember them than to keep them before God’s throne of grace so that they may receive grace and mercy for their every need (Hebrews 4:15)! Satan has targeted church leaders. If he can take down the shepherd, then he can scatter the sheep. So, pray for your shepherds. But also, be generous with words of affirmation, which are so beneficial to the health of a local church. It requires a great amount of courage to stand for sound doctrine and to faithfully preach the Word of God week after week. Believers need to remember their leaders by means of encouraging words and expressions of appreciation for their ministry.

Now look once more at Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

Responsibility #8: Imitate Your Shepherds.

Another responsibility of the congregation toward their leaders is to mimic them. This word that the writer of Hebrews uses is from the Greek verb miméomai, meaning “to mimic or imitate.” It is from this word that we get the English word, mime. He is telling us to follow the faith of our leaders. That is why God has given qualifications for those in leadership. It is not that God does not want all believers to strive for these virtues. He does. However, leaders must meet these qualifications because people need visible role models. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” Paul was not being arrogant or bossy. He was just confident that he was doing his best to follow the Lord for his own life, and could, therefore, tell people to follow his example. When God’s people imitate the lives of godly leaders, they become imitators of the Gospel and its power is manifested before a watching world (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-7).

CONCLUSION:

So, in closing I want to urge you to be the kind of church that will gladden the heart of whoever God sends to be your next pastor. Determine before the Lord that you will do everything in your power to make his pastorate here to be a joyful experience, and not one of sorrow and regrets. Decide now, before he comes, that you will be one who will appreciate him, esteem him, and submit to his leadership. Commit yourself to live in peace with him and to obey him. Determine that you will support him and his family emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Promise that you will befriend him and his wife, and do your best to get to know them, and stand by them through thick and thin. Remember to pray for your pastor daily because he will come under attack. If you will do these things the Lord will bless you, will bless your pastor, and will bless this congregation.

How the Shepherd Cares for the Sheep

“How the Shepherd Cares for the Sheep”

(A sermon I preached at a church looking for a new pastor)

Introduction:

I know that you folks are in the market for a new pastor. After a long pastorate of 32 years Pastor “John Doe” is retiring and turning the reins over to a new minister. This means that you as a congregation are now in the process of looking for God’s man to be your next pastor, in the hopes that he will lead you on to a wonderful new phase in the life of your church.

But that also means that now you must stop and ponder what kind of leader you need and want. Of course, everyone in the congregation has an idea of what they want to see in their ideal pastor. If we put all those ideas together the job description might sound like this:

“The ideal pastor preaches for exactly twenty minutes with an hour's content. He condemns sin, but never offends anyone, or hurts anybody’s feelings. He works from 8 am to midnight and serves as the church janitor and handyman. He makes $300 a week, wears good clothes, and puts $100 in the offering every Sunday. He is 29 years old and has 40 years of experience. He is a strong leader, yet also follows everyone's advice. He can effectively relate to all the teenagers and spends all his time with the elderly. He plays the guitar but is also skilled on the pipe organ. He is tall and short, thin, and heavyset, and has one brown eye and one blue eye. He makes 15 house-calls a day, regularly visits the hospital, and is always in his office whenever you choose to stop by.”

And of course, we all expect that his nearly perfect wife will accompany our new pastor. The typical job description for a pastor’s wife sounds something like this:

“HELP WANTED: Pastor’s wife. Must sing well and play the piano and two other instruments. She leads youth groups, raises angelic children, entertains church notables at a moment’s notice, ministers to other wives, can recite the Bible backwards and can choreograph the annual church Christmas pageant. She must be an excellent cook and keep a spotless house just in case anyone chooses to drop by without calling first. She must keep the pastor calm, satisfied, and out of trouble. She must we willing to put up with erratic hours, difficult colleagues, and demanding church members. Hourly wage: $0.00.”

Transition:

I trust that you folks are going to be more realistic about your expectations for your new pastor and his family. At least, I hope so, because our personal preferences about the personality and personal habits of a pastor should not be the criteria that we use to measure his success or failure. 

Today I want to stimulate your thinking with this question: What are the real characteristics you should look for when shopping for a new pastor? Keep in mind that biblically speaking, the pastor’s primary calling is to be a servant of God. God is his Boss, his Master, and his Evaluator. Yes, of course, his secondary calling is to minister to you here at Anywhere Bible Church. But in the final analysis he is not your flunky, sent here to do whatever you want him to do. It does not work like that.

The New Testament uses four different Greek words to describe the same job. In other words, each of these synonyms highlights a different facet of the same person’s job description. A pastor is not just one of these things; he is all of them. Let’s look briefly at all four titles, but then I want us to concentrate our attention today on the fourth one.

1.       Elder (Gr. presbúteros) = Suggests an older man noted for his wisdom, integrity, and spiritual insight. The focus is on being an example of godliness.

2.      Overseer/bishop (Gr. epískopos) = One who oversees and manages the work of the church. The focus is on administration.

3.      Minister (Gr. diákonos) = One who leads through his service to the members of the local body. The focus is on humble service.

4.      Shepherd (Gr. poimén / Latin word is “pastor”) = One who herds sheep; literally, “a sheepherder.” The focus is on the day-to-day care of the sheep in his flock.

Main Body:

What does a good sheepherder do? What is his job description, and therefore, what skills must he bring to the job? The best starting place is to examine what the Bible says about the Great Shepherd, who is our model. Surprisingly, the Word of God has much to say about how God shepherds His people, his “sheep.”

Psalm 23:

1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. [Fact #1: We are sheep. God is our Provider, giving us what we need, though not necessarily what we want.]

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. [God protects His sheep and makes us feel loved and well cared for. Without fear the sheep dare to lie down and rest, contentedly chewing their cuds and meditating. God leads His sheep to gently flowing streams where they can drink, knowing that sheep are afraid of fast water.]

3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. [God has a medical/restorative ministry in the lives of the sheep. He gives us medicine when we need it. He leads us in good paths, never in paths designed to trip us up or cause us harm.]

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. [He stays close to His sheep, sharing any danger with them. He is never aloof or distant. He has the tools necessary to fight off wolves or bears or poachers.]

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. [He gives His sheep confidence even when enemies surround them. He cares for His sheep and He provides for them abundantly.]

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [He makes a safe place for the sheep to abide, to bed down and dwell in security. He treats His sheep with kindness and gentleness.]

So that is how the Lord treats us. And moreover, He expects His under-shepherds, His servants, to treat the sheep in the same way. He, as the Good Shepherd, has provided an example for other shepherds to follow in caring for His sheep.

This metaphor of the shepherd can be found throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament some of the strongest indictments in all of Scripture are reserved for the priests of Israel who were given the job of shepherding God’s people but who time and again fell down on the job, either through greed or sloth or jealousy or other evil motives. We do not have time to do it this morning but I would encourage you to do a study on your own of Ezekiel chapter 34 and also the Book of Jeremiah. Go through and mark the verses where God speaks about the failures and the unfaithfulness of the shepherds of Israel. Let me just give you taste, a couple of examples:

·         Ezekiel 34:1-2 – “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, “Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?”

·         Jeremiah 10:21 – “For the shepherds have become stupid and have not sought the Lord; therefore, they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.”

·         Jeremiah 23:2 – “Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: ‘You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,’ declares the Lord.”

·         Jeremiah 50:6 – “My people have become lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains; they [the sheep] have gone along from mountain to hill and have forgotten their resting place.”

These passages serve to point out the fact that God takes very seriously the responsibility that He places on His shepherds to care for His sheep in the way that He has ordained. While it is an awesome privilege to be one of the Lord’s shepherds, it is also an awesome responsibility and one that comes with high accountability. Any man that takes on the job and then screws it up will have to answer to the Great Shepherd for his failure. That fact, in and of itself, should scare off the riffraff but unfortunately there are still a lot of bad shepherds out there, just as there were in the days of the Old Testament.

So, what are the qualities of a good shepherd? What kind of man should you folks be looking for in this process of finding a new pastor for this congregation? Of course, the first qualification should be that he is the specific man called by God to be here at Anywhere Bible Church. You want God’s choice, not your own choice, based on some composite job description cobbled together from all your personal preferences. Also, you should not be on the lookout for someone just like Pastor “John” who has been your beloved pastor for 32 years. He was God’s man for the past, but now you need to find God’s man for the present and the future. And he may turn out to be quite different from Pastor John. You need to be prepared to let him be himself and to grow his ministry according to God’s leading in his life. I can tell you from experience that the greatest gift you as a congregation can give to your new pastor will be to let him be himself rather than try to shoehorn himself into Pastor John’s boots.

I have put together a list of duties that typically fall to the pastor. This list comes out of my own experience as well as the instructions given to shepherds in the Scriptures. This is probably not an exhaustive list, but it is a good starting point. Let’s look at them together.

#1 A good shepherd FEEDS the sheep

·         John 21:15-17 – “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me…?’ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.’ ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’ ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’”

·         First Jesus says, "tend my lambs."  The primary task in tending lambs is to feed them regularly, and everyone knows that lambs drink nothing but milk. In the same way, spiritual lambs need the basic milk of the Gospel and simple biblical precepts to grow. Then Jesus tells Peter to “shepherd My sheep,” and again, “tend My sheep.”  Notice the Lord’s use of the possessive, “MY” when referring to the sheep. These are the Lord’s sheep, not our sheep. We who are shepherds are caretakers of sheep that belong to the Master. Another important point is that it is the shepherd’s duty to move the lambs beyond just drinking milk to where they become mature sheep and can nourish themselves on solid food.

·         Hebrews 5:12-14 – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  

·         What then is “solid food?” It is training in righteousness so that the sheep can be fully equipped, able to stand in the day of testing. This nourishment is provided in the Word of God.

·         2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

·         Cute stories, pop psychology and worldly methodology do not feed sheep. They must be fed on the written Word of God, as it is exegeted properly, explained clearly, and applied to life by the Holy Spirit.

#2 A good shepherd PROTECTS the sheep

·         Acts 20:28 – “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

·         Hebrews 13:7 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

·         In Bible times the shepherd would bring the flock home to the fold at night. He would then lay out his bedroll in the gateway to protect the sheep from wolves or other predators coming into the sheepfold in the night. He literally put his life on the line for the sheep.

·         John 10:1-5 – “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep… The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice."  

·         We learn some important things about being a good shepherd in this passage. First, he is to be a watchman. There are not only savage wolves out in the world; there are even wolves that try to enter the sheepfold when nobody is watching. One of the pastor’s main jobs is to be on the lookout for people who make their way into the flock looking like sheep but acting like wolves.

·         Acts 20:29 – “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”

·         Matthew 7:15 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

·         The wolves that try to enter the church dress up like sheep. They talk like sheep; they pray like sheep; they make themselves look ultra-holy. They say the right things, but their fruit gives them away in the end. Jesus warned concerning false teachers in Matthew 5:15-20 – “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷ So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Part of the shepherd’s job is to see through their ruse and deal with them appropriately to protect the flock. This is one of the hardest aspects of any pastor’s job. I tell you that from experience.

·         Ezekiel 33:6-7 – “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so, hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me.”

·         You see, God expects every shepherd to be a watchman. He must be on the lookout for those who would try to come in and spread false teaching or create division and dissension in the Body. He must be willing to lay down his life at the gate to protect the flock, even at the risk of popularity, reputation, friendship, or livelihood. In the modern church there are too many “hired hands” that are not doing their job because they do not want to take a stand against anyone or anything. By their inability to make the hard stands they make themselves useless to the Good Shepherd and allow great evil to gain a foothold under their watch.

#3 A good shepherd LEADS the sheep

·         Psalm 23:1-3 – “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

·         Following the example of the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23, every shepherd is to lead his sheep to pasture and water. His job is to teach them and restore them. He is to be their guide in paths of righteousness. He is to protect them from wolves and beasts in the world with the rod and staff. 

·         The shepherd is there to discipline the sheep to avoid the pitfalls of the world. He is to lead the flock out into the world and teach them to stay together in unity. Sheep tend to get into trouble when they get separated from the flock. That is why the shepherd tries to keep them together.

·         Ephesians 4:3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

·         This “unity of the Spirit” is unity of belief, unity of doctrine, and unity of heart. But there is no way for sheep to be unified with wolves because there is no unity of the Faith. Sheep and wolves are fundamentally different.

·         Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

·         Wolves are those who pretend to be in unity with the sheep just long enough to come in and drag sheep away into sin. They may look and talk like sheep, but they expose who they really are by their counterfeit fruits, their divisiveness, and their false teaching. A pastor needs to teach the sheep to be shrewd and be on the watch for the pitfalls of the world, the flesh, the devil and of false religion.

#4 A good shepherd CORRECTS the sheep

·         2 Timothy 2:24-26 – “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, ²⁵ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

·         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, ² 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; ³ nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

·         A shepherd grooms his sheep, keeps them clean and free of contamination. In the same way, a pastor tries to keep his sheep spiritually clean and free of contamination from the world, the flesh, and the devil. This with the goal of preparing them to be faithful disciples, followers of the Good Shepherd, so they will, in turn, go out and minister to others. That is what the Great Commission is about.

·         Matthew 28:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

·         2 Timothy 4:2-5 – Hear Paul’s words of wise counsel to a young shepherd… “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

·         1 Thessalonians 5:14 – “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

·         Titus 2:15 – “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

#5 A good shepherd HELPS DELIVER the lambs

·         Isaiah 40:11 – “He [God] tends His flock [Israel] like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”

·         In the context of the church the “sheep” are all those who by faith have come to know Jesus Christ personally. We refer to them as “born again,” “saved,” “in Christ,” “redeemed,” etc. When the Gospel is preached, taught, or shared the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner, who then must respond with saving faith in Christ, turning from sin to the Saviour. The change that occurs in them is described in the New Testament as a “new birth.”

·         But notice that in our metaphor of sheep, shepherds, and the flock it is not the shepherd that gives birth to the lambs. That is the job of the sheep! The shepherd does not become pregnant and give birth to a lamb. Yet in many flocks this is the mistaken expectation that the sheep have of their shepherd.

·         The sheep are the ones who give birth to the lambs, but the shepherd should always be nearby to help with the delivery. Sometimes the ewe can deliver without any complications and can take care of her new-born without any assistance. That is good. However, sheep often get into trouble in the birthing process and need the gentle hand of the shepherd.  You see, when a lamb is born, is comes out of the womb wrapped in the placenta. Sometimes the lamb can get free by itself. However, many times the shepherd must break the placenta so that the lamb can get out.

·         Transferring this picture back to the spiritual realm many people are new-born into the Christian life with the vestiges of their old life still tightly wrapped around them. They need to be helped to put off the old man and put on the new lamb! This is the early stage of discipleship. The shepherd’s job is to set the lamb free so that it can begin to grow toward maturity. In the same way, a pastor seeks to help new Christians take their first steps and begin to move toward Christian maturity.

·         Now, I need you all to do me a favour…lift both of your feet up off the floor. That is good because what I am going to say right now might tend to step on some people’s favourite toes. Here goes… the Great Commission was not given to pastors, at least not to any special degree. Everything is supposed to reproduce after its own kind. That means that Christians should beget other Christians. Like I said a few moments ago, the sheep are the ones who should be giving birth, not the shepherd. The pastor’s job is not to be the evangelist of the church. His job is to feed you so that you can give birth to baby Christians. It is my observation that most pastors do not even have the gift of evangelism. And in fact, some of the best evangelists make the worst pastors. And some of the absolute best pastors are poor as evangelists.

·         So, do not make the mistake of thinking that you are going to get a hotshot evangelist in here to win this community for you. The fact is…now lift your feet up again…if this church is not seeing souls brought to Christ, do not blame the pastor! Blame yourself. Of course, he is a sheep too, and should be a faithful witness and an example of Christian integrity that will touch the lives of the people around him, but he is not a hired gun who’s going to come in and clean up the neighbourhood with his amazing preaching.

#6 A good shepherd GOES AFTER wandering sheep

·         Luke 15:4 – “Suppose one of you [shepherds] has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’”

·         The Bible is clear that many people have and will continue to wander from the Faith.

·         1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

·         1 Timothy 6:20-21 – “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.”

·         James 5:19-20 – “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

·         Part of the shepherd’s job is to help people who have wandered from the Faith or detoured into sin.   

·         Jude 1:22-23 – “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear— hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

·         But it is also important for the shepherd to never forget that he was a sheep before he became a shepherd. He is no better than the people he is there to help. The Bible says, “All we, like sheep, have gone astray.” We have all wandered at times, we have gone astray, but the point is to return to the Shepherd.

·         1 Peter 2:25 – “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Conclusion:

In closing I want to point out that there is a significant fundamental difference between the herding methods of a shepherd and a cowboy.

The cowboy sits up on his high horse and controls the cows by threats, yells, and the liberal use of a whip or a cattle prod. He follows along behind the herd frightening them into doing what he wants or going where he chooses. He does not know the cows personally and he does not care about them. He is all about the job, all about getting them to do what they are supposed to do. He gets paid for driving them from one field to another, or to a railhead where they can be loaded up for shipment.

The shepherd, on the other hand, knows his sheep. He cares about them and has their welfare in mind. He leads them by going out ahead and urging them to follow. He uses no whips or prods. He charms them with his voice. He wins their trust and they follow willingly, knowing that he will lead them in pleasant paths. He does not yell at them, nor does he threaten them. If he uses his staff, it is to gently nudge them back onto the path to follow the flock. He keeps his eye out for predators who would steal the lambs and savage the ewes. He goes out ahead and leads them to pleasant pastures and to quiet streams. He assists in the lambing when a sheep gets into trouble. He applies medicine to their wounds. In the spring, he shears them and sets them free from their heavy, stinky burdens.

Of course, we could go on and on with this metaphor and I will leave it to you to finish the picture, but I think you get my point. What you need here at Anywhere Bible Church is a shepherd, not a cowboy. As we look around these days, we see a lot of churches led by cowboys. With big names, they write books, go on talk shows, and lead by personality, charisma, and good looks. But I do not think that they are the models we should look for in seeking a new shepherd. You see, it is not about how famous the pastor is, but about how healthy his church is.

I am praying that God will bring you the exact person He wants to be your next shepherd and that you will welcome him with the same love and open arms you gave to Pastor John.