Biblical shepherding

Posted : 28 May, 2014 05:52 PM

The Heart of a Shepherd

Home

Author/Speaker:

Chuck Gianotti



The heart of a shepherd beats for the sheep. He is willing to sacrifice greatly for them (see John 10:11). The �what� of shepherding is laid out in Scripture in many places, but the �how� is not always clear. For example, regularly scheduled elders� meeting is not Biblically mandated, but in our busy day it is a wise thing. That�s a �how� of being an elder.



There is no job description that can adequately cover the task. It is a colossal misjudgment for a man to become an elder based on whether on not he can fulfill a detailed list of responsibilities. Being an elder is something inner-driven. Unlike secular leadership, this is not a matter of personal character, charisma or strength. The only biblical inner-driven entity is the Holy Spirit.



I am increasingly aware that any leadership that is not energized by the heart of God working through the Holy Spirit, is not true spiritual leadership.



To be sure many churches are led by pastors, elders or deacons who are great leaders utilizing very effective means for organizing and administering the church affairs. However, I remember from my early days of new life in Christ an older brother and teacher of the Word emphasizing ad infinitum (and at the time I naively thought, ad nauseum) that the church is not an organization, but an organism. That is much more apparent to me now than when I was younger. The church is not just a parallel to what the world does in corporations, charities, volunteers groups�nor is it just a big �self-help� institution.



So our ministry is not simply to give people tools or �how to�s� for living. It is to help them connect with an infinite God, a loving Shepherd who continuously and supernaturally changes our lives As shepherds our task is to continue leading the flock to the life-giving waters and to help them drink deeply. That�s the heart of a Spiritual shepherd! That�s not a �how,� but a �what.� O, Lord, give me the heart of a true shepherd!



John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd! The Good Shepherd lays down His life on behalf of the sheep.

John 10:12 But the hireling, not even being a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and forsakes the sheep and flees. And the wolf seizes them, and scatters the sheep.

John 10:13 But the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and there is not a care to him concerning the sheep.



Mat 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Mat 18:12 What do you think? If there be to any man a hundred sheep, and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and having gone he seeks the one having strayed?

Mat 18:13 And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine not having gone astray.



I find in most 'churches' , when a person leaves, the pastor,

elders,deacons,or board (bored) people do not go looking for the person,nor will they even call.

After a few weeks the person has become forgotten,out of sight out of mind.





See related resources on:

Shepherd's Heart

Caring

- See more at: http://biblicaleldership.com/heart-shepherd#sthash.Dcf1E5rI.dpuf

Post Reply