What it Means to be a Shepherd

General Session #4

Rich Holland

I Peter 5:1-4

“What it means to be a Shepherd”

There are dozens and dozens of animals mentioned in the Bible. The Bible is a zoo, speaking of almost every animal. There are over a hundred animals mentioned in the Bible. Over 400 times we find references to sheep. Where there are sheep, there must be shepherds. The sheep were totally dependent upon the shepherd; the shepherds protected from famine, enemies, and nature. The shepherd was a constant companion, a guide, an authority, a provider. The shepherds were a very odd people. Their sole purpose was to be hard-working blue-collar men that lived nomadic lives, sleeping under the stars. Shepherds were the cowboys of ancient Israel – men’s men.

In every encyclopedia or dictionary you will find it mentioned that sheep are dumb and are subject to certain death without a shepherd. Sheep cannot find their way back to a fold when it is in sight, who have been observed running off cliffs, and eaten by the smallest of predators. Sheep are prone to wander and very vulnerable. However, it is very easy to think of the people we lead as unintelligent sheep and forget that we are too sheep. We are stupid, unintelligent, and dependent ourselves. Jeremiah 3:15-16 talks about the promise of shepherds to the church. God’s standard is shepherds who shepherd after His own heart.

The faithful shepherd looks at God the Shepherd and shepherds as He does. This work is not for wimps. Pastoral ministry is not a social alternative to worldly work; it is the most heart breaking, discouraging, difficult work there is to do.

3 Sobering Realities of Pastoral Ministry

1)    It is a serious responsibility: I Peter 5:1 is targeted especially to elders or pastors. There are younger men who are elder to older men in the church. “It is not how long you’ve been in the boat that determines how far you’ve gotten across the lake. It is how hard you have been pulling on the oars.” This encourages me because God has gifted me to pull really hard in a short amount of time, equipping me to lead older Christians. This book is written to those whose lives are in daily danger. Pastors were in unique danger as the spiritual authority in the church and primary teacher. Although our society is not exactly the same as in Peter’s day, the unseen world is aiming for us in the exact same way. Peter is not asking the elders to do something that he is not willing to do himself. Sheep bite and sometimes gnaw on the hand that feeds them.

2)    A Delegated Responsibility: Peter had an unforgettable interview with the risen Lord on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:16-17). The verb change with “love” is often the emphasis of this passage. The verb change of love is not the point. It should be noticed that there is an imperative used three times in this passage “Shepherd the Flock.” One of the chief ways I can love Jesus is to tenderly and faithfully love His Church by loving, teaching, and guiding people. I was born on purpose to care for other people and my heart cannot rest until it is full of such care. From the womb God has been preparing me to pastor Orange Park Bible Church. This is a delegated responsibility: It is God’s flock. This is not our church and these are not our people – we have been delegated a difficult, yet privileged responsibility. To exercise oversight means to look over carefully with wisdom.

There are special temptations associated with spiritual leadership:

·         Oversee them not forcefully or because it is your duty (this is not because we have to but because we want to) – I am thankful that this has never been a temptation for me (I Timothy 3 – desires to do)

·         Oversee them not for greedy gain or filthy gain: We must not serve because we love money. “Sordid gain” is a better translation. I get very disturbed when I hear of pastors who have fees and contracts on their services and preaching. Does whether or not they are going to pay you or how much they pay you go into the decision-making process? I am thankful God has blessed me to not have known anything I was going to make before deciding to take a position at a church. I have been blessed to have loved the church I was going to before deciding to go there – money was an afterthought and a matter of trust towards God.

·         Not domineering: We must not use power of knowledge or power of influence, but power of example. We cannot Lord our authority over others, but lead. Will you be the Pharaoh or a Pastor? A Pharaoh drives from behind, a Shepherd leads from the front. Whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. Spurgeon, “Let us remember that we are servants in our Lord’s name. Let us be willing to be door mats at our Master’s entrance hall. Let us who are strong bear their infirmities. He is highest who makes himself lowest. He is greatest who makes himself less and the least.” Ezekiel 34 is a passage that was certainly rattling around in the minds of the Jewish hearers in I Peter 5. Ezekiel 34 is a big passage to place an exclamation mark on “not for sordid gain and not domineering.” Pastors are not celebrities and should not appear this way. Pastors are chief slaves. It is easier to go to conferences than to visit widows, orphans, and pray for people and this ought not be.

We should preach and preach well, but we must spend time with people, but foremost we must be before the Lord. “For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered” (Jeremiah 10:21). Very sobering: I do not want to be a stupid pastor, but it will happen if ministry keeps me from Jesus.

3)    It is an honorable responsibility (I Peter 5:4): This is not like little league baseball where everybody gets a trophy. We do what we do to please God. Read Psalm 23 and commit to doing this for the people in your church. John 10, “I am the Chief Shepherd.” The shepherd flees because he is a hired hand. We are not hired, but called by God.

Hebrews 13:17: We must give an account. Before you pray for God to double your church, make sure you know you are asking for double account. Accountability and responsibility for the souls of God’s people is serious. The people in our ministry are souls. Are you looking at people as “bodies with souls too” or primarily as souls for which you must give an account?