Sermon Archives
The Role of the Shepherd
1 Peter 5:1-5Shepherding God's People
J. Josh Smith
May 1, 2016
Description:
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who oversees the people of God. One of the primary ways that Jesus shepherds His people, however, is through the office of “Pastor” in the local church. The literal meaning of “Pastor” is “shepherd.” Pastors have four primary responsibilities in the local church. Pastors FEED the flock by ministering the word of God to them. The ministry of the word refers to knowing and applying the word in everyday life; it includes preaching, counseling, discipleship, and other means by which pastors apply God’s word to everyday life. Pastors LEAD the flock by directing the ministries of the church. They set the direction of the church, manage the ministries of the church, and equip the people for the work of ministry within the church. Pastors PROTECT by guarding the hearts of the flock from any teaching or person who threatens the wellbeing of the sheep. Finally, pastors CARE by engaging the needs of the flock. They must make sure the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the sheep are cared for by the ministries of the church.
Church governance and organization matter because the local church plays a key role in God’s plan for the world and for your life. The church must function properly so that we all grow in Christ-likeness and fulfill the mission Christ has given us. Your pastors want to shepherd you well; therefore, we want to continually evaluate our church’s organization to assure we are faithfully stewarding the flock God has entrusted us.
Keywords:
Leadership, Servanthood, Worship