Shepherding The Flock Of God Series

-Two things stand out from this: The tremendous task of keeping watch over your souls, which is not a casual endeavor. And, the fact that Elders will have to give an account to God above all other responsibilities, as to how they performed their duties.

-The role of Elder is not a part time job.

-A part time job has responsibilities for a time, and then time off.

-The role of Elder, is a full time responsibility with duties that will have to be performed from time to time.

-When the church functions as it should, and the duties can be discharged with joy, it is actually a benefit for the recipients.

-In the discharging of the role to watch over your souls, is fought, based on issues of preference or withdrawal, then it is detrimental to you and actually a rebellion against God.

-Just like the employer and government is an authority which properly must be submitted to, so is the Elder has spiritual responsibilities which must be discharged and they are most effectively discharged when there is godly submission by the recipients.

-One of the simple reasons why Pastors are finding it harder and harder to discharge their duties is that there is no longer a common ground of respect for authority that their once was.

-The 1960’s rebellion against authority in the home, workplace, and government spilled over to the church. It is now to the point, where many churches function de facto as democracies, where popular opinion and not God given mandates and responsibilities as defined by the Word of God, rule.

Please turn to John 21

What then is the primary responsibility of the shepherd? It is not to be popular, or make everyone happy, or bring in as many new people as possible, or just do whatever feels right at the moment.

Peter received firsthand instruction on the shepherd’s foremost responsibility from the risen Lord Himself:

John 21:15-17 [15]When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." [16]He said to him 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, "Tend 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 everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. (ESV)

The shepherd’s primary task is to edify and strengthen them with the deep truths of solid spiritual food that produces discernment, conviction, consistency, power, and effective testimony to the greatness of the saving work of Christ. No matter what New Testament terminology identifies the shepherd and his task, underneath it all is the primacy of biblical truth. He is to feed the sheep.

This will not put the most bodies in the pews. God warned of the tendency, as seen by the Old Covenant false teaches before, of telling people what they want to hear, what makes them most comfortable and feel good about themselves.