Pastor Dan on Shepherding

As elders, we are deeply thankful to God for our small groups. God’s call to shepherd is upon all of us. As the spiritual under-shepherds of this church we all recognize that there is one “good shepherd” (John 10:11), one “overseer of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25), the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He sovereignly works in us and through us to willingly and eagerly embrace the call to shepherd.

And we know that there is a future reward for us, namely a glorious, unfading crown that will redound to the praise of God’s grace forever! 1 Peter 5:2–4, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

We exercise oversight, “not under compulsion” and “not for shameful gain” and not in a “domineering” way. Rather, with one hope-filled eye on the return of our chief Shepherd, Jesus, and one eye on the unfading crown of glory, we press on “willingly” and “eagerly,” as “examples” of the way in which forgiven sinners point to a merciful Savior.

We also recognize, with a spiritual sobriety, that this shepherd-calling is to, “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
 
Let’s pray for renewed shepherding grace in our small groups this Fall.
 
Dan Holst
Lead Pastor, North Campus