A Moment With Pastor Fred

What does a pastor do?  With Anthony Lange joining the pastoral team it would be helpful to review that answer. The title pastor comes from the Latin – meaning shepherd. Pastors/elders are shepherds. Living in a metropolitan  area, we aren’t as familiar with a shepherd’s job. So the question is, what does a shepherd do?

Shepherds protect the flock. In Bible times wolves, jackals and hyenas were common. The shepherd had to be on alert for predators that would harm the flock. Paul warned the elders at Ephesus, Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock … care for the church of God … I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. The world today is submerged in a sea of false teaching. The shepherd’s job is to protect.

Sheep must listen and heed.

Shepherds lead the flock. 1 Pet 5:2-3, 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. Sheep are not independent travelers. They have no sense of direction. You can’t drive sheep. You drive cattle – you lead sheep. Pastors must lead by example. No one is calling for blind obedience. And yet congregations need to develop a holy disposition to be led. We live a day that resists authority. Such a defiant attitude must not creep into the church. Heb 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. 

Next week we’ll look at two more descriptions of  shepherds.