Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 2 | FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP: THE CHRISTIAN LEADER AS PASTOR / 307

Conclusion • The Word of God articulates three key images of the pastorate. • A pastor is a nurturer and care giver, a protector and guardian, and a leader of the flock of God. • The Word of God is able to equip the worker of God with all they need in order to fulfill their calling in leading God’s flock. • We must joyously flesh out the freedom that Christ has won for us in order to discover new, innovative ways to meet the deep needs of the lambs God has given to us to equip. The following questions were designed to help you review the material in the video. This lesson discussed Scripture’s vision of the kinds of roles that a pastor offers the people of God in his function as shepherd of the body. The pastor is a nurturer who ensures that God’s people receive proper nourishment, feeding, tending, and care, a protector who guards the people of God against any harm or damage, and a leader called to go before the people of God and lead them into the fullness of the will of God for their individual and corporate lives. As those called to exercise leadership for the church in the city, it is critical that we understand these dimensions and roles with care and exactness. As you review the questions below, please concentrate on how these roles will need to be fleshed out in the urban community, and look to apply the Scriptures with an eye toward the urban scene and needs. 1. In looking at the examples of shepherding in the Word of God, what are three clear models and analogies given to us of what kind of persona (i.e., identity) a pastor ought to adopt as he cares for the people of God? 2. Explain the role of the pastor as a nurturer of the people of God. What does this role involve, and how does one prepare for this kind of ministry in the church? How can you tell if one is fulfilling this role in a local congregation to the maturity and well-being of the members of the body? 3. Lay out the various dimensions of the pastor as protector or guardian of the people of God. What are some of the things that a pastor may have to protect God’s people from? What kind of training or input do you need in order to be able to fulfill this ministry in the church? How can you tell if someone is doing a

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