Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

2. A kind of care and personal attention given to the flock of God

a. Acts 20.28

b. 1 Pet. 5.2-3

3. God employs the metaphor of spiritual shepherding to communicate the nature of the pastorate.

a. God’s intent for his flock is to provide godly shepherds who will feed the flock, and not feed upon them, Jer. 3.15.

b. False teachers are conceived as ravenous wolves, who won’t spare the tender, young lambs of the flock, Acts 20.29.

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c. God’s people are conceived as a “little flock,” Luke 12.32.

d. Godly leadership is directly connected with one’s treatment of and provision for the flock of God, John 21.17.

II. Origins and Development of the Concept of Pastor

He who does anything apart from the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, such a man is not pure in his conscience. ~ Ignatius (c. 105, E), 1.67., Ibid., p. 158.

A. Shepherding was a rich, often-used image for leading God’s people.

1. The Lord God relates to his own people as a shepherd tends to and leads his sheep.