Practicing Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

are identified and dealt with? What role is the Christian community to play in the ongoing health of the person who is experiencing difficulty and hurt in their lives? 8. What benefits occur to the Christian leader who carefully and lovingly engages in a ministry of counseling in the body of Christ? Why do we always need to find, equip, and release godly counselors into the Church?

Effective Counseling: Preparing, Caring, and Healing

Segment 2: The Practice of Biblical Counseling: The Christian Leader as Shepherd

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The practicing Christian leader is one who provides care for and seeks the healing of his flock during their times of trial and distress to reestablish them on their faith journey with the Lord and his people. As one providing pastoral (shepherding) care for others in the body, the Christian leader models their care for the people of God on the care the Lord gives to his people. Our objective for this segment, The Practice of Biblical Counseling: the Christian Leader as Shepherd , is to enable you to see that: • The Christian leader is one who provides care for and seeks the healing of his flock during their times of trial and distress to reestablish them on their faith journey with the Lord and his people. • All believers will inevitably encounter situations, concerns, and problems which represent the dark side of life–trials, tribulations, and distress. • The Christian leader functions, whether formally or informally, as a shepherd, i.e., one who provides care for and seeks the ongoing protection, feeding, and guidance of the members of the flock. • Christian shepherding involves four distinct dimensions of spiritual development in the body of Christ: guarding and watching the flock, feeding and nourishing the flock, tending and caring for the flock, and guiding and leading the flock.

Summary of Segment 2

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