WORTHLESS SHEPHERDS & WAYWARD SHEEP

FAITHFULNESS DEMANDED

PROPOSITION: Both Shepherd and Sheep must one day stand before the GREAT SHEPHERD.

INTRODUCTION:

ELDER = presbyteros — “Elder” = Administration

BISHOP = episkopos — “Overseer” = Oversight

PASTOR = poimen — “Shepherd” = Leadership

DEACON = diakonos — “Servant”

Being a Pastor is a CALLING from God. It is not a CAREER. To Shepherd Christ’s sheep is joy — MOST of the time. It will also break your heart, as you walk through the darkness that often envelopes the lives of those whom you are called to shepherd.

No human Pastor does the job PERFECTLY. We are all limited by our weakness and shortcomings. There are TWO OFFICES that are presented to us for LEADING and TENDING to the FLOCK of Christ, which is the Church , are PASTOR and DEACON. Pastors FEED and LEAD, and Deacons SERVE and

BOTH PASTOR AND FLOCK, however DO HAVE a perfect SHEPHERD = Jesus Christ. HE ALONE IS THE GREAT SHEPHERD—CHIEF SHEPHERD—GOOD SHEPHERD of the Sheep.

PROBLEM #1: FAT SHEPHERDS & SKINNY SHEEP Ezekiel 34:1-16

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SHEPHERD: John 10:7-18

John 10:7–18 (NASB95)

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

FEED THE SHEEP — The WORD of God

LEAD THE SHEEP — To GOOD WATER & PASTURE

LOVE THE SHEEP — To PRIORITIZE the Flock

TEND THE SHEEP — To CARE for the Hurting and Weak

PROTECT THE SHEEP — To GUARD them from Predators

PROBLEM #2: WAYWARD AND WARRING SHEEP Ezekiel 34:17-30

John 10:22–30 (NASB95)

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. “I and the Father are one.”

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF SHEEP:

FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD’S LEAD

LISTEN TO THE SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE

OBEY THE SHEPHERD’S CALL

TRUST THE SHEPHERD’S HEART

LOVE THE FELLOW SHEEP

REPRODUCE OTHER SHEEP

THE ULTIMATE ANSWER: JESUS CHRIST—IS THE ONLY THE PERFECT SHEPHERD Ezekiel 34:31