Spiritual Responsibiblity of Leaders: Shepherd my Flock

Johannes 21,15–19 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Spiritual Leadership = Shepherd Leadership

In this world leaders are Kings, CEO’s, Generals, Captains, Dictators, and Lawmakers. But in the Kingdom of God leaders are shepherds

The Bible often uses the picture of a good shepherd. The art of shepherding is a perfect model to follow when leading others. Jesus uses this picture, to teach us what it means to be leaders in his kingdom. He called Peter, a fisherman, to be a shepherd. And if you are called as a leader, that you are also called to be a shepherd.

Shepherd Leaders Help those that follow them, to follow Christ.

Shepherds in the Kingdom of God are a unique kind of shepherd. As a shepherd leader you yourself are being lead by the chief shepherd.

1. Love the chief shepherd

A shepherd leader learns to love the chief shepherd.

“Do you love me?” -

Jesus asked Peter the most profound question a person could receive. Your answer will determine your eternity. A genuine love for the chief shepherd is the prerequisite for spiritual leadership.

But Jesus did not ask Peter just about the fact of love, he also asked him about the quality of his love:

“Do you love me more than these?”

What makes you a leader in the kingdom of God? Is it your skill, your eloquence, or your education? Jesus called Peter to be the shepherd of his flock, because he knew that Peter was different from the others in one aspect: His love for Jesus. Peter loved Jesus more than “these”, speaking of the other disciples.

The primary thing that separates leaders from followers is their deeper love for Christ. Spiritual Leadership essentially means to help others love Jesus more.

You cannot lead people to a place where you have not been yourself before.

So, how do you love the chief shepherd? How does that look like practically?

Love his Name

Confess his Lordship

Follow his Lead

1. Love his Name

Lukas 10,27 ESV

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Heart - The place of decisions and will. We cling to God and daily decide to only worship him.

Soul - The emotions and feelings. We make our emotions dependent on God, finding joy and peace in him.

Strength - The deeds and energy. We obey and give ourselves as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing unto God.

Mind - The thoughts and reasonings. We think about the things of God and seek to know him more.

This kind of love towards God sets us up for loving those whom we are called to lead.

2. Confess his Lordship

When Jesus asked the disciples why they thought he was, Peter confessed Jesus as God, savior and Lord.

Matthäus 16,16–18 ESV

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It is the humbling and empowering confession that secures the leader’s perspective and inner attitude: Jesus is Lord. He is the head shepherd. We are under-shepherds at best, but actually we are all sheep that had gone astray and were found by this wonderful good shepherd.

The confession of his lordship reveals three dynamics:

Only the Father who is in heaven could reveal to us Jesus as Lord

Only those who confess Jesus as Lord will have authority in the church

Only those who understand, that it is actually Jesus’ church, no theirs, will be leadrt

3. Follow his lead

Good leaders know to follow the head shepherd. We need to study his life, and to learn from his leadership.

Johannes 10,11 (ESV)

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Shepherd Leaders serve those who follow and put their needs above their own.

Johannes 10,14 (ESV)

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Shepherd Leaders have good relationships with those, they lead.

Markus 10,45 (ESV)

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Shepherd Leaders are servants of the flock.

We understand that we need to love the chief shepherd, with all our hearts, mind and strenght, confess his lordship, and follow his lead. But how do we stay focussed on Jesus? You must watch yourself!

2. Watch yourself

A good and responsible spiritual leader learns to lead himself well.

Apostelgeschichte 20,28 (ESV)

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

We are in leaderhsip position by divine appointment. We did not choose to lead, the Holy Spirit has made us overseers. Yes, this is a great honor, but not grounds for boasting by any means. We are made overseers to care for those whom Jesus has purchased with his own blood. There is no room for vain glory, ruling over others, seeking power and trying to appear important. Leaders are quick to disqualify themselves from spiritual leadership, forgetting the responsibility they actually are burened with. Shepherd Leaders Help those that follow them, to follow Christ.

So how do we watch ourselves and protect us against being disqualified?

Surrender to the forgiveness of Jesus

Surrender to the call of Jesus

1. Surrender yourself to the forgiveness of Jesus

“Lord, you know everything”

When Peter was asked by Jesus a third time “do you love me” he anwered “Lord, you know everything.” He certainly was painfully reminded, that he just had denied Jesus three times only a few days ago. He felt totally disqualified to even be a disciple anymore, let alone a leader of the church that Jesus had promised he would build.

But in this conversation we also see, that Peter surrenders to the forgiveness of Jesus. He receives not only a clear task “take care of my sheep”, but also forgiveness for his sin.

A responsible spiritual leader keeps watch over his holiness. Shepherd Leaders are quick to confess any wrongdoing in order to recieve forgiveness. Only then they can stay focussed on the lead shepherd and continue in their calling.

2. Surrender yourself to the call of Jesus

Bevore Jesus died and rose again, he said something very profound to Peter.

Lukas 22,32 (ESV)

32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Here Jesus clarified the calling for Peter. At the beginning of his journey with Jesus, Peter received the word “I will make you fishers of men”. But what that would actually look like, he did not know then. Here, at the end of their earthly time together, Jesus made it clear to him and said:

Johannes 21,19 ESV

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

A responsiblie spiritual leader responds to the call that Jesus has placed on his life. Shepherd Leaders Help those that follow them, to follow Christ.

But what does a shepherd leader actually do? What are his practical responsiblities?

3. Feed the flock

Jesus said to Peter: “Feed my lambs”.

It takes two distinct tasks to feed the flock. You lead them through the wilderness onto green pastures and brooks of clear water. And you give them only the pure and healthy food and drink.

1. You oversee, and

2. you strengthen those entrusted to your care.

1. Oversee

Peter had learned from Jesus, what it means to oversee the flock. He himself explained later to others what it takes to be a shepherd leader:

1. Petrus 5,2–4 (ESV)

2 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

without compulsion but willingly

not for shameful gain but eagerly

not domineering but as examples

2. Strengthen

Returning to the call Peter recieved, we see that his task was to strengthen the brothers.

Lukas 22,32 ESV

32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Leaders strengthen their brothers through their faith and their continued turning to God. Shepherd Leaders Help those that follow them, to follow Christ.

Lukas 12,32 (ESV)

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Leaders strengthen the flock, by continually showing them the glory of what it means to be in the kingdom of God

When you love the chief shepherd. When you watch yourself. Then you can help others to do the same.

Shepherd Leaders Help those that follow them, to follow Christ.

From the conversation of Jesus with Peter we have learned what it takes to be a responsible spiritual leader. You need to be a shepherd leader. Help those that follow you to follow Christ!

We need to look to the head shepherd.

We need to learn to love his name, confess his lordship and follow his lead.

It is his flock, his church. He bought it with his blood.

We are called by the Spirit to lead them well.

So we must watch ourselves to not be disqualified from service.

We should surrender ourselves daily to the forgiveness of Jesus and to the call he has placed on our lives.

This call means to feed his flock by overseeing them willingly,

This call means to feed his flock by overseeing them eagerly

This call means to feed his flock by overseeing them as good examples of the gospel.

By our faith and our teaching we are to strengthen the flock, reminding them of the glory that awaits.

and then, when we have looked to the head shepherd.

When we have watcher ourselves.

and when we feed the flock well,

then when the chief shepherd appears, you will recieve the unfading crown of glory.

My God richly bless you, dear brothers and sisters to truly become Shepherd Leaders who help those who follow them to follow Christ.