The Shepherd’s Example (10)
“According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” Exodus 25.9
Imagine if Moses, Bezalel, Aholiab, and the others, hearing the Lord’s plan for the tabernacle, had said, “Great ideas there, Lord. But we don’t want to be too rigid, you know? And we’re up on the latest in portable tents and whatnot, so we’ll take it from here.”
Yeah. Foolish workmen.
God has revealed a pattern for building His Church: Pastors and teachers—shepherds—equip the members of their church to do works of ministry as they are going in all their everyday activities (Eph. 4.11-16). For this purpose, God has provided powerful tools for His workmen: prayer, the Word of God, and their personal example.
Today’s shepherds can learn from those who have served well in the past how to build the Lord’s Church today. The advice of saints like Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) can help us in doing our work according to the pattern God has revealed in His Word: “I compare [lukewarm shepherds] to the foolish workmen who erect a large tall building but do not imitate the skills of other craftsmen who know very well how to use their tools and are experienced in the many difficulties of building work. They know very well what is needed for the construction work and use their tools appropriately. These others, however, place all their vain and foolish trust in themselves because they want to excel the others in their skill” (Scivias).
It’s easy to get into a pattern of trying to build the church with all the latest means and measures employed by other “successful” churches. We look to capitalize on all the latest forms of management science, marketing, entertainment, and efficiency strategies to do what God has appointed. It may not be exactly the pattern revealed in the Scriptures, but, hey, it seems to work pretty well.
Meanwhile, the work of shepherding is neglected, the difficult personal work of making disciples is shifted into some classroom or program, and the uniquely pastoral duty of equipping the saints for works of ministry is left to chance. The shepherd’s three important tools—prayer, the Word, and his example—grow dull.
This is not the pattern God has revealed in His Word for building His Church. Why should we expect Him to honor our labors?
Being disciples and making disciples
Church leaders are called to shepherd their flocks like Jesus did. He is our Good Shepherd, and we look to Him to show us how we must care for His sheep. This is the subject of my conversation with Mike McQueen, which you can listen to by clicking the link or the audio bar at the top of this issue.
Resources for Shepherds
Men, we’re rapidly approaching the deadline for enrolling in one of our free fall online study and discussion opportunities.
Our Group, The Reason for Church, will follow Pastor Brad Edwards as he helps us identify the “defeaters” that keep our churches from shining as the light of the world. Read more and sign up for this free online study by clicking here.
Another offering this fall will be our Men’s Bible Study Group. The topic is The Ongoing Work of Christ: Acts and Beyond. We will look at the pattern revealed in the book of Acts and beyond to discover how the early Church realized such a powerful impact over a wide area in just few years. All meetings are free and online. For more information on dates and our free workbook, click here.
And if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to get into or get back into C. S. Lewis, two fall Men’s Reading Groups will be available, either to read and discuss Weight of Glory or to continue with us through the second part of God in the Dock.
Other columns of interest this week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we continue looking at commerce from a Kingdom perspective. Our Read Moore podcast features readings from the book, Such a Great Salvation. Our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert finds the saint launched on his second voyage to find The Promised Land of the Saints. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
From the Celtic Revival
Brendan of Clonfert (fl. ca. 560 AD):
The hermit, Paul, explained how God provided for him after he arrived as a missionary on an island somewhere between Ireland and Iceland. Either he or our storyteller may be embellishing a bit. Or maybe not:
And the first day that I came here there came to me an animal, called otter, and brought me a fish, and a hearth-flint to make a fire withal…And the same messenger would come to me every third day with his refection. And I remained thus to the end of thirty years without lack of food or drink. And a stream of water would drop from the rock every Sunday, in which I would wash my hands, and drink a draught to quench my thirst.”
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
All creation serves the purposes of God, and the purposes of God are above all aimed at gathering, perfecting, and sending His saints to seek and advance His Kingdom. How will He use His creation to bless you and glorify Himself today?
Follow the rest of Brendan’s adventure of faith—which, while certainly historical, is in many ways a parable for every believer’s journey in the Lord. Add our twice-weekly Crosfigell teaching letter to your subscriptions.
Devotional Histories
Brendan’s story is the fourth in our series of devotional histories of great saints from the period of the Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800). Here are the other three, which are available as free PDF downloads in our bookstore:
Patrick: A Devotional History
Colum Cille: A Devotional History
Columbanus: A Devotional History
You might also enjoy our selections from the lives of other saints of this period, Lives of Irish Saints.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this issue of Pastor to Pastor helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
