Healthy, Growing Churches (1)

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10.14

Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.1
Cyril of Alexandria (375-444)
“Jesus sees that the foolish Pharisees wanted to be rulers and that they were unwisely boastful of the name and character of leadership. And so it is good that he teaches them that he himself is the one who confers leadership in the church. And he bestows this authority without difficulty. For since Jesus is ‘the door’ of the sacred and divine fold, he will both admit the one who is fit for leadership but also will block the entrance to the one who is unfit to lead the flock.”

Churches today have all kinds of pastors and leaders. But do they have shepherds? A careful reading of John 10 enables us to discern Jesus’ expectation for the shepherds He appoints over His flocks. Do they knowand love the people, so that all the members of the church enjoy loving pastoral oversight – not from the pastor only, but, following the example of Jesus, from other shepherds working with the pastor? Do pastors and leaders lead the people in seeking and advancing the Kingdom of God? Do they lay down their lives and give sacrificially of themselves and their time in the work of making disciples? Do they defend the flock against false teaching, temptations and trials, and the ravages of the devil? Do they bring other sheep into the fold? And do they work to present every member of the church “complete in Christ” (Col. 1.27, 28) and growing in the gift of eternal life? We are “foolish” and we do the Lord’s work in vain unless we take up the mantle of shepherding Jesus has bestowed on us, and follow His example. Then we will be “fit for leadership” indeed.

What criteria do you use in assessing the work of your church’s leaders?

T. M. Moore

The Work of Shepherds
In case you missed our series on shepherding and the work of shepherds, you can receive a free PDF of 28 morning and evening readings, in which we unpack the Biblical teaching concerning the work of shepherding, guided by great shepherds of the past. Simply write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and ask John to send you a copy of The Work of Shepherds.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations from Church Fathers are from the Ancient Christian Commentary Series, published by InterVarsity Press.