The Work of Shepherds (1)

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42.1, 2

Sermon XIII
Columbanus (ca 543-615)
“So still, my dearest brethren, give ear to our words, in the belief that you will hear something needful, and refresh the thirst of your mind from the streams of the divine fountain of which we now wish to speak, but do not quench that thirst, drink, but be not sated; for now the living Fountain, the Fountain of life, calls us to Himself, and says, Let Him that is athirst come unto Me and drink.”

Pastors sometimes complain to me that their people don’t seem very hungry or thirsty for the things of the Lord. Sated on the junk food of getting-and-spending, generously ladled with pop culture, and a side of convenience and savory self-interest, God’s people have little appetite for Christ or His Word. The solid food which Christ serves up to those who are mature is just not to their liking. And who would dare, like the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 5.12-6.9), chide their childishness and insist they press more diligently into the life of the Kingdom of our Lord? What about us, who are called to shepherd these lambs? Does our hunger and thirst for Christ make them long for the same? Do they see in us that earnest desire to be with the Lord that tells them they’re missing something of great moment? Do we extend the shepherd’s crook of preaching and teaching to direct them to lush, green pastures and still waters of spiritual growth into Jesus? Or are we content to let them bleat for the milk of the Word, afraid we might bruise or alienate them by insisting they follow us along the upward path?

Who makes you hungry and thirsty for more of the Lord? How can you be help to encourage your people to drink deeply of Him?

Fan into Flame
Our book, Fan into Flame, is a handbook on the work of pastors and shepherds. It explains the context, calling, and work of the shepherd, and provides useful tools for assessment and planning to improve in the Lord’s calling. This is an excellent resource for leadership training or personal growth into Christ. Order your copy by clicking here. Or contact me about our Pastoral Hope Initiative and we’ll walk through this handbook and various other assessment resources together. Watch this brief video, then drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

And don’t forget to request your free PDF, Growing into Christ, our 28 day morning and evening series of readings, meditations, and prayer prompts on the work of making disciples. Just write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and request your copy. Great for personal meditation, and for training others to make disciples.

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.All quotations are from G. S. M. Walker, ed., Sancti Columbani Opera(Dublin: Institute for Advanced Studies, 1957), pp. 61 ff.