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Pastor to Pastor

Chief in Action

If we want them to act, we must.

The Work of Shepherds (3)

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:.5

The Book of Pastoral Rule
Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)
“The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is required by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things.”

The function of a leader, Jim Kennedy used to say, is to lead. In leading we must know where we’re trying to go, what obstacles or hindrances threaten our journey, and how to bend all our efforts to achieve our objective. If the goal of our instruction is love (1 Tim. 1.5), and the pursuit of our lives is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6.33), then the people we serve should be able to see the evidence of these priorities in all our demeanor. And if we want the people we serve to be active in sharing the Gospel with their neighbors, friends, and co-workers, then we must show ourselves to be “chief in action” here as well, making time each week for seeking the lost and proclaiming the Good News. If we set the right example, the people who follow will mark their paths by the trail we blaze.

Meditate on 1 Timothy 1.5, Matthew 6.33, Acts 1.8, and 2 Corinthians 7.1. To what extent do these great objectives describe the example you set for the people you serve?

T. M. Moore

The Time of Your Life
An effective self-watch begins by knowing where your time goes each day. We’ve prepared a brief worksheet, The Time of Your Life, which you can use to analyze how you use your time each week, and to help you begin thinking about how to make better use of the time God gives you each day. You can receive a free copy of this worksheet (print it on two sides of a single sheet) by writing to John Nunnikhoven at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Time of Your Life worksheet is one of the assessment tools of our Pastoral Hope Initiative, which can help you discover baselines and make plans for growth in all areas of your life. Watch this brief videofor more information. We have permanently waived the registration fee, so all you need to do begin this protocol is drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we can talk about whether the Pastoral Hope Initiative might help you.

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 Gregory,
The Book of Pastoral Rule,in Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 12(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1895, 1995).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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