The Work of Shepherds (5)

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 1 Timothy 3.1

Draft Ecclesiastical Ordinances
John Calvin (1506-1564)
“The ministers must on their side enquire whether there be any lack or want of anything, in order to ask and desire the Seigneury [civil government] to put it in order. To do this, some of their company with the procurators should visit the hospital every three months, to ascertain if all is in order.”

Notice that shepherds in Geneva were responsible to make sure that all was well with the flocks of God. As they visited people in their homes, they would discover spiritual and material needs, and then they could recommend courses of action or search out resources to help. They helped fathers instruct their wives and children, and they enlisted deacons, where needed, to alleviate material needs. Their work also included advising the civil government where help was needed in areas related to their responsibilities. Mostly, however, the churches took care of matters on their own. This system of pastoral oversight and ecclesiastical order – shepherding the flocks of God – helped to make Calvin’s Geneva one of the great Christian cities of 16^th-century Europe. Churches require effective pastoral care to flourish, and pastoral care cannot be exercised apart from the order God Himself prescribes in His Word.

What goals for growing the church under your care have your pastors, elders, and deacons adopted? How do they oversee their work to make sure those goals are being met?

T. M. Moore

Fan into Flame
Our book, Fan into Flame, is a handbook on the work of pastors and shepherds. It explains the context and calling of the shepherd, as well as the tools available to us for this work; and it 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, during which series of assessments we walk men through this handbook and various other resources. We have waived the fee for this service, so 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..

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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.All quotations from John Calvin, “Draft Ecclesiastical Ordinances,” in J. K. S.Reid, ed., Calvin: Theological Treatises in The Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1954), pp. 58ff.