Shepherds and shepherding matter.
1 Thessalonians 5 (3)
Pray Psalm 28.7.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5.12, 13.
Reflect.
1. Why was Paul so urgent about the Thessalonians recognizing and esteeming their shepherds?
2. What is the “work” of shepherds?
Meditate.
Paul believed that a church was only in order when leaders – elders – were in place and functioning as shepherds over the Lord’s flock (cf. Titus 1.5; Eph. 4.11, 12; Acts 20.25-31). The Lord Jesus established the pattern of shepherding by His life and by His teaching, especially in John 10. He has determined that His churches should have shepherds who care for His people and work to help them grow as disciples (1 Pet. 5.1-3).
As he had done elsewhere, Paul did not leave Thessalonica until elders were in place to shepherd the Lord’s people (cf. Acts 14.23). Elders were appointed from among the community of believers. Their ministry was to watch overthe souls of God’s people, for the purpose of helping them grow in the Lord and serve Him in their daily lives.
God’s people are charged with submitting to their shepherds, esteeming them highly because of their work, and obeying them as they work to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (cf. Heb. 13.17). Paul urged the Thessalonians to live within the Lord’s appointed order for His churches, so this must have been a very important idea.
We no longer have shepherds in our churches. We prefer to have preachers, team leaders, directors, committee heads, board members, and assorted leader-types.
As eager as such folks may be to serve their church well, they do not practice the work of shepherding – watching over the souls of every member of the Lord’s flock – which Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles taught. The result is that we are currently experiencing a shortage of the kind of disciples like those in Thessalonica who persevered in the face of persecution, increased more and more in love, excelled in caring for one another, and grew in holiness and as witnesses for Christ. In the absence of true shepherds, we have only lean and listless sheep, lolling about in the meadows, licking their wounds and producing no wool or other evidence of vital spiritual life.
The work of shepherds is to equip the Lord’s people to grow in Him and serve Him in their own callings. Paul urged the Thessalonians to follow this pattern; he urges us to do the same.
Prepare.
1. If there is a Biblical pattern and teaching for the work of shepherding, should churches today be following that? Is yours?
2. Why is it important that the Lord’s sheep should have someone watching over their souls?
3. We do not organize our churches today as Paul did in his day. Why not? Would Paul urge us to redouble our efforts doing what we’re doing, or take up the practice of shepherding as he taught it?
He commands first obedience and then honor to be rendered to them. These two things are necessarily required, so that the people might have confidence in their pastors [shepherds], and also reverence for them. But it ought at the same time to be noticed that the Apostle speaks only of those who faithfully performed their office; for they who have nothing but the title, nay, who use the title of [shepherds] for the purpose of destroying the Church, deserve but little reverence and still less confidence. And this also is what the Apostle plainly sets forth when he says, that they watched for their souls, ― a duty which is not performed but by those who are faithful rulers, and are really what they are called. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Hebrews 13.17
Lord, use me as a faithful shepherd of my fellow believers today, to encourage and edify them so that…
Pray Psalm 28.
One of the ways God shepherds us is through those we choose as leaders. We need to pray faithfully for them, that they might have the strength and protection of the Lord and might trust in Him to help them fulfill their calling to watch over our souls (Heb. 13.17). Let this psalm guide you in praying for the shepherds of your church.
Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 28 (Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
I cry to You, our Savior, O, be not deaf to me!
Lord, speak to me with favor, lest I should dying be.
Hear now my supplications when for Your help I cry;
Receive these, my oblations, before Your throne on high.
Lord, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways;
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, Lord, while evil fills their hands;
Destroy them by Your Word, Lord, and let them no more stand.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus, for He will hear our prayer.
His strength protects and shields us with mercy and with care.
In You our heart rejoices; You help us by Your Word.
To You we raise our voices to praise and thank You, Lord.
Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure;
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face;
With shepherd’s care, Lord, keep us forever in Your grace.
T. M. Moore
Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).
Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.
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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 psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).
