Not Finished Yet - I Am a Work In Progress - Be Patient With Me

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep". ~ John 10:11

The word pastor is rooted in the Bible. "The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) uses the Hebrew word רעה (ra'ah). It is mentioned 173 times and describes the feeding of sheep, as in Genesis 29:7, or the spiritual feeding of human beings, as in Jeremiah 3:15, "Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding" (NASB).

Now in the New Testament, the Greek noun ποιμήν (poimēn) and verb ποιμαινω (poimaino) are usually translated shepherd or to shepherd. The two words are used a total of 29 times in the New Testament, most frequently referring to Jesus. For example, Jesus called himself the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11. The same words are used in familiar Christmas story (Luke 2) referring to literal shepherds." ~ from Wikipedia

The pastor is the leading person who leads the sheep to good pastures. The pastor's responsibilities are to feed, care and protect the sheep.

In the lost sheep we can see the qualities and responsibilities of a good pastor.

Luke 15:4 Says "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what he will do?"

Matthew 18:12 "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what he will do?"

If a church pastor has a congregation of a hundred (or more) and one of them, gets lost, wanders away what the will the pastor do?

Great question: Jesus here describes himself as the good Shepherd.  Jesus sets up the standard for leaders, pastors. The lost sheep is not a lost sheep outside his flock. As follows the lost is not someone out in the word. It is not the unsaved. It is your own sheep. It is your own congregation. It is about the people you are pasturing. People whom the pastor as leader is responsible for their guidance, food, care and protection. When you are a leader- you are responsible for those people. This is a BIG responsibility. So how do you do that?

Both Luke and Matthew follow: "Won't he leave the ninety-nine?" what a question. It's so natural that he will leave and go to find the lost one. When someone from your church congregation wonders away, gets lost do you see that your pastor, church leaders' first natural respond is to go and find the lost?

Matthew Says "Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out and search for the one that is lost?

Luke says "Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it."

Go out and search...this is work, this is effort, this might take time....because the shepherd doesn't give up searching, he is not returning until he finds the lost.

When someone in your church wonders away, is your main focus as a pastor/leader to get out (out of your comfort zone) to find the one lost?

Unfortunately, my personal experience is the opposite what I see Jesus representing here. In my experience when someone wanders away, sins and gets lost in its own sins, leaders don't want those in their flock. Many of today's pastors don't have time for the ones who wander away; they are too busy with programs – they have no time for lost people.

Victims are looking at the problems, leaders are looking for solutions! I was listening to the news today and heard this paragraph and stacked with me all day long. The reporter talked about how we all can be leaders in our on world.

As believers I think it’s even an expectation from God to always do our best in everything we do, to be examples, leaders in such a way that people would see our good deeds and glorify God.

If I honestly believe that God is in control, then I can be my best regardless if I get rewarded right away or not. When we do our best at all times, trust me it will bring results on a long term. God sees everything and he rewards those who trust in him and wait for his promotion. When God moves good things will happen, better than you might think.

Just think about that for a moment if everyone does its best in their field this world would be a better place. A little effort over a long period of time can have a big impact.