WE ARE DEVELOPING SHEPHERDS!

Vision

- When we say we are building men we mean we are building disciples of Jesus. Matthew 4:19 is the mission. What is the cause of Christ? People! When we spend time with Jesus — when His Holy Spirit resides in us — we cannot help but care about what He cares about.”

Foundation

- Jesus modeled the importance of relationship in making disciples. He was intentional with His disciples. He invested His life in them. He understood that more is “caught” than “ taught.” Discipleship requires conversation, modeling, encouragement, debriefing, and practice, all of which need to happen in the context of relationship. The point about the need for relationship has been made. Relationships are built by intentional leaders.

Foundation

What makes a relational environment? Again, Jesus remains our standard how to create a relational environment. Jesus modeled how in good growth environment there is shepherding, transparency, accountability, and guided practice.

Tonight we examine Shepherding. A shepherd must take care of vulnerable lambs (spiritual infants). Lambs, with infant faith, need help to grow up. They don’t know the danger of spiritual war and that they have a new Enemy, who wants to kill and destroy them (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8). They don’t realize they need spiritual protection. Shepherds lead their sheep to water and make sure they have spiritual food to eat. They protect their sheep from danger and from those who would love to cut them away from the flock and lead them astray. If a sheep is missing, the shepherd goes looking for it. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was a great protector of His sheep, His group of disciples.

Foundation

- Likewise, as shepherds of God’s sheep, disciple-makers must also protect the sheep in our care. That means if we are leading a small group, we should follow up with those who are absent and do our best to ensure that everyone in the class is present. It requires work and commitment to chase the strays, bind up the wounded and hurting, and lead and feed those we are shepherding. True disciple-makers do all we can to guide those we disciple to safety and maturity.