The Shepherding Grace  Ephesians 4:7-16 

• Jesus is our perfect example of a shepherd, more than that not just ‘a good shepherd’ as others may be but He is ‘the good shepherd’ totally unique in character. Read: John 10:1-6 

• The shepherd would be the door into the sheepfold and this tells us two things: 

• First the shepherd would give His life for the sheep because any intruder would literally have to go through Him. 

• Secondly, If you are going to get in you must go through him, there is no other legitimate way of getting in. John 14:6 I am the way , the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

• Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 

• 1 Peter 2:25 gives us some clue to understanding why we need a shepherd For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (Bishop) (Episkopos/Episcopol) of your souls.  • A bishop is someone charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others, are done right. 

• Paul’s pastoral letter to Titus demonstrates this. It was intended to offer encouragement and wisdom to Titus whilst he endured opposition from ungodly people and legalism within his congregations. Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. 

• While Paul was in Miletus (Turkey) he wrote to the Christians in Ephesus region Acts 20:28 with this charge, …Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Bishops), to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. 

• Jesus uses the analogy of shepherds and sheep again, talking about His church when He meets Peter for breakfast after the resurrection John 21:15-17 and charges Peter to feed His sheep. 

• Notice the sheep are not Peter’s however, he is commissioned to help the shepherd.  

• And that’s the role of Pastors, the church is not ours but we are commissioned by Jesus Himself through Holy Spirit, to help look after some of the sheep. 

• 1 Peter 5:1-4 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion (By force), but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering (bring under my power, conform to my will) over those in your charge (God’s heritage), but being examples (image formed by a blow, imprint, a seal) to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 

• The church has defaulted into calling anyone in any kind of church leadership pastor whether they have a shepherding grace or heart, we call them pastor. 

• What Does A Shepherding Grace look like? 

• Shepherds create an environment for the love, care and needs of the body. Strong sense of communal and relational well-being. 

• But can become risk adverse, co-dependent, exclusive, over protective and highly cautious.  

• Shepherd knows His sheep by name John 10:3 

• Leads them out, no sense of being driven gentle encouragement.  • Restore and find lost sheep – an isolated sheep is a vulnerable sheep (no sense of direction) Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, everyone to his own way. Luke 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 

• The Shepherding grace is there in time of need. 

• The shepherding grace protects the sheep. 

• Ephesians 4:12 equipping - making fit, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service. 

• Slide: Peacemaker, protector, helper, Caregiver, reconciler, nurturing. 

• We look at others through the lens of our own grace gifts. Don’t measure someone else by your grace.