In Ephesians 4:11, the Apostle Paul gives us a list of gifts from Jesus to his Church that includes the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. Our challenge this week is to unlearn and relearn some crucial things about the fourth entry in that list.
Even though imagery of the “shepherd” (or the “pastor,” as it can also be translated) appears often in Scripture, we may have difficulty understanding it because the world of tending sheep is not nearly as familiar in our modern times as it may have been to other readers through history.
Furthermore, a great many churches and denominations use the word “pastor” to describe the person who is “in charge around here.” Our varied experiences with pastors in all sorts of settings have created a set of expectations and definitions that exist far beyond the shepherd’s field.
But what is a pastor? What does a pastor do? And is it possible that some of us are pastors even though we might be unaware of it or unpaid for it?
These are the sorts of questions I’ve been trying to figure out for quite some time–from even before people started calling me “Pastor” (a title that, admittedly, still does not land comfortably in my ears). This week, I look forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned, primarily because of the staggering beauty and kindness it reveals in Jesus, who is “the great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20).
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: February 21, 2016 // Title: Place in Grace: Shepherd/Pastor
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 / John 10:1-18
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
As we continue through Ephesians 4, we look at the shepherd/pastor gifting. What is a pastor? What does a pastor do? Is it possible that some of us are pastors even though we might be unaware of it or unpaid for it? We see in the Ephesians 4 passage that there is an equipping of the saints that needs to happen. Part of the shepherd/pastor role involves equipping the saints, coming into areas of hurt, brokenness and immaturity with the power of the Gospel. Our giftings must be plugged into the source of power (Jesus) in order to work properly. When we look at Jesus as the supreme example of a Shepherd, we see that He is among the sheep (whether they are at home or away from home), He is FOR the sheep, and He goes after other sheep who are not in the fold.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
We need the Shepherd to lead us.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: : Are you looking to Jesus as the example of how to walk out your gifting? Or are you looking to Him as a savior to your need?
Mirror: What strikes you when you think about Jesus as a shepherd who goes after other sheep? Read Luke 15:3–7 again and talk about this passage. Following the example of Jesus as shepherd, what does the human role of shepherd/pastor look like?
Window: How do the common methods of evangelism and the “tour guide” method cause you to see others differently?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 15 minutes
The Good Shepherd is FOR you. He is with you whether you are at home with a herd of the sheep, or if He has led you out to
find water and green pastures. Spend one minute in silence, letting yourself be found by Him. Listen to what He is saying
to your heart during the silence. Then share those words with each other..
Change IN // Group Activity 15 minutes
How can we, as a community of believers, function fully in all five giftings (listed in Ephesians 4)? Talk about God’s plan for the body caring for each other from a place of wholeness and power. If you haven’t done so yet, list out your group’s giftings and see where they intersect with your callings.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Think about the bigger community around you. Write down examples of where we see the things listed in Ezekiel 34:1–5 (the hungry, lost, afraid, injured, or weak). What will you do individually—and as a group—to be shepherds and pastors in those situations? Make a plan!
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.