Willohroots

“For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death!” Deuteronomy 31:27

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Moses ministered the old covenant. Paul ministered the new covenant. The difference is obvious.

Moses looked at his people and said, “You sorry bunch of rebels, I’ve had to watch you like a hawk. And the moment I die, I know what’s going to happen. You’re going to run from God so fast . . . .”

Paul looked at his people and said, “Sure, you have problems. But I’m not worried about you. In fact, you don’t even need me around any more. God is at work in you, and you’re going to be just fine.”

As a pastor under the new covenant, it is not my job to manage other people’s sanctification for them. They don’t need me to do that, nor am I qualified to do that. They do not need negative scrutiny; they deserve confident encouragement. Should problems be addressed along the way? Sure. But the main thing to communicate is new covenant confidence. God is at work in them. That work is sacred. That work can be trusted. That work is to be revered.

Under the new conditions God has established through Christ, who couldn’t love being a pastor? I am walking among living miracles of God.

“Ray Ortlund”

Will, I’ll offer two groups, one scriptural, one opinion. First, scriptural…

Shepherd the flock AMONG YOU. You can’t shepherd at all unless you are in with the sheep. Get to know them as much as possible. Share your life with them. Know them! Standing in the pulpit for an hour each Sunday isn’t shepherding.

Equip THEM for the work of the ministry. It’s THEIRS, not yours. You show them how, they do it. Of course, you minister too, and in some special ways, but they need to learn to minister and not say, “duh, well he’s the minister, go ask him.”

Don’t LORD IT OVER the sheep. They are quite capable of leading their own lives and being creative in their own ministry.

Encourage, encourage, encourage.

Don’t place ANY BURDEN WHATSOEVER on your flock that you aren’t willing and able to help them with more than a finger (see Matt. 23) For example, if you’re a homeschool advocate, don’t burden them with homeschooling unless you personally have trained and discipled every family in your church in how to do it, complete with easily ovservable and accessible examples.

Now for some opinions.

Keep your hands OFF of the church budget, building, building programs, offering, choir, people’s ministries, purchasing, on and on and on. All this takes away from shepherding the flock. If it ain’t prayer or Word or shpeherding, don’t do it; minor exceptions, of course, if you’re talented at something like playing the oboe or fixing cars.

Teach them to think for themselves, that it’s okay to disagree with you on matters. Invite them to share differences, experience from various backgrounds, how they did things when they were younger, etc. Teach them grace. Teach them liberty, and what it really means. It means much more than “I’m free to drink a beer now and then.” Don’t preach politics.