Pastoral Ministry - Church Leadership Resources

1 Pastoral Ministry Teacher s ManualPastoral Ministry Bill Scheidler 2 Teacher s Manual Pastoral Ministry Contents The Biblical Basis for Pastoral Ministry Lesson 1-2 Pastoral Lesson 3 The Call to the Pastoral 22-26 The Individual that God Uses in Pastoral Ministry The Challenge of the Pastoral Lesson 4 The Heart of the Lesson 5 The Example of the Lesson 6 Balanced Pastoral The Personal Disciplines of Pastoral Ministry Lesson 7 The Pastor s Lesson 8 The Pastor s Study Lesson 9 The Pastor s Apparel, Poise and Lesson 10 Ethical Conduct for Lesson 11-12 Ministerial The Public Functions of Pastoral Ministry Lesson 13 Administering Water Lesson 14 Lesson 15 Dedication of Lesson 16 Pre-Marital Counseling Guidelines for Lesson 17 Performing Lesson 18 Handling Lesson 19 Hospital Other Functions of Pastoral Ministry Lesson 20 Church Lesson 21 Training a Pastoral Lesson 22 Pastoring through Small Lesson 23 Working with an Lesson 24 The Pastor s Pastoral Ministry Bill Scheidler 3 Teacher s Manual Lesson 1-2 Pastoral Responsibility I.

2 Key Passages Relating to Pastoral Ministry A. Numbers 27:15-17 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd. 1. God is a shepherd to His people, but God s people also need a human representative of the Lord to exercise a shepherding care and concern for them. 2. Without shepherds, sheep will not be able to take care of themselves. B. Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

3 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 1. God s shepherding care relates to all areas of life. 2. When sheep are truly cared for they do not lack but live an abundant life.

4 C. Proverbs 27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your 1. Tending sheep is work. 2. Tending sheep requires alertness and diligence regarding the condition of the flock. D. Jeremiah 10:21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the LORD; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. 1. The condition of the flock is often dependent upon the faithfulness of the shepherd. Pastoral Ministry Bill Scheidler 4 Teacher s Manual 2. The condition of the shepherd has a great deal to do with his or her relationship to the Lord. E. Jeremiah 23:1-4 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!

5 Says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, says the LORD. 3 But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking, says the LORD. 1. Self-serving shepherds will give an account to the Heavenly Shepherd for how they have ministered to the sheep.

6 2. God will see to it that His sheep are taken out of the hands of careless shepherds. F. Ezekiel 34:1-31 Read the entire chapter from the Bible. Have class share things that they have gleaned from it. G. Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; his arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded. 1. God s judgment and sword will come against worthless shepherds. 2. Worthless shepherds will lose their influence (arms) and their vision (eyes). H. John 10:1-29 In John 10 Jesus contrasts the true shepherd from the hireling.

7 As you read this chapter have the class watch for characteristic of each. II. The Need for True Shepherds or Pastoral Ministry A. God s people are likened to sheep (Num. 27:17; I Kgs. 22:17; II Chr. 18:16; Zech. 10:2; Mt. 9:36; John 10:14, 27). When God chose to compare His people to an animal, He chose to liken them to sheep. This is, on the one hand, very unflattering and, one the other hand, quite flattering. This imagery has two aspects to it. Pastoral Ministry Bill Scheidler 5 Teacher s Manual 1. On the negative side, sheep are very needy. Sheep are especially needy because they have: a. No ability to find food on their own (Num.)

8 27:16-17). Sheep are not like other foraging animals that will send out scouts and lead the herd to food. It is said that sheep will die in a pasture that has been grazed out with fresh pasture right over the next hill. Sheep must be led to their food. b. No instinct to return home (Ezek. 34:6-8). Sheep have never been known to be able to find their way home if they are lost. Dogs and other animals can often do this. However, the nature of sheep is to make all of the wrong choices when it comes to guidance. They need someone to lead them back to the safety of the fold. c. No natural defense system. Domestic sheep have no claws, sharp teeth, powerful jaws, or incredible speed and are not known for their great strength.

9 These are some of nature s means of defense for many animals. Their only real defense is their ability to flock. As they stick together under the Leadership of the shepherd they are less vulnerable to an attack from a wild animal. 2. On the positive side, sheep were always considered very valuable. They were valuable to the shepherd because they could provide most of man s needs including: a. Meat b. Milk c. Clothing B. God s people, like sheep, are in need of shepherding care. When you compare all of the verses that we have read about sheep and shepherds you realize the need for shepherds. The following chart demonstrates the condition of people with and without true shepherds.

10 Without True Shepherds With True Shepherds Sheep are scattered (Zech. 13:7;Ezek. 34:5-6) Sheep receive provision (Ps. 23:1-2) Sheep wander ( Ezek. 34:6) Sheep receive direction (Num. 27:17; Ps. 80:1) Sheep are lacking (Jer. 23:4) Sheep are fruitful (Jer. 23:3) Sheep are devoured (Ezek. 34:5) Sheep are kept (Jer. 31:10) Sheep are weak (Mt. 9:36) Sheep are strengthened (Ezek. 34:4, 16) Pastoral Ministry Bill Scheidler 6 Teacher s Manual Sheep have want (Ps. 23:1) Sheep are fed (Jer. 23:4; I Pet. 5:2) Sheep are diseased (Ezek. 34:4) Sheep receive healing (Ezek. 34:4, 16) Sheep are broken (Ezek. 34:4) Sheep receive binding up (Ezek.)